MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Atlas Mill, Suite 150
CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIRPERSON TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 84
OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Tom Sutter, Gwen Sargeant, Linda Muldoon, Brian Schneider, David Buss, Laura Leimer, John Marx, Karen Probst, Christine Williams and James Richter
REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
February 20 – Chris Shaw, Asst. Director of Utilities, The History of the Appleton Water Department.
March 2 - History Fair, Inside the Appleton City Center, as part of the Indoor Farmers Market
March 20 – Matt Astleford, St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, The History of St. Elizabeth Hospital.
April 17 – Tom and Janet Sutter will present “ Unique Homes of Appleton”
May 15 – Matt Jackering, Junior Warden, “The History of Waverly Masonic Lodge #51”.
Sept 18 - History of Presto Products
APPLETON 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
Committee Chairs for the organization are as follows:
A. Mark and Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers
B. Brian Schneider, Technical Resources
C. David Buss, Research Specialist
D. Gwen Sargeant, Public Relations and Web Page
PRESIDENT SUTTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A. Thanks to Brian Schneider, Gwen Sargeant and Dave Kalz for all their hard work in putting on our AHS Picture show at our November 21st Meeting. The audience loved the pictures and enjoyed reminiscing.
B. Thanks again to Randy Stadtmueller for the use of Suite 150 in the historic Atlas Paper Mill Complex for tonight’s meeting.
C. Special thanks is also extended to Gannett Publications for regular coverage in their Bulletin paper.
D. Just a reminder that previous meeting presentations can be found on YouTube.
E. Door Prize – a luscious Gift Certificate from Wilmar Candies was won by Jim Smith, a visitor for the evening.
F. Final reminder to renew your annual membership if you have not yet done so.
G. HISTORIC EVENTS COMING UP IN THE AREA:
1. Christine Williams our Vice President will be doing a presentation on Lock Tenders of the Fox River Valley at the Touchmark complex on 1/22/13.
2. Their will be a Show and Tell Event at the Picture This Gallery, 2631 N. Meade Street, on 1/19/13.
3. The Neenah Historical Society is doing a volunteer spotlight on our own Gwen Sargeant for her terrific work in developing the NHS Web Site.
4. Former AHS Treasurer Jack Voight will be opening a Butterfly Garden this summer, watch the news for further information.
AHS COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS:
Christine Williams, Vice President, and Communications Committee Member:
1. Gave a summary of upcoming AHS programs through May (See List Above).
2. Made special note of our 6th History Fair at the City Center will be held March 2nd.
3. Encouraged us to take in the Leonardo DaVinci exhibit at the Outagamie Museum.
5th AHS HISTORY FAIR REPORT:
James Richter, Co-Chairman, along with Mark Moderson, Co-Chairman, reported it was a beautiful day for our 5th 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 276 visitors was very encouraging and showed a growing support for the History Fair.
A wide array of exhibits and artifacts were displayed. We had a Central Theme of Appleton Soda Bottling Companies as well as a Focus Exhibit on Appleton Papers.
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. Thanks to thirteen exhibitors who manned some 18 tables.
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; The Paper Discovery Center for providing exhibit materials; and, Appleton Papers for historical information. 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.
PROGRAM- The History of Appleton’s Streets and Avenues Names
Gwen Sargeant, David Buss, and Brian Schneider gave a presentation on the history of Appleton Streets and their names. With the assistance of President Sutter a number of historic city maps were on display and used as visual aids.
The Orgin of and Patterns Shown in Names Selected Over the Years Included:
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A. The names of City Leaders including Elected Officials, e.g. Story Street named after Appleton’s first Mayor Amos Story.
B. The names of National Leaders including Elected Officials, e.g. Washington Street was named after President Washington.
C. Donators for a named street, e.g. Circle Street was named for developer Mr. Cirkel.
D. Compass directions.
E. Location based names.
F. Names of plat developers and large land owners, e.g. Erb Street was named for Herman Erb
G. Names of City and Construction Engineers, e.g. Alton Street.
H. Native American words.
I. Appleton’s pioneers, e.g. Reader Smith.
J. Tree names, e.g. Pine Street.
Unusual Characteristics and Trivia on Individual Streets:
A. A few streets have had two or more names during their history, e.g. Ryan Street became Commercial Street, State Road became Badger Avenue, Second Street became Wisconsin Avenue, and Cherry Street became Memorial Drive.
B. Numbered streets which run east and west are in sequence from the River north, e.g. the County Court House is on the 6th street from the river.
C. In 1924 City Administration formally declared dividing lines by compass direction in the City. So Oneida Street became the East – West Dividing Line, and College Avenue became the North – South Dividing Line. Streets were then numbered from those dividers.
D. The shortest street in Appleton is City Center Street.
Respectfully, James L. Richter
AHS Secretary, 1/24/13