USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest > Part 34
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The river shore for a distance of nearly three miles, is an almost unbroken line of saw-mills, foundries and machine-shops, plan- ing-mills. sash and door factories, grist- mills, elevators, ship-yards, lime and stone yards, shipping docks and depots of the Chicago & Northwestern, and Oshkosh & Mississippi Railroads.
The constant hum of this machinery, pro- pelled by over seventy steam engines-the steamboats, tugs and sail-craft, plying the river and lake-the long line of railroad trains coming and going, and the crowded and busy streets adjoining, present a scene of businesslife and activity, which clearly proclaims the manu- facturing and commercial character of this lively and thriving city.
The main business street presents a fine appearance and extends for nearly a mile, and is compactly built up with business blocks, of brick and stone. It is paved with the Nichol- son, and lighted with gas, as arc all the other principal streets. Kansas Street, on the south side of the river is also a fine business street, containing a large number of business blocks, built of brick. Several of the streets devoted to private residences are not excelled in the State, and are rarely equaled by eastern cities of the same size. Among the most beautiful are Algoma and Washington streets, which are practically one strect, extending from the lake shore of Winnebago almost to Lake Buttes des Morts, a distance of nearly three miles; and which are built up for their whole distance with tasty residences, many of them being beautiful and costly structures, with the sur- rounding adornments of wealth and taste. The High School building and State Normal School, with their spacious grounds, are on this street. The luxuriant shade trees and original forest trees are among not the least of its attractions. It is graveled with a mater- ial which cements into a smooth, hard surfacc, and affords a beautiful drive. Irving, Merritt, Waugoo, Otter and Ceape streets extend fron Main street to the lake shore, a distance of a mile, and with High, Jackson, Church and Jefferson Avenue, and the principle streets on the south side, are all attractive, well graveled, and built up with fine residences; many of them spacious buildings, with beautiful
grounds and ornamental surroundings. The lake shore locality is one of the beautiful fca- turcs of the city, which attracts the admiration of all, and which affords delightful sites for surburban residences.
Oshkosh is justly proud of the distinction she enjoys in having thirty odd miles of beau tiful smooth streets of cemented gravel, afford- ing delightful drives and lovely views of her lake and river scenery.
The many beautiful illustrations in this work, of the palatial residences and handsome surrounding grounds, and especially the attractive water scenery fully confirms the description here given. These views are all sketched from nature by G. W. Salisbury, for this book and are correct representations.
AS A SUMMER RESORT AND WATERING-PLACE.
This city possesses a rare combination of natural features for a delightful summer resort and watering-place. The climate is not sur - passed in healthfulness; the air is pure and dry ; the invigorating breezes from the lake temper the heats of summer, while the adjacent large bodies of water, to a great extent, have the effect of preventing those sudden extreme changes of temperature to which nearly all western localities are much subjected. The water is wholesome, artesian fonntains abound, the scenery is lovely, the lake the most mag- nificent sheet of water, with beautiful shorcs and' good harbors that are accessible in every direction, thus affording the best of yachting facilities. The surrounding country is beautiful, with excellent roads, affording delightful drives and picturesque views of the lake and river scenery. Wild game is abund- ant in the vicinity, and is composed of blue and green-winged teal, mallard and wood-duck, snipe, wood-cock, quail and prairie chicken. The waters abound in black and white bass and other fish; brook-trout are plentiful in streams within a day's travel; therefore, steamboat excursions, picnics; yachting, fishing, shooting and pleasure drives are among the available recreations of the place. Thissecures immunity from that monotonous routine of tame and insipid pleasures which prevails in so many celebrated watering-places; for the range of exciting and attractive out-door enjoyments, is here so extensive and varied, that the tastes of all can be gratified; combining the gaieties, public amusements and social enjoyments of city life, with the most delightful rural pleasures.
The market is well supplied with wild game, and with the choicest fruits and vegetables of northern latitudes, fresh from the gardens and
RESIDENCE OF D.L.LIBBY ALGOMA ST., OSHKOSH, WIS.
RFS OF F.I .PAINE
W. ALGOMA ST. OSHKOSH, WIS.
RES.OF G.M. PAINE
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1879.]
orchards of the vicinity which are very differ- ent to the stale products shipped from long distances. The choicest varieties of American grapes are grown in profusion; apples, plums, and small fruits are abundant in their season. The market is also kept as well supplied as those of the larger cities, with foreign fruits and delicacies, and shell fish from the sea- board.
