MEETING MINUTES
& PROGRAM SUMMARY
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Atlas Mill, Suite 150
CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIRPERSON TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 43
OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Tom Sutter, Christine Williams, Mark Moderson, Gwen Sargeant, David Buss, John Marx, Brian Schneider, Karen Probst and James Richter
REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
Sept 18 - History of Presto Products.
October 16 - History of Pierce Manufacturing.
November 20 – Appleton Picture Show.
December 7 – 7th AHS History Fair, Appleton City Center.
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 OPENING REMARKS:
A. President Sutter began with a Memorium to his Mother who passed away this last week. The deepest sympathy of all of our AHS Board and Membership is extended to Tom and the entire Sutter family.
B. Based upon the action of the Board of Directors at it’s August 14th Board Meeting, the Appleton Historical Society is in the process of becoming an affiliate of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
C.Thanks to Alice Dumke, Merlin Gentz and Ron Toshner.for last month’s program
on the History of Fox Valley Technical College.
D. Door Prize – a $10.00 Gift Certificate to Van’s Northside Hardware was won by Vicky
Johnson..
E. HISTORIC EVENTS COMING IN THE AREA:
1.The Historic Grignon Mansion has reopened in downtown Kaukauna.
F.. Thanks again to Randy Stadtmueller for the use of Suite 150 in the historic Atlas Paper
Mill Complex for tonight’s meeting.
G. Just a reminder that previous meeting presentations can be found on YouTube.
H. Another reminder that Sutter and Schneider still have DVD videos of Appleton’s
historic trolley cars and their history.
Officer and Committee Chair Reports
Christine Williams, Vice President, gave a report on:
(1) Upcoming programs and events.
(2) There will be a meeting with Mayors event that we will be involved in.
(3) The Outagamie Museum’s current exhibit on “Foods and Us”. Urged us all to attend.
(4) Neenah Historical Society will have a special event consisting of a Museum Tour along with a Bike Ride.
AHS Cemetary Walk – Sunday, August 18, 2013 Report:
Our second AHS Cemetary Walk was held on Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Riverside Cemetary. Gwen Sargeant did a terrific job as chairperson. A number of Role Players appeared as former Mayors of the City of Appleton, they included Tom Sutter, Brian Schneider, and Tim Trettin.
A total of 60 guests attended.
PROGRAM – The History of the Appleton YMCA presented by Bill Breider and Sue Pawlowski. Celebrating their 125th Anniversary.
Speaker Backgrounds:
A. Bill Breider was appointed President/CEO of the YMCA of the Fox Cities in November, 2007. Prior to this appointment he served as Executive Director of the Neenah-Menasha and Belvidere, IL YMCAs and he also worked at the Manitowoc-Two Rivers and Oshkosh YMCA’s.
B. Sue Pawlowski has been working at the YMCA since 1979. She is the Community Relations Director for the YMCA of the Fox Cities.
Historical Events of the Appleton Area YMCA’s and YWCA’s:
A. On February 23, 2013, the Appleton YMCA celebrated it’s 125th Anniversary with festivities at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley Center.
B. The Appleton YMCA was started on the second floor of a commercial building at 112 W. College Avenue. The Facility consisted of a Reading Room and a Gym.
C. The goal of the organization was to keep men and boys off the street.
D. F. J. Harwood served as President of the YMCA Board from it’s inception.
E. After the first year the YMCA moved to 134 W. College Avenue. Membership had grown to 150.
F. In 1888 the YMCA moved to over the Congregational Church. Unfortunately the church was destroyed by fire in 1893.
G. As a result of the Fire the YMCA started a fund drive to raise funds for a new facility:
1. Dr. J.T. Reeve donated $500.00 toward a new facility with matching funds.
2. Mr. & Mrs. Justin Rosebush donated $25,000 toward purchase of land and construction of a building at the corner of Oneida and Lawrence Streets.
H. By 1925 the membership of the Appleton YMCA consisted of 1,050 men and 450 boys.
I. In 1964 the Appleton YMCA built and opened Camp Nanabosho near Mountain, Wisconsin, with programs including archery and riflery.
J. In 2000 the Appleton YMCA and the Neenah YWCA consolidated and became the YMCA of the Fox Cities.
K. On September 23, 2002, they opened the Heart of the Valley YMCA in Kimberly, which was an instant success. It started with 80,000 square feet.
L. On October 20, 2002, the Fox West YMCA was built on School Road in Greenville.
M. Shortly thereafter Barbara and Bruce Purdy donated the Apple Creek YMCA Nature Center north of Appleton.
Development of the YWCA:
A. Miss Helen Babcock and Mrs. Bergstrom started the Young Women’s Club from 1913 to 1915.
B. In 1929 the YWCA was chartered in Neenah with $9,600.00. Programs offered were classes, bible study, weekend dances, and model building.
C. The Neenah facility was originally located at 138 N. Commercial Street.
D. In 1907 the YWCA built a new facility at West North Water Street which was used until 1965 when a new facility was built.
Programs Offered:
A. The focus of their programs have been on the mind and body.
B. They have offered programs to men and women of all ages including the elderly.
C. The original YMCA offered lodging to the public.
D. In the 1930’s they even offered theater classes.
E. Clubs were developed for young members and were called Hi-Y’s and Tri-Y’s. They were very successful, especially at the High School level.
F. Also in the 1960’s music classes were added.
G. In the 1980’s they started to provide child care for working parents.
H. Aquatics became a part of the YMCA out east and in Appleton soon after.
I. Interestingly enough the YMCA invented basketball and later volleyball.
Respectfully, James L. Richter
AHS Secretary, 9/5/13