Appleton

By Appleton Historical Society

Appleton's rich beginnings found their source at Lawrence Institute, the university in the woods, on the Fox River. Rev. Henry Colman and Rev. William Sampson chose the bluff on the river for the site of the institute. Amos A. Lawrence donated $10,000, and the building began in July 1848. It was with axe and hook that the first settlers cleared the land for Lawrence and Appleton. The city was made up of three villages: Martin (Grand Chute), Appleton, and Lawesburg. In 1857, the villages joined together to form the city of Appleton. Amos Story was the city's first mayor. Appleton's industry grew on the banks of the Fox River, including hydroelectricity and paper.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Feb 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781439649398

Appleton Historical Society

The Appleton Historical Society was formed in 2010 to preserve the history of Appleton's industry, business, and people. The society regularly hosts events to bring the city's history to the public for their enjoyment. Gwen Sargeant led the committee to create a community-inspired book. Images of America: Appleton contains photographs from the Appleton Historical Society, Lawrence University, the History Museum at the Castle, and the private collections of many Appleton natives.

Book preview

Sargeant

INTRODUCTION

This work is a celebration of the history of Appleton. It includes Lawrence University, the Fox River, electricity, people, businesses, public service, sports, dance, food, drinks, and celebrations. The process of creating this book began as an idea at a board meeting of the Appleton Historical Society and developed into a yearlong adventure into the depths of residents’ personal collections. There were scanning events, quiet conversations at Appleton Historical Society public meetings, and big announcements (We need your pictures!).

This book is an opportunity to see Appleton as it was in the earliest of days and to travel down College Avenue as it becomes the place it is today. The ever-changing Fox River was of special interest as it was dammed and shaped to suit the needs of a growing community.

Chapter One includes the beginnings of Appleton, which are inextricably tied to the University in the Woods, Lawrence Institute. Amos Lawrence, a well-known philanthropist of the 19th century, planned for a Methodist institution in the new territory of Wisconsin. Reeder Smith, H.L. Blood, and George Day formed a committee to find a home for the Lawrence Institute. In 1874, J. Alfred Dull wrote the following:

In the month of May, 1846 a solitary horseman was pursuing his way from Green Bay to Oshkosh. He had passed beyond the thinly settled regions of the French claims and all about him now was primeval nature. He stood upon the edge of a large plateau. Grand old trees stretched far away on either hand. Before him, broad and deep, between high green banks, rolled the clear waters of the Fox River to where they poured their vast volume over a natural fall. It was a scene fit to inspire an artist mind with the deepest enthusiasm, and to call beautiful visions to the imagination of the poet. Although, he was fully conscious of the rare beauty of the site our horseman, being neither poet nor artist, took a more utilitarian view of the prospect before him; upon his mind it indelibly impressed itself as a most perfect position for a city.

Henry Levake Blood was that solitary horseman. He gazed upon what would eventually become the city of Appleton.

Chapter Two is a trip down the Fox River, the heart and soul of Appleton. The river brought the early settlers to the area and also sustained them with waterpower that spawned many business ventures in the early days: flour mills, barrel and sash making, and planning. The flats included the north and south banks of the river and the north and south islands. Over the years, many mills began service on the river, including the Conkey Flour Mill, the Atlas Mill, Vulcan Mill, and the Woolen Mill.

Chapter Three showcases Appleton’s hydroelectric history. Bright as day was the description given to the light of the first Edison dynamo–lit buildings. According to the golden jubilee anniversary celebration souvenir booklet, It was on Saturday night, September 30th, 1882, that the world’s first water driven electrical station was placed in successful operation at Appleton, Wisconsin. This fact was dually reported in the weekly newspapers of the time. The people of Appleton went to see light in those early fall evenings and marveled, declaring them to be as ‘bright as day.’ Today, we know it as the nation’s first hydroelectric station.

Chapter Four includes the first churches in Appleton, many of which share the same story of small beginnings. The first sermon in Appleton was delivered by the Reverend William K. Sampson at the J.F. Johnston Shanty. The congregations began in little wooden buildings or storefronts, with only a few members, and they grew to inhabit large, beautiful buildings with thousands of members.

Chapter Five is a look at Appleton’s many different businesses of every type and size. In 1855, area merchants included Theodore Conkey, C.G. Adkins, W.S. Warner, White and Carhart, Buck and Hawley, McCoughney, Lite, and Willy. According to J.A. Dahl, The total sales of merchandise during that year amounted to $160,000. There were banks: First National, Appleton State Bank, and more. There were laborers, craftsmen, artisans, insurance men, hotelkeepers, dentists, doctors, fruit sellers, and retailers of all sorts. The city grew at a quick pace as new settlers joined the pioneers. By 1887, there were well over 500 businesses flourishing in Appleton.

Chapter Six is a testament to Appleton’s many rich traditions of merriment. Appleton’s mix of English, German, French, Creole, and Irish early inhabitants led to many businesses. In 1874, there were four saloons, two breweries, three bakeries, two meat markets, and three cigar makers. A half century later, in 1924, there were 7 bakeries, 11 confectioners, 17 meat markets, 6 cigar makers, as well as 3 soda bottlers, 11 restaurants, and 6 fruit sellers. Note that in 1924 there were no saloons and no breweries; it was Prohibition, and one needed the password to find out where those were located.

Chapter Seven presents the beauty of Appleton’s residences, parks, and leisure activities. The early homes of Appleton were nothing more than wooden shanties. When industry began to take hold along the river; the money began to flow as well. The homes became more grand and ornate, and the hotels added romantic details and luxury to the once rustic, pioneer Appleton. The city had parks and squares throughout, with the original ravine areas made some of the best parks with their hidden, private, sanctuary-like atmosphere. Lutz Park once boasted a ski jump, and Jones Park still hosts a winter skating rink.

Chapter Eight tours many places in Appleton’s public school system. Carolyn Kellogg surmises in her book A History of Pride, Appleton Public Schools that Daniel Huntley was the first teacher in the winter of 1851. He taught at the southeast corner of College Avenue