The same local circumstances also make Oshkosh a most desirable place for a residence, and it would be difficult to find another, where people of limited means can avail themselves of so many of the enjoyments and comforts of life - the amenities of society, the opportuni- ties for mental culture, public amusement and the best of advantages for the education of their children. For instance, a family with a capital of $20,000 would be wealthy here, and could live in princely style, if their taste lay in that direction. They could possess a home here with the greatest comforts and luxuries of life and ample means for the gratification of cultivated tastes, and maintain it on the income, $2,000. The children could have good social and educational advantages, while oppor- tunities for a profitable investment of the cap- ital in industrial business arc abundant. The same capital in a city like Chicago, could afford its owner but a very ordinary home- place, requiring the practice of a very rigid economy, the closest attention to business, and a stinted enjoyment of the pleasures of life.
THE YACIITING CENTER OF THE NORTHWEST.
Oshkosh has become famous as the yachting center of the Northwest. The superior facili- ties of Lake Winnebago for yachting purposes has created a great interest in that sport in this locality. The fine harbors on the lake, the accessibility of its shores, the steadiness of the winds and the long sailing distances offered by the broad expanse of water, give peculiar advantages. The interest in yachting seems to be increasing from year to year, and attracts many from abroad who are interested in that amusement.
THE OSHKOSH VACHT CLUB.
This club was organized in 1870, and ranks as the leading club west of the Hudson in num- ber of membership and the size and sailing qualities of its fleet. Its members number one hundred and twenty odd, and its fleet con- sists of some thirty beautifully-modeled and elegantly-cquipped yachts. The officers of the club are Geo. W. Burnell, Commodore, Geo. F. Stroud, Vice-Commodore; John
Dickinson, Fleet Captain; Frank Heilig, Treasurer; Frank Clark, Secretary.
An annual cruise takes place in June, in which the whole fleet joins, making a beautiful sight. The cruise generally lasts a week; dur- ing which the party visit the many attractive . points on the lake. Camping-out, sailing and fishing vary the amusements.
The annual regatta forms a most attractive scene, and is witnessed yearly by large crowds of delighted spectators.
The facilities for yachting and steamboat excursions are among the attractive features of Oshkosh, and Lake Winnebago as a summer resort; and the lovely wooded points on the lake shore afford delightful camping-grounds, which are generallyoccupied through the sum- mer months.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
These are the Northern State Hospital, State Normal School, Oshkosh High School, one of the finest school structures in the State; eight ward school buildings, three of which are massive brick edifices and two of which cost over $12,000 each; the Court House, Masonic Temple, Fraker's Opera House, Post Office building, three public halls, St. Vincent de Paul School, English and German Academy; three large hotels, the Beckwith, Seymour and Tremont; and the exposition building of the Northern Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechan- ical Association.
In church architecture, Oshkosh partic- ularly excels. The First Congregational, First Methodist, First Baptist, St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic, and St. Peter's Catholic are fine structures, and many of the others are of a large and handsome design, and taken as a whole are highly ornamental to the city. There are in all twenty-four church edifices.
CHAPTER XLVII.
Oshkosh Business Houses - Factories - Statistics of Manu- facture - Importance and Facilities of Oshkosh as a Manufacturing Center.
HERE are three banks, the First National, the Union National and the Govalor Commercial. The last is not a bank of issue. The average deposits of the First National are $500,000.
DRY GOODS HOUSES.
In nothing has Oshkosh made greater advancement since the fire than in that of enlarging the facilities for the dry goods trade. The magnificent store of Wm. Hill & Co., of which a view is given in this work, is a palace
166
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
[1879.
store in finish and proportion. It has a front- age of forty feet and is a hundred and ten in depth. The interior presents a grand and imposing display with its lofty ceiling and rich and elaborate finish, and mammoth stock of elegant goods in endless profusion. Carswell & Hughes is another splendid establishment, doing an immense business. D. R. Forbes, A. Leach, Josslyn Brothers and Jones Brothers, also make an imposing display. These elegant stores with plate glass windows rivalin appearance the finest stores in metropolitan cities. They are divided into departments devoted to the vari- ous branches of the trade, and are filled with goods from the basement to the second story. The inducements they hold out to purchasers in quantity, variety and price of goods, draws a large patronage from the suburban towns and villages, and Oshkosh now has the facili- ties for competing successfully with the larger cities in prices. Every style and quality of dress goods, and fancy and domestic goods are in large stock and sold at the closest figures of the central markets of the trade. There are six stores dealing exclusively in dry goods, and taken collectively they are a credit to the city. The carpet warerooms, especially, are not excelled in the State.
