The Appleton Historical Society was formed February 2010 by a group of Appleton area residents who would like to see Appleton's History preserved and accessible to the public

Mission: To Preserve and Share the History of The City of Appleton, WI

Goals: 1. Encourage the preservation and display of Appleton historical items. 2. Regularly present public programs, history fairs, history walks and other public events. 3. Encourage the development of and assist in the operation of a museum specific to Appleton history.

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For your privacy, we don't share or sell e-mail lists. You can have yours removed at any time.

Find the Appleton Historical Society Group page on Facebook and on YouTube!

Ongoing Activities:

Meetings, presentations, and events are open to everyone!  Come join us for whatever type of historical  interest you may have. If you have ideas for activities, events, or speakers for our presentations, please e-mail us OR post it on our Facebook group page.  If you would like to join our Facebook group page but are nervous about setting up an account, our tech guy can walk you through it.

There is no cost to you and we can teach you how to be safe on the internet!

We are had our first open house!  Special Thanks to those that made treats and did set up of the new displays for the open house. We had a great turnout, the weather co-operated with us for once.

 

Recently: History Fair, March 2nd, ADI Indoor Farmers Market, City Center.

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.
If you have Appleton related collectibles and you want to display them at our next History Fair,  Please contact us!
We have table space starting at 4x4 and on up to 16x4. Next Fair is Dec. 7th 2013 "Appleton at War" is the general theme.

We are still looking for someone to take notes during our monthly meetings .

For a map, click here to where we meet(next to Fratello's), 425 W. Water St. Appleton.
We now have a P.A. system to better hear our presenters.

Upcoming Presentations and Events:

Pic of the Month (click for larger)

Last Meeting: Tom and Janet Sutter on,  "Unique Homes of Appleton". Awsome Job, Thanks. May 15   Matt Jackering, Junior Warden, on the History of Waverly Masonic Lodge #51. June 19    Phil Sealy will present the history of the Appleton Art Gallery (now the Trout) July 17    FVTC 100 years of Learning, by Alyce Dumke, Jerry Rickman and Ron Toshner Aug 21   YMCA, 125 Years in Appleton by Bill Breider Sept 18    Jim Krueger, The Story of Presto Products Oct 16    Dawn Ruchala, Pierce Manufacturing's 100th anniversary Nov 20    Photo Show and Tell, Bring a few photos to show and be added to the AHS collection. Dec 7    History Fair, Indoor Appleton Farmers Market, City Center 9am-noon            For a Printable List of upcoming Events.click              Please feel free to print and display flyers, with permission, at local businesses,           to get the word out about our free monthly presentations and other events.             We are currently in need of someone to video our monthly presentations !    Typical recording time is about 1 hour, give or take 15 min. Thanks Kay  for  Helping record.

College Ave. Brandt Auto (Courtesy  Of  John Marx)

 

If you want to get our monthly E- newsletter:  (Click Here)               Back Issues of our Monthly Newsletter:  (Click Here)

Find the Appleton Historical Society Group page on Facebook and on YouTube!

Tom Boldt, Houdini aficianado, shares stories of Harry Houdini

Chloe Siamof shares the history of Appleton High School & West

Emily Gilbert shares the history of the Appleton Public Library

Cindy Czarnik-Neimeyer shares the history of Bellaire Court

Harlan Kiesow & Anne Biebel share the history of Appleton's locks

Be Involved  

Attention members and non-members! A little bit of your time and talent can make our Society even better!
Because of growing interest in the Appleton Historical Society, We need help with:
Dropping off brochures or flyers as needed (1 hour /month or as needed). Someone to edit video and/or audio of recorded presentations. People to write down, record, or video area residents that would like to have their stories of Appleton preserved for all of us to enjoy(call or email us).

 The Appleton Public Library is always in need for volunteers to help preserve documents to add to their Appleton collection.   People to Do or Write a short presentation on any current/former business, organization, or person that has a long history with Appleton

If you have information about the following, Please email us!

Your stories or info about gone mom and pop type businesses and railroads of Appleton (any info).
Looking for any of your old pictures that may have something interesting about Appleton.
Looking for pics of businesses on Wisconsin Ave.
Also pics of 600 block College Ave. businesses in the area between State and Linwood Streets.

Check out the Appleton Facebook page created by Kim Hanagan
Remembering Appleton: Pictures from 1950's - 1970's Photo Page
Post your photos or questions about Appleton for others to talk about, this site is great!

Pictures:
If you have interesting old Appleton pictures you can't part with, let us scan them.
They will be added to our collections in your name (a free service).
Contact us if you would like to have a scanning party.

If YOU have ideas for other events or programs you would like to see for future events, please contact us.

Membership!

Join the Appleton Historical Society
Individual $15,   Family $25,   Business $50
per calendar year.
Membership requires no special commitments, be involved as much or as little as you like.
Download Membership Application Here

Appleton Artifacts Collection on display on the 2nd floor of the Appleton Public Library in the Wisconsin area.
This is just a part of a collection that belongs to one of our members, very extensive, please stop up there for a look!
The Historic Zuelke Building has a display there in the main lobby.
Stop in to check out old Appleton items from downtown, as displays will change periodically.

Other Activities and Goals:

A.H.S. volunteer to speak on a local radio station monthly/bi-monthly about Appleton history.
Help others that are interested in preserving their photos, artifacts, or memories of Appleton.
To make our website a complete source for preserving and information about the Appleton area.

Videos On YouTube:

Also the Timber Rattlers have found  some historical AFoxes movies of their own that are posted on their YouTube site(link) under the "uploaded videos" section. They are various ones listed as "blast from the past".

Appleton had the world's first commercially successful streetcar powered by locally generated hydroelectricity beginning on August 16, 1886. The last run of the trolley was April 6, 1930 @ 11:40 pm, when the system was replaced by city buses the following monday. The YouTube video is an edited version. The full version with footage of the restoration of a streetcar can be purchased on DVD from the Appleton Historical Society for $20. Thanks to John Retzlaff for the corrections about the video and the pic to the right. Click Here to see the video on YouTube.

View other Appleton related videos and presentations from our monthly meetings at
youtube.com/apphistsociety
Videos are viewable for free through the link on our website, but can also be purchased.  
We encourage retirement communities or other organizations to show past presentations.

Matthew P. Payne has volunteered countless hours videotaping and editing meetings. 5 meetings are on You Tube,
with more added each month.  Thanks to Matthew for all of his hard work.

The Appleton Historical Society website is hosted by Fox Cities Online.

This site is for historical reference and is only as accurate as its sources. Any documents or photographs posted here are the property of their rightful creators unless otherwise noted. Some of the artwork, photographs or documents posted here may have copyrights and only be copied for personal use.