MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Atlas Mill, Suite 150
CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIRPERSON TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 52
OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Tom Sutter, Mark Moderson, Gwen Sargeant, Linda Muldoon, Brian Schneider, David Buss, Laura Leimer, Karen Probst, John Marx, Christine Williams, and James Richter
REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
April 17 – Tom and Janet Sutter will present “ Unique Homes of Appleton”
May 15 – Matt Jackering, “The History of Waverly Masonic Lodge #51”.
June 19 –Transition “Appleton Gallery of Art” to Trout, Phil Sealy.
June 21 – Light Up the Fox River- Luminary Celebration and River Bike Ride, Co-Chaired by our own Gwen Sargeant.
July 17 - The History of Fox Valley Technical College presented by Alice Dumke, Jerry Rickman and Ron Toshner.
August 18- AHS Cemetery Walk at Riverside Cemetery.
August 21 - The History of the Appleton YMCA presented by Bill Breider and Sue Pawlowski.
Sept 18 - History of Presto Products.
October 16 - History of Pierce Manufacturing.
November 20 – Appleton Picture Show.
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 Chris Shaw, Executive Director Appleton Utilities Department, for providing an interesting program last month on the History of the City of Appleton Water and Waste Water System. Audience involvement was excellent.
B. Thanks again to Randy Stadtmueller for the use of Suite 150 in the historic Atlas Paper Mill Complex for tonight’s meeting.
C. Just a reminder that previous meeting presentations can be found on YouTube.
D. Door Prize – a $10.00 Gift Certificate with a purchase from Spats won by Betty Wolfgram.
E. Tom pointed out that the owner of Spat’s is looking for historic pictures and artifacts on his bar. The place use to be Haupt’s Bar. Anyone that can help should contact Mark Moderson.
F. Final reminder to renew your annual membership if you have not yet done so.
G. HISTORIC EVENTS COMING UP IN THE AREA:
1. Watch for a number of events coming this year to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Appleton YMCA.
2. Thanks to Pierce Manufacturing for participating in our recent History Fair. Their display on this year’s Anniversary Celebration was well receive. Keep alert for other event’s highlighting their Anniversary.
AHS History Fair – Saturday, March 2, 2013:
It was a great winter day for this our 6th History Fair. The event was again held as part of the Appleton Downtown Winter Farm Market. The site was the City Center in downtown Appleton. The attendance of 265 visitors and comments received showed great support for this “Feast for the Eyes”.
Historic Printed Media was our Central Theme. We were blessed to have Focus Exhibits on Pierce Manufacturing’s 100th Anniversary and Fox River Bus Lines. As usual, a wide variety of exhibits and artifacts were displayed.
We were all pleased with the number of visitors and the genuine interest in Appleton artifacts shown. Attendees enjoyed talking about local history and viewing the following exhibits:
(1) Appleton Historical Society Welcome Table – David Buss
(2) Tom Sutter – Maps and Books
(3) Brian Schneider – artifact scanning and AHS Facebook Displays
(4) Arvin & BettyWolfgram – post cards and pictures
(5) Jim Richter – scales, books and artifacts
(6) Jim Krueger-pictures & artifacts
(7) Mark Moderson with plat books, directories and artifacts.
(8) John Marx with trade cards and artifacts
(9) Dave Kalz, books, photos and postcards
(10) Michael Broeren- Books & artifacts (FOX RIVER BUS LINES EXHIBIT)
(11) Donna & Barney Hameister – books, pictures and artifacts.
(12) Christine Williams – Books and Photos
(13) David Buss – (PIERCE MANUFACTURING EXHIBIT)
(14) Karen Probst, Public Library - Directories and Plat Books
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. Special thanks to Pierce Manufacturing and the Fox River Bus Lines Family for providing exhibit materials and a representative. We also appreciate the excellent advertising and news coverage provided by the Post Crescent, Bargain Bulletin, WHBY Radio, as well as Community 1st and Capitol Credit Unions.
James Richter, Co-Chairman
Mark Moderson, Co-Chairman
AHS Public Open House – Sunday, April 28, 2013:
President Sutter reported on an issue brought before the February 13th Board Meeting by Mark Moderson and Jim Richter. The two had discussed their disappointment in being unable to complete
the AHS City Hall Exhibit as planned for the fall of 2012. Moderson proposed and Richter endorsed displaying the City Hall Exhibits at our Atlas Mill Suite 150 as part of a highly advertised Public Open House. The Board recommended pursuing.
Sutter consulted our Building Owner and received authorization to do the exhibit. Sutter asked for and received a consensus from the general membership during today’s meeting.
