MEETING MINUTES And 4th History Fair Report
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Paper Discovery Center
CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIRPERSON TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 78
BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Mark Moderson, Tom Sutter, James Richter, Linda Muldoon, Laura Leimer, Brian Schneider, Dave Buss and Gwen Sargeant.
REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
MARCH 21 – Tom Boldt will give a presentation on the life of Harry Houdini.
APRIL 18 – Ivan Spangenberg, retired conductor of the Appleton City Band will discuss it’s history.
MAY 16 - Joe Gaerthofner, “Appleton’s Bloodiest Day” – recounts an incident in the Civil War during 1863.
June 20 - Chris Mehring, Director of Media Relations/Radio Announcer, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. “Appleton Professional Baseball and It’s History”
July 18 - Ken Syring, A History of Appleton Airports.
IAPPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION:
Officers and Committee Chairs for the organization are as follows:
A. President - Thomas Sutter
B. Vice President - Christine Williams
C. Secretary – James Richter
D. Treasurer – Laura Leimer
E. Mark and Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers
F. Brian Schneider, Technical Resources
G. David Buss, Research Specialist
PRESIDENT SUTTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A. Extended his deepest thanks to Chloe Siamof for last month’s program on the History of the Appleton West High School.
B. Recognized Gwen Sargeant of the Society for all her efforts in developing our online resources, especially our newsletter that was first published in January.
C. Also acknowledged Matthew Payne’s ongoing efforts in filming each of our monthly program and publishing them on DVD’s. He could not be present for this meeting.
D. Shared his excitement about June’s program that was just arranged- Chris Mehring of the Timber Rattlers will do a presentation on the History of Appleton Baseball.
E. Did the night’s Door Prize Drawing –A Gift Certificate from Pizza King for a Pizza and a Pizza Cutter was won by Don Kwetak.
AHS History Fair – Saturday, March 3, 2012:
Jim Richter, Co-Chairman, reported on planning for our 4th History Fair that will be held as part of the Appleton Downtown Winter Farm Market at the City Center on Saturday, March 3, 2012. We have commitments from 18 Exhibitors for the March event.
AHS COMMUNICATIONS REPORT:
A. Jim Richter, AHS Secretary, reminded the audience that the minutes of each of our Monthly Meetings, including notes on the speaker’s program, are available on our website. Also each person on our email list automatically receives them as an attachment when upcoming meeting notices are sent to them. Richter offered those not on our email list or first time visitors to pickup a hard copy of last meeting’s minutes at the information table as they leave tonight’s meeting.
PROGRAM SPEAKER – Brad Brautigam – the history of the Appleton Fire Department.
Brad’s Background:
A. Appleton native.
B. Received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
C. Spent four years as a commercial fisherman.
D. In 2003 came to the Appleton Fire Department, becoming the 4th generation of the Brautigam family to serve the Appleton Fire Department.
Brad’s History Presentation:
A. On June 12, 1854, the Appleton City Council passed an ordinance to prevent fires and regulate the fighting of same.
B. In April 1855 Jackson Tibbits was chosen as Appleton’s first Fire Chief.
C. In April 1862 Mayor William Johnston organized a Hook & Ladder Company.
D. In April 1863 the first Volunteer Fire Company was formed.
E. In June of 1863 the City Council approved the purchase of a hand-operated, horse-drawn fire engine.
F. October 1863 George Kreiss was named the Fire Chief.
G. In 1868 a fire tower was built for hanging hose at a cost of $110.00.
H. In 1873 the Company got it’s first Fire Steamer. Three years later in 1876 a second was purchased.
I. The need for a fire service was never more apparent than the period from 1850 through 1890 when many tragic fires occurred in Appleton.
J. In November 11, 1894, Appleton Fire Department becomes a professional organization with paid, full time firefighters.
K. In early 1895 Elmer Anderson was appointed Fire Chief.
L. During the 1890’s until 1907 the first fire station was located on the southwest corner of Washington and Oneida Streets.
M. A Station #2 was located at the northwest corner of State and Eighth Streets.
N. During this period the rigs were towed by horses and setups were used that allowed a team of horses to be rigged in 6 seconds.
O. During the late 1890’s AFD assisted other area communities with major fires.
P. As time progressed the department implemented an alarm box system throughout the City. This system sent a signal by telegraph to all stations and the pump house. At the same time a ticker tape machine would record the location of call box making an alarm.
