MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Paper Discovery Center
CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIRPERSON TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 72
BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Mark Moderson, Laura Leimer, Tom Sutter, Dave Buss, Gwen Sargeant, Linda Muldoon, Brian Schneider and Karen Probst
REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
June 20 - Chris Mehring, Director of Media Relations/Radio Announcer, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. “Appleton Professional Baseball and It’s History”. ATLAS COFFEE MILL.
July 18 - Ken Syring, A History of Appleton Airports.
August 15 - Tim Trettin- The 125 year history of Brettschneider-Trettin Funeral Home.
September 19th - Bill Lecker, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, The History of Appleton Parks.
October 17th - Tony Knuppel – The 125 year history of Appleton Marble and Granite.
November 21st - Appleton Picture Show- BYOP to share and discuss.
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
E. Mark and Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers
F. Brian Schneider, Technical Resources
G. David Buss, Research Specialist
PRESIDENT SUTTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A. Thanks to Ivan “Ike” Spangenberg for last month’s presentation on the Appleton City Band.
B. Chloe Saimoff gave us a presentation on Appleton West High School earlier this year. Now in recognition of all her history work she has been given an award for her Preservation Efforts by Appleton West Management.
C. Thanks to the Paper Discovery Center and Kathleen Lhost, Executive Director, for the use of the facilities and their hospitality.
D. Everyone should be receiving the newsletter via e-mail.
E. You can find previous meeting presentations on YouTube.
F. Drawing and Door Prize – Mike Broeren won a polo shirt from Jacobs Meat Market.
AHS COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS:
A. Brian Schneider of our Technical Services and Communications Committee reminds us to consult our web site. New meeting videos on YouTube and interacting with other members on FaceBook.
B. Gwen Sargeant of our Technical Services and Communications Committee gave a summary of upcoming AHS programs (See List Above).
C. Antoinette Powell, Member, encouraged us all to attend the Appleton Hearthstone sponsored “Moonlight and Magnolias” play to be held at the UW-Fox College Auditorium. Tickets are $15.00 with proceeds going to the Historic Hearthstone.
PROGRAM SPEAKER :
MAY 16 - Joe Gaerthofner, “Appleton’s Bloodiest Day” – recounts an incident in the Civil War during 1863.
Gaerthofner’s Background:
A. Graduate of Appleton Xavier High School and UW-Oshkosh.
B. Joe is a Sales Consultant for Nordon Business Environments.
C. Because of a love for local history that he gained during College and his earliest professional years, he now is a self-proclaimed historian. This June he will be hosting his third guided tour of the historic Riverside Cemetary.
Joe’s Presentation:
Civil War Background:
1. Joe gave us a walk through of a portion of the Riverside Cemetary where he has hosted tours the past two years. Much of Appleton’s Civil War history has ended here.
2. During the Civil War Appleton’s Population was small.
3. The President Election of 1860 was a major factor in how the War evolved. Two most recognized candidates were Lincoln and Breckenridge.
4. Wisconsin Governor at the time was Mr. Randall who supported the Civil War and made a commitment to Lincoln to help with the effort. As a result when a formal call came out seeking help there was tremendous support in Appleton for the Union Cause.
5. A Silver and Gray Company was formed in Appleton for men 45 years old and above-it was meant to be a support unit for a mainline company.
6. Colonel Joseph Marston was one of two Appletonians to form an Appleton fighting company in 1861 and 1862.
7. 1862 and 1863 proved to be tough times for Wisconsin Soldiers.
8. A Captain Jewett formed another Company in Appleton which was called
Company D of the 21st Wisconsin.
9. In 1861 a third company was formed led by Theodore Conkey. Conkey came from York
in the United Kingdom. He migrated here and started as a Surveyor, and later owned a
General Store. He became a State Senator, and later helped Charter Outagamie County.
10. The Commander of the Third Wisconsin Calvary was a Colonel William Barstow (who
later was Wisconsin’s Secretary of State).
11. Amos A. Lawrence of Appleton was active in the war too, especially in the Kansas
battles. Lawrence, Kansas was later named for him.
12. Amos locked horns with Quantrill’s Raiders and William Quantrill during the War.
One who started out as a hero, Quantrill and his group later became bandits and vandalized
the country too.
B. Joe’s Central Message:
1. Wisconsin Soldiers efforts were significant in Lawrence, Kansas, during August of 1863 and thereafter.
2. On October 16, 1863, Quantrill started the Baxter Springs Cemetary Massacre. Appleton was there and this proved to be their Bloodiest Day. Appleton and Appleton area soldiers fought valiantly but 7 Appleton men died on one day, and 4 men from elsewhere in Outagamie County were also slain.
3. Never in Appleton’s History have we lost that many soldiers in one day of fighting. (NOTE: Appleton lost a total of 47 men in the entire Civil War.) (ALSO NOTE: Riverside Cemetary has some 300 Appleton men buried there who participated in the Civil War).
Respectfully, James L. Richter, AHS Secretary 5/30/12