MILLINERY AND FANCY GOODS.
There are four leading millinery and fancy dry goods stores, elegant establishments, carry- ing large stocks of fashionable goods in great varicty.
CLOTHING HOUSES.
There are nine clothing stores. For the firm names, sce classified directory in this work, and their advertisements.
From an early day Oshkosh has been a great center for the clothing trade for a large stretch of country, and has been famous as the place to buy clothing at the lowest figures. The very best of business men have long been engaged here in that line, and long expe- rience and ample capital has enabled them to offer their customers the greatest advantages in purchases. They have now enlarged their facilities, and the great number of first-class firms in this city afford a wide range to the purchaser. The most recherche fit and style are made to order; artistic cutters are employed, and all varieties of cloths are held in large stock. The manufacture of clothing in this city is an industry of no small propor- tions. It furnishes work to a large number and adds greatly to the business of the place.
IIARDWARE HOUSES.
There are twelve stores under the above head. The large amount of machinery run-
ning in Oshkosh and in the "Up-River" country has made Oshkosh the center of a large trade in iron and mill-furnishing goods and mill machinery, and there are consequently some heavy houses here, of large capital and with ample facilities for this special trade, and there is not another place of the size of Osh- kosh that does a larger business in this line. In hardware, nails, stoves, iron and tin-ware, the business is also large, and the several firms are augmenting their trade.
. BOOT AND SIIOE STORES.
There are thirteen of these stores, exclusive of the smaller shops. A number of them are large concerns, doing a heavy business, some of them wholesale, with large stock in great variety.
GROCERS.
There are sixty odd grocery stores. The leading houses in this line occupy some of the handsomest stores on the street, and which are filled up with large stocks. All the luxur- ies of the eastern and southern markets, in their season, including fruits, shell-fish and other delicacies, are kept on sale, making a most tempting display. The market gardens of the vicinity also furnish fruits and vege- tables.
DRUG STORES.
The number of these is ten, and there is not to be found in the City more beautiful fronts than those of some of the drug stores which ornament Main Street. These stores arc models of elegance in all their appointments.
MUSIC STORES.
Two of these, with a large stock of pianos, organs and a general assortment of musical instruments and merchandise. These stores make a fine display of instruments, and arc conducted by gentlemen of experience in the trade.
STATIONERY, ETC.
There are four book stores in this line, with large stocks of books, wall paper and station- ers' goods.
FIVE WATCH AND JEWELRY STORES.
Several of these are largely stocked with rich ornamental goods, embracing silver and plated ware of the most beautiful design and finish.
CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, ETC.
One large establishment whose stock em- braces everything in the trade. Several grocers are also dealing in the articles.
-
S.1147
WM HILL & CO.
149
151
WM. HILL & Co. Nos.149 & 151 MAIN ST. OSHKOSH, WIS.
GEO MAYER
GEORGE MAYER
MUS C. JEWELRY
GEORGE MAYER, OSHKOSH, WIS .
SALES ROOM WARE HOUSE
SCHMIT BROS SCHMIT.BROS. FABLEBOX FACTORY.
studat
NO: 211 AND 213 MAIN ST.
NO: 16.17, AND 18 BROAD ST.
EAGLETRUNK MANUFACTURY, SCHMIT BROS., PROP'S, OSHKOSH, WIS.
167
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1879.]
MISCELLANEOUS.
There are three hat cap and fur stores.
Five furniture warerooms, two of which are large establishments that can suit the most fastidious tastes in the articles of their trade.
One wholesale oil, paint and glass house, which does a heavy business, and two retail oil, paint and glass stores.
Two houses in leather and shoe findings, which have an extensive trade, locally and with the northern country.
Eleven flour and feed stores.
Four dealers in agricultural implements.
Two dealers in brick, lime and stone. This is a large business in Oshkosh. One of these firms, Cook, Brown & Co., does an annual business of $70,000.
Three wholesale and retail liquor stores.
Five dealers in harness and saddlery hard- warc.
In addition to the above are a proportionate number of confectionaries, baker's shops, tobacconists, mcat markets, etc.
For agents, professional men, and other branches of business and manufacture, see classified directory in this work.
MANUFACTURES OF OSHKOSH.
FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE-SHOPS.