Q. In 1895 the work week for firefighters was 154 hours.
R. In 1899 Station #3 was built at the corner of Lake Street (Olde Oneida) and Railroad Street.
S. On February 13, 1902 George McGillan was appointed Fire Chief.
T. On April 6, 1907, Station #1 was moved to the northwest corner of Washington and Oneida Streets.
U. In November of 1913 got a Buick car as it’s first motorized vehicle.
V. In November of 1915 the department purchased two American LaFrance fire vehicles.
W. In 1917 the first American LaFayette motor powered pumper engine was acquired.
X. In 1926 the City upgraded the Chief’s car to a 1926 Reo Sport Roadster at a cost of $1,985.00.
Y. In 1928 the City bought a 1925 Seagrave Fire Engine. (THIS ENGINE WAS BOUGHT BACK BY BRAUTIGAM IN 2011 FROM THE ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE AND A GROUP OF APPLETON FIREFIGHTERS HAVE STARTED A FOUNDATION TO RAISE FUNDS TO RESTORE THE UNIT TO LIKE NEW CONDITION).
Z. Surprisingly the department had open cabs on it’s fire trucks until the 1970’s.
AA. Over the history of the department only 3 firefighters have lost their lives.
BB. Brautigam invites us all to view the Appleton Fire Department Museum located in the lobby of current Fire Station #1 on Drew Street. Tours are available.
Brad’s Promotional Activities:
A. In 2004 he started a quest to collect and organize historical documents on the Appleton Fire Department.
B. IN 2011 A 1925 SEAGRAVE FIRE ENGINE FORMERLY OWNED BY APPLETON WAS BOUGHT BACK BY BRAUTIGAM FROM THE ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE AND A GROUP OF APPLETON FIREFIGHTERS HAVE STARTED A FOUNDATION TO RAISE FUNDS TO RESTORE THE UNIT TO LIKE NEW CONDITION:
(1) Their group foresees this as a fund raiser for Community Service. Thus far have raised $6,700.00 of the $12,000.00 needed for restoration.
(2) Donations may be made through their website at www.afd.friends.com
Conclusion::
(1) Brad closed by answering a multitude of questions about the department past and present.
(2) Many thanks were expressed by several members of the audience for the department’s past Christmas Light Displays at Fire Station #1. Brad expressed the disappointment of both the firefighters and members of the community for cessation of the displays. He stressed that former Fire Chief Neal Cameron was forced to stop the annual practice because the time used was needed for regular department responsibilities.
Respectfully, James L. Richter
AHS Secretary 2/29/12
THE APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S 4TH HISTORY FAIR
March 3, 2012
Although a Winter Storm was underway outside, it was pleasantly warm and inviting inside at
our 4th History Fair. The event was again held as part of the Appleton Downtown Winter Farm Market at the City Center in downtown Appleton. Attendance of 176 visitors was very encouraging and showed a growing support for the History Fair. We displayed an even wider array of exhibits and artifacts than ever before. Attendees enjoyed viewing tables of exhibits and talking about local history. We were all pleased with the number of visitors and the genuine interest in Appleton artifacts shown. Exhibitors included:
(1) Appleton Historical Society Welcome Table - Dave Buss and Carol Liethen McIntyre.
(2) Brian Schneider - showing a 100th Anniversary of Appleton Wire Works film and also
doing free scanning of pictures and artifacts for attendees.
(3) Tom Sutter with a very large historic maps display.
(4) Jim Richter – antique scales from Appleton and with a Special Display on the Ford
Drug Company.
(5) Mark Moderson with a cement sample machine, business items and artifacts.
(6) John Marx with post cards and artifacts, and a Special Display on Tuttle Press.
(7) Dave Kalz, photos and postcards.
(9) Alan Deeg-Miller Electric and centennial items.
(10) Michael Broeren-post cards, milk bottles, glassware.
(11) Brian Zenefski- Adler Brau Collection.
(12) Don Hameister- post cards, pictures and artifacts.
(13) Barb Bacon – Appleton maps exhibit and artifacts.
(14) Arvin & Betty Wolfgram – post cards and pictures.
(15) Keith & Antoinette Powell – 3rd Ward Display, Neighborhood Web Searches.
(16) Dave Buss – Special Display on Tom’s Drive In Restaurants, and Bob’s Super Service.
We thank Jennifer Stephany and Dujuanna Hugdahl of Appleton Downtown Inc. for making the event possible. Thanks also go to Pfefferle Companies Inc. and their City Center Staff for providing space, equipment and assistance. We also appreciate the excellent news coverage that was provided prior to the event by the Appleton Post Crescent, the Bargain Bulletin, and WHBY Radio, as well as to Community 1st and Capitol Credit Unions who advertised the event on their billboards.
James Richter, Co-Chairman
Mark Moderson, Co-Chairman