Sunday, April 28, 2013, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. was selected to hold the Open House. Admission will be free. We also agreed to serve coffee, juice and water, and ask members to make cookies or bars that can be served. It was further recognized that several of the display items are now the property of AHS and can be permanently displayed at Suite 150 – as long as we have use of the facilities.
AHS Cemetary Walk – Sunday, August 18, 2013:
President Sutter also reported on the Board’s approval for another Cemetery Walk. The event will be held on Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Riverside Cemetery. Gwen Sargeant will again be serving as Chairman. More information forthcoming.
Public Relations and Web Page Report:
Gwen Sargeant our lead Public Relations and Web Page person gave a report on Upcoming Programs, see partial listing shown above.
Update on the Vulcan Appleton’s First Electric Plant:
AHS Board Members Laura Leimer and Linda Muldoon gave a report on Appleton’s First Electric Plant. The plant known as the Vulcan plant was relocated on the southwest corner of the main South Lawe Street bridge some years ago. The City has been repainting the current building and will be installing a new window. Planning is underway to arrange tours by reservation only for the redecorated facility.
Restoring Lock Tender Houses Report:
Our Vice President Christine Williams reported on plans for restoring the 10 former lock tenders houses that border the Fox River between DePere and Menasha. The goal is to one by one to restore the houses for rest areas and hostels. Christine has done extensive research on the Lock tenders, their families and their homes. She has written a History of Lock Tenders that should be published in the near future.
PROGRAM- Matt Astleford, St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, The History of St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Astleford’s Role:
A. Serves as St. Elizabeth Hospital’s Development Specialist.
B. Has been researching the Hospital’s history and identifying it’s artifacts.
History of St. Elizabeth Hospital:
A. The hospital started in an eleven room, two story, frame house located at 110 E. Fremont Street.
B. The first patient was brought into the hospital in a horse drawn wagon.
C. There were no beds or equipment when the hospital first opened.
D. The house’s rooms were all used for patients. The Nuns who manned the hospital lived in the attic upstairs.
E. An individual by the name of Tom Nooyen was the hospital’s first Surgical Patient.
F. Funding was sparse at first and the Nun’s went to any length to get operating funds. Sisters Cotilda and Antonia even took the train to Stockbridge to solicit funds.
G. Neighbors helped with providing food and supplies to help the struggling hospital
H. In it’s first years the hospital treated some 108 patients (95 of which were surgical).
I. As needs grew the Sisters were able to solicit a donation that helped them acquire 8 acres of land in 1900.
J. Immediately a new two story brick facility was built on the property, and on May 8, 1901, the new hospital was opened and dedicated.
K. In it’s first 20 years of business the hospital treated thousands of patients.
L. In 1920 the hospital was increased in size to 55 beds. This was paid for by a $200,000 donation from the Order of Franciscan Sisters, and the community raised some $300,000.
M. In the late 1920’s nurses were in charge of patient care, and were paid for each 24 hour shift.
N. By the 1930’s the hospital treated over 4000 patients per year.
O. In 1955 a Polio Epidemic broke out and 1 ½ floors of the hospital were dedicated to polio patients alone.
P. The hospital prospered with many dedicated volunteers. Helena Graf served as the first President of the St. E’s Hospital Auxiliary in 1958.
Q. In 1966 the original hospital building was raised.
R. By the early 1970’s daily charges increased drastically.
S. In the 1980’s daily occupancy was up to 332 beds and the average stay was 7 days.
T. In 1983 the Kathleen Rankin Hostel was opened across the street for families of patients.
U. In 1988 the Hospital underwent a $20,000,000 renovation.
V. In 1990 St. E’s merged with Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh. Shortly thereafter Appleton’s LaSalle Clinic and Chilton’s Hospital joined the group.
W. The need for space and updating is an ongoing thing with the hospital complex. Currently Phase 3 is underway. This consists of new birthplace unit, breast center, and cancer center. Boldt Construction Company is the General Contractor. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2015.
X. St. Elizabeth’s wants the community to see their new facilities and encourages people to come and see the facility. Astleford personally offers exclusive tours at anytime, but please schedule in advance.
Y. Their will be a striking change to the fascade in the near future when the building section closest to South Oneida Street will be torn down and a new bed tower will be built.
Z. Interestingly enough the Franciscan Sisters actually lived in the hospital itself right up until the early 2000’s.
AA. The hospital continues to be a non-profit organization managed by the Franciscan Sisters.
Respectfully, James L. Richter
AHS Secretary, 3/30/13