C. C. Paige, John F. Morse, Perry Ran- som, Chas. Avery. These establishments manufacture steam engines, circular mills, por- table engines, mill machinery and castings of various kinds.
STEAM BOILER WORKS.
Martin Battis, A. Burns. These establish- ments do a large business, viz: the manufac- turing of steam boilers.
SASHI, DOOR AND BLIND FACTORIES.
Foster & Jones, R. McMillen & Co., Conlee Brothers, G. M. Williamson & Co., J. P. Gould, Hume & Washburn. These large establishments employ, in the aggregate, four hundred and fifty hands.
These factories manufacture yearly 360,000 doors, 700,000 windows and 150,000 pairs of blinds. Their daily capacity is 1,200 doors, 2,500 windows, and 600 pairs of blinds. This is the largest manufacture of doors and win- dows in any one place in the United States. They also manufacture wood mouldings to the value of $100,000 per annum, and dress large quantities of lumber. £ The yearly aggregate value of their manufactures is $625,000.
STAR MATCH WORKS.
J. L. Clark proprietor, employs 350 hands.
The value of its manufactures for the year 1878 was $488,945,83.
CARRIAGE WORKS.
Parsons, Neville and Goodfellow. Number of hands employed, one hundred; and the force is to be increased when an additional building now in course of construction, is com- pleted. This firm commenced fitting up their works last March, and before six months elapsed they had manufactured over one thousand vehicles. These are shipped by the car-load to various places where they find a ready sale.
Rudd & Holden also carry on an extensive establishment, and turn out first-class work. There are five wagon shops.
FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS.
Robert Brand, E. S. Thompson, E. S. Hay- den, Wm. Spikes & Co. B. H. Soper.
PLANING MILLS.
Bell & Cole, Foster & Jones, James P. Gould, Williamson, Libby & Co., C. R. Par- sons, C. N. Painc & Co., R. McMillen & Co.
BRICK AND LIME WORKS.
Cook, Brown & Co. employ a large force of men, and run onc steamer and a sail vessel of their own in their business, and employ two other sail crafts.
OSKOSHI SOAP WORKS.
J. R. Loper, manufactures a popular brand of soap in large quantities.
BREWERIES.
There are five of these whose products aggregate a large amount.
SHIPPING-BOX FACTORY.
Manufacture cheese and fruit boxes.
TRUNK FACTORY.
Schmit Brothers. Employ sixty hands.
OSHKOSH CHEMICAL WORKS.
B. J. Musser & Co. Baking powder, per- fumery, etc.
TANNERIES. Metz & Schloerb, Hochne & Jaenicke.
FLOURING MILLS.
Foote Brothers & Co., H. C. Gustavus & Co., F. W. Mase.
SHIP-YARDS. .
There are two of these and a large business is done in the building of steamboats, yachts and sail vessels, and in the repairs on the same.
LUMBER MANUFACTURERS.
Buckstaff Brothers & Chase, Campbell, Libby & Co., Conlce Brothers, Foster & Jones,
168
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
18.79.
Marshall Harris, R. McMillen & Co., John Laabs & Co., Morgan & Brother, C. N. Paine & Co., Oscar D. Peck, Geo. W. Pratt, S. Rad- ford & Brother, Ripley & Mead, P. Sawyer & Son, Jas. H. Weed.
SHINGLE MANUFACTURERS.
Buckstaff Brothers & Chase, Campbell, Libby & Co., James L. Clark, Conlee Broth- ers, Derby & Curran, John S. Fraker, G. C. Griffith, R. McMillen & Co., Morgan & Brother, Geo. W. Pratt, S. Radford & Brother, Ripley & Mead, Andrew Thompson, George Van Every, Webb & Albert, James H. Wecd.
The lumber business of Oshkosh is an indus- try of vast proportions. In prosperous sea- sons, from a hundred to a hundred and fifty million feet of logs have been manufactured into lumber and shingles. The log crop this year on the~Wolf and its tributaries is esti- 'mated at one hundred and twenty millions of fcet. This will furnish an ample supply for our mills and sash and door factories which are now beginning to recover from the depres- sion that for the past two years has affected all branches of business. The advance in the price of lumber is also stimulating production, and Oshkosh has taken a new start in the race of progress and begins to assume her old-time appearance of business and manufacturing
activity.
