| 1916 |
| Charles Smith Dies |
 After suffering a seizure while riding on a train near Spokane, Washington, Charles Smith dies at age 61. Charles' 17-year presidency saw the height of the woodenware business and the beginning of the end of woodenware sales. |
| 1916 |
| Woodenware Market On Decline |
| The woodenware market is on a decline and bulk wooden packaging is supplanted by corrugated boxes, glass jars, metal drums and other newer forms of packaging. |
| 1916 |
| Lake Becomes President |
| Frank Lake, a longtime Menasha Wooden Ware employee, is elected president and chief executive officer. |
| 1918 |
| Lake Resigns |
| Mowry Smith Sr., Charles' older son, attends Princeton and joins the company upon graduation. He thinks the time has come for Menasha to begin producing corrugated boxes, in addition to woodenware packaging. Frank Lake, who disagrees, resigns over the opposition after serving as president for only 26 months. Thomas M. Kearney, a 62-year-old attorney, then becomes president. He is a management consultant and partner in a Racine, Wisconsin, law firm and is known for his ability to reorganize companies. |
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