Fox Footprints Blog Feed

Cross and Crown

kprobst — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:49:06 +0000

Thu, Apr 11, 2013

The library got a gift yesterday. Someone donated their 1957 issue of the Cross and Crown. If you’re not familiar with it, this is the yearbook from Fox Valley Lutheran High School. We do maintain a collection of yearbooks from Appleton schools, but for some reason the oldest we had of this publication was 1991.

There is a big gap between 1957 and 1991, so of course we’d like to fill it in! If you happen to run across your old copy of a yearbook from any Appleton High school or Middle school, we would be happy to adopt it. Spring cleaning is just around the corner. At least that’s what the calendar says. Sorry we can’t do anything about the weather!

Karen

A new peek into our past

kprobst — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:24:33 +0000

Thu, Jan 24, 2013

Great news for those of you who have been stymied by that annoying gap of coverage for a City Directory between 1874 and 1884. We are now able to offer you the 1877-78 Pryor's Appleton City Directory. It includes many of the standard things you would hope to find. The bulk is an alphabetical listing of "2,300 names, an increase of over 500 since 1874". There is also a business directory which is described as "a complete mirror of the business and manufacturing interests." I think my favorite part though, is the listing of all of the named streets, with a description of where they are in relation to other streets, or the river. Each of the six wards is clearly defined as well. This means you can trace the city streets back two years before the 1880 map. The directory is kept in safe storage (WR 917.7539 Pry) so you will have to request it from a staff member at the Reference Desk on the second floor, and use it here in the library. Here's hoping you will find a surprise!

City Directories

Karen

Boomers and basements

kprobst — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:11:16 +0000

Fri, Dec 7, 2012

I read another article in the newspaper today about Baby Boomers ending up being custodians of the accumulated treasures of their parents and grandparents. Speaking as someone who currently has a basement full of such things, I understand that completely. I also understand that some of those things are treasures to me as well because I know their story. That beautiful etched glass vase was a wedding present 60 years ago. Someday I will put flowers in it. But more and more, I don’t have a clue. Why did Gramma need four dozen salt cellars? (Probably the same reason I need all 37 of the hymn books I have.) The next generation will know less and less about these things and will likely toss them away as soon as possible. My sons and their wives, have already chosen a couple of small things, but continue to ask when we are going to clean out the rest of that stuff.

There is one thing that won’t be tossed, ever, and that’s the big box of family photos. Grampa as a little boy on the farm with his pet goat. Gramma’s graduation photo. The one single tiny black and white photo from their wedding. These are priceless, and must be kept! Luckily there are many ways to do that, and to share those things to keep their stories alive. Millennials (people under 30) have grown up with everything being available instantaneously on some kind of device. Heirlooms don’t fit in well in small apartments and moving every few years. But pictures do. They can be digitized or scanned and hundreds can be on a single gadget. So when you do get around to cleaning out the attic or the basement, capture those memories instead of just tossing them out. Surely your kids have room for a CD or two. You might even look at them occasionally.

Then think about who else might enjoy them. Do you have a photo of a building that is no longer standing in Appleton? Is your family one that has been here in the Valley for generations? Do you have a picture of the original angels on the Avenue? The Appleton Public Library has a collection of photos, some physical photos and some just scans of photos shared with us. We'd love to see some of yours! Check it out at www.foxvalleymemory.org. Plus, let me know if you are interested in a lot of glass salt cellars!

Karen

Appleton Public Library history

kprobst — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:34:12 +0000

Thu, Sep 6, 2012

I have been here for over 30 years, and I learn something new about our own history almost every day. If only that beautiful wood desk in the lower level of the library could talk! If you haven't seen it, stop down next time you're here. Just take the elevator to the basement and there it is! It has been refinished over the years of course, but it is the original desk from the 121 S. Oneida location. I love the fantastic capabilities of our online catalog and all that technology does for us, but there's still something about a good old card catalog that makes me smile. I'd also like to point out an interesting presentation about the history of the Appleton Public Library. One of our volunteers, Emily Gilbert, did a presentation at the November 2011 meeting of the Appleton Historical Society. You can watch it here.

library

Karen

Aviation in the Fox Valley

kprobst — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:28:47 +0000

Wed, Jul 25, 2012

This week the Appleton Historical Society had our regular monthly meeting. Just in time for EAA, the topic was the history of aviation in the Fox Valley. Ken Syring presented a terrific overview of the development of airlines and airports in the Appleton area. I learned the current airport is actually the third one. I never knew there was one at the corner of Ballard and OO. We have some photos of the first, the George F. Whiting airport included in Fox Valley Memory. I hope to find some of the second airport to add to FVM soon. Thanks Ken for the great program!

Fox Valley Memory

airports

Appleton historical society

Karen

Welcome to Fox Footprints!

kprobst — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 21:24:36 +0000

Tue, Jul 24, 2012

Welcome to Fox Footprints! The Appleton Public Library is very interested in preserving local history and collecting our shared stories. This BLOG is a place to share those stories, sometimes from Appleton, sometimes from elsewhere in Wisconsin. I hope to connect people with others who are interested in the footprints of the past. Feel free to chime in about your history!

Karen