MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIRPERSON TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 70
PLANNING COMMITTEE IN ATTENDANCE:
Mark & Karen Moderson, Tom Sutter, James Richter, Christine Williams, Linda Muldoon, Laura Leimer, John Marx, Dave Buss.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
•HISTORY FAIR – March 19, 9-12:30. Held during the Indoor Winter Farmer’s Market, City Center
•APRIL MEETING - April 20. Jane Azzi, retired librarian and historian - the first paper mill in Appleton, the Richmond Brothers Mill.
•MAY MEETING – May 18. Erin Dix, University Archivist for Lawrence University-
History of the college since it’s founding in 1847.
•JUNE MEETING - June 15. Tricia Adams, Executive Director, Hearthstone Historical House Museum – Life in Appleton during the Victorian Era.
•JULY MEETING – July 20. Frank Anderson, author of “Wicked Fox Cities”
•AUGUST MEETING - August 17. Speaker to be announced.
•SEPTEMBER MEETING – September 21. Janice Krahn, Corporate Archivist and Historian for Thrivent Financial – the History of the Aid Association for Lutherans.
APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BECOMING A REGISTERED ORGANIZATION:
Chairperson Tom Sutter reported that on March 11th the AHS Articles of Incorporation were filed with the state. We also do have a Tax Number now, but are not rated as non profit until verification is received from the state.
APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 3/16/11 PAGE 2
PLANS FOR UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND NEW EVENTS:
Public Relations Director Christine Williams asked for some help in lining up new monthly program speakers. She also reported that there has been some interest in doing one or more “Cemetery Walks” or “History Walks”.
PLANS FINALIZED FOR SECOND HISTORY FAIR AT THE APPLETON DOWNTOWN WINTER FARM MARKET – Saturday, March 19, 2011:
Jim Richter reported that the Planning Committee consisting of he, Mark and Karen Moderson, Christine Williams as well as Dujuanna Hugdahl, ADI Winter Farm Market Manager have been making arrangements for the March 19th event. Changes:
DISPLAY AREA:
*We will expand display area into all of the rear room for the March 19, 2011 event.
* We will be adding 5 or more new exhibitors to those who participated at the first Fair.
*Exhibitors with ongoing displays are modifying exhibits from one event to another to keep up visitor interest.
DISPLAY TABLE ASSIGNMENTS AND PLACEMENT:
***MOVING AHS REGISTRATION TO THE RIGHT JUST INSIDE ROOM ENTRANCE
***ELIMINATING MIDDLE OF THE ROOM TABLES
***PLACING BRIAN SCHNEIDER’S TABLE IN MORE CONSPICUOUS SPOT, WITH A “PHOTO RESTORATION” SIGN DISPLAYED (Sign done by Williams)
***PLACING ANOTHER DONATION BUCKET AT BRIAN’S DISPLAY
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS CONSIDERED:
*Mark Moderson will appear on WHBY Radio on Friday, March 18, 2011
* As of 3/14/11 Christine has arranged All Community First CU’s and Capitol CU Bulletin Boards.
*Name tags on our AHS Calling Cards will be made for all Exhibitors by Christine.
REMINDER TO CHECK THE AHS WEBSITE REGULARLY:
Our Computer Expert Brian Schneider and Public Relations Director Christine Williams are working hard to maintain and update our Web Page. Regularly they are inserting new historic pictures and information about Appleton Historical Society meetings and events in the works. To reach our Web Site go to www.appletonhistory.org
APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 3/16/11 PAGE 3
PROGRAM SPEAKER – Tom McNeely- “The History of Appleton’s Streetcars/Appleton Electric Railway System”
•McNeely Background:
A. Serves as a historian for the Appleton Electric Railway System.
B. Was on the team that built the trolley car for Trolley Square.
•McNeely Research:
A. Wisconsin Electric
B. Festival of Lights Celebration.
•Chronology of Events:
A. After the success of installing electric lighting in several Appleton homes including the Hearthstone, a group of businessmen led by Judge J.E. Harriman explored the possibilities of having a streetcar in Appleton. After raising $35,000.00 the men organized the Appleton Electric Railway in 1885.
B. The Railway went into operation on August 16, 1886, with five cars built by the Pullman Company, Chicago. The cars were fitted with direct-tapping controllers and a troller to be used on the double wired system. The main route began in the flats area on Oneida Street, went up the hill to College Avenue, went along Rankin and ended it’s loop trip at the Riverside Cemetary. It returned to College Avenue, then south on State to Prospect, north on Mason and returned downtown. Costs per ride not known, but Chicago’s system at the time was charging $.10 per rider. By 1890 the entire line ran out of money and closed down.
C. In February of 1890 the Edison Light Company of New York purchased the railway for $30,000, and it became known as the Appleton Edison Electric Company. New tracks were installed with rail bonds along with a new single wire system. New yellow cars were built by the St Louis Car Company and began running in August of 1890. By 1896 the line was again in financial trouble and was sold for $125,000 to a group of bond holders.
D. The new company formed was the Appleton Electric Light and Power Company. Also formed was the Fox River Valley Electric Railway Company to build an interurban to Menasha. The route was intended to go past Waverly Beach to Menasha and end up connecting with the Neenah Horse Car Line. (NOTE PER OUR RESIDENT HISTORIAN DAVE KALZ - Appleton never had a Horse Car system.)
E. By 1899 the Appleton System was worn out again and was purchased by the interurban company with the entire system renamed The Wisconsin Traction, Light, Heat, and Power Company a subsidiary of the Milwaukee Electric group.
In the coming 20 years larger cars, better track and service to Kaukauna occurred.
By 1918 the lines had the heaviest traffic densities of any Wisconsin transit system.
APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 3/16/11 PAGE 4
F. After the war a few bus lines started to develop. Bus drivers would park outside of the Trolley stations ahead of the train schedule to try to steal passengers away. Soon the buses took a more direct route and ridership grew. The automobile also started taking away passengers by 1920.
G. In the 20’s new smaller cars were received from the Milwaukee system to update the Appleton system.
H. The North American Company took over control of the Appleton systems after 1923 and in 1927 Wisconsin Traction merged with other utilities to form the Wisconsin Michigan Power Company. With most of their interest in creating electric power WMPCO asked the Railroad Commission to abandon the line from Neenah to Kaukauna.
I. Birney Cars continued to serve the city of Appleton until abandonment of all city service was approved in 1930. The last car ran April 6, 1930. Buses from a private operator took over the City routes.
•McNeely showed Video tapes of the First Run and Last Run of the Trolley which were made from restored movies.
•In 1983 for the Celebration of the Festival of Lights efforts were made to restore the Trolley Car line including some track and a car or two. The first car they obtained was #978 from East Troy. It was broke in transportation. Car #846 was found in a Kentucky swamp and continues to be restored in Appleton.
ORGANIZATION’S ACTING LEADERSHIP:
•Tom Sutter, Acting Chairperson
•James Richter, Acting Recording Secretary
•Mark & Karen Moderson, Organizers
•Christine Williams, Communications Director
Respectfully, James L. Richter
AHS Secretary 3/24/11