The prediction that the railroads which are being built into the pine forests would facili- tate the production of pine lumber in the up- river country to an extent disastrous to our lumber industry, has proved groundless, for it was soon ascertained by practical experience, which is the best teacher, that the timber can be more profitably manufactured in Oshkosh than in the woods, for many reasons, some of which are that the lumber, when sawed, must be moved by rail over the same distance that Oshkosh is from the pincries in transporting it to market, so that if the logs be brought by rail to this place, the lumber is practically moved that distance toward its ultimate market The transportation of the offal, or material wasted in sawing, is no additional expense; for the slabs and even the sawdust have a cash value, and are worth more than the cost of transportation. Another thing, the proximity to machine-shops, affording the best facilities for promptly repairing mill machinery, is a great advantage. Oshkosh, too, has long been the great lumber center of central Wisconsin, and it has its established lines of trade and offers greater inducements to purchasers in quantity and variety, and in the number of mills. Outside purchasers often
find it difficult to get long timber, joist, scant- ling and other dimension stuff. Here they know that they can readily have their orders filled by reliable firms who have every facility. The place also manufactures the largest quan- tity of doors, sash, blinds and dressed lumber, of any place inthe Northwest. In fact, every- thing can be furnished for a building from raw material to a cornice - inside finish, brackets, mouldings, etc., all ready to be nailed in their places. Consequently, the purchaser by car- loads will go where he can get his whole bill readily filled.
Confidence in the future is shown in the fact that in late years several of the mills which were burnt have been replaced by larger ones, viz: Campbell & Libby's, Morgan Brothers and Geo. W. Pratt's, just constructed. In passing, attention may be called to the fact that several who have gone from here to other points have been disappointed, and have learned to justly appreciate the local advanta- ges of this place. One of our heavy shingle manufacturers who tried his fortune at another place, was glad to get back and rebuild his shingle mill here, and has since been doing a successful business. It is true that the inter- ests of Oshkosh were criminally neglected by those who ought to have known better than to have looked on while railroads were being built from other points to tap the pineries and cut- ting off her supplies; but she has awakened from her lethargic indifference and the prize threatening to slip from her grasp has been secured through connection with the Milwau- kee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad. This road will be finished early this winter and gives direct connection with the other roads tapping the pineries, thus securing ready access to pine lands remote from driving streams, and to a new source of supply for our mills and sash and door factories.
The favorable weather of last winter for logging has furnished a large supply of logs and will bring the lumber business here, up to some- thing like its old-time proportions. Other man- ufactories are being enlarged and new ones established. Oshkosh is therefore started once more on the high road of prosperity, and the out- look for the future is hopeful.
IMPORTANCE AND FACILITIES OF OSKOSH AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER.
No place ever obtained a more sudden celebrity as a manufacturing point than Osh- kosh, which, from a little obscure village in 1852, with three or four saw-mills, arose in the short space of ten years, to the distinction of being one of the greatest lumber manufactur-
N'G"
MILI
SASH DOORS & LINDS
169
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
1879.]
ing centers in the Northwest, with twenty odd saw-mills, producing over one hundred million feet of lumber per annum-sufficient with her shingles, sash and doors, to load fifteen thous- and railroad cars, and aggregating, with the lumber products, a value of over two million dollars.
This immense business and that inci- dental to it, the manufacture and repairing of steam machinery, the building of steam tug- boats, the shipping of lumber, the manufac- ture of sash, doors and dressed lumber, the products of the iron foundries, and machine shops, the traffic of the resident population, and the farming community, and the trade and travel by railroad and steamboat lines, have made Oshkosh the liveliest center in the state outside of Milwaukee.
The din of the machinery of her mills and factories, with their sixty steam engines, the steamboats and sail craft plying the lakes and rivers, the long lines of railroad trains bearing abroad the products of her manufactures, and her crowded thoroughfares, combine in a scene of business life and activity that is no where surpassed in this country by any city of its size.
The first branch of manufacturing here was naturally that of pine lumber, and the machin- ery incident to its production. The unsur- passed facilities for remunerative business in that line rapidly absorbed the chief capital of a new community like that of Oshkosh, to the exclusion of other manufactures; but it has created a wealth here, and established a manu- facturing prestige of success and practical experience that must ensure confidence in entering the new fields of manufacturing enterprise that are now awaiting her occu- pancy. The first work in her destiny was to make available the immense pine lumber re- sources. This work has been partially accom- plished, and now a step in advance is marked by the greatly increased manufactures of sash and doors, which has become the leading branch of our industries. Glazed sash is another, which, from a small beginning, is rapidly developing into importance.
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