Memories of Doty Island a Link Between Two Cities
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Memories of Doty Island A Link Between Two Cities I Edited by Caryl Chandler Herzigcr Winifred Anderson Pawlovvski Memories of Doty Island A Link Between Two Cities COMPLIMENTS or mi: MENASHA AND NEENAH HISTORICAL SOCIETIES island Doty of Map 167? Memories of Doty Island A Link Between Two Cities Edited by Caryl Chandler Herziger Winifred Anderson Pawlowski Printed in U.S.A. 1 999 SPECIAL RECOGNITION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO MOWRY SMITH, WHO INITIATED AND SUPPORTED THE WRITING OF THIS BOOK. Caver fihofo: Dmiv Cabin, circa 1850 . Table of Contents List of illustrations . vi Acknowledgements . , vii To The Reader ............... viii Progression of Doty Island , I Trails and Roads , . .......... 6 Growing Up on Doty Island I : Early Settlers ....... H r . 1 5 Bridges and Waterways 29 Residents ............ f .... r ... 3? Special Buildings Neighborhood Stores .................... 70 Commercial Street Businesses 76 Washington Street 96 Industries 102 Churches .......... , ....... 128 Schools 136 Health ........ .&. ................... 145 Parks . MS Entertainment ......................... 153 Crimes ..... 168 Epilogue ........... * ... T .............. 1 71 . List of Illustrations 1 l 187/ VI ap of Doty Island ...... front ispiccc 2. James Duane Doty is 3. West en d of Miculet Boulevard ........ 7 4. Residence of E. L. Mathewson ........ 23 J. Residence of A. J. Webster 27 6. First Mill Street bridge ............... 31 7. Home of S. A. Cook 39 8, Residence of A. H. F, Krueger ........ 47 9, Home of George A, Whiting 55 10. S. A, Cook Armory 59 1 1 . Roberts' Resort „ .... , 67 12. Map of area formerly called ”Dog Town” 73 13. Louts Herziger Meats , . 77 14. John Strip Grocery . S3 15. Hart Hotel ;<[. 91 16. Electric Sign at Entrance to Mcnasha ... 97 17. Island Paper Co. , , i09 18. Residence of Elisha D. Smith .......... ] 35 19. Residence of Edwhn E. Haskin ........ 119 20. Walter Bros. Bre wing, Co. 323 21 r Whiting Memorial Baptist Church ...... 333 22. Clinton School 137 23. Original Theda Clark Hospital 143 24. Doty Theater ...................... 157 25. Island Athletic Club ................. 161 26. Driving Park 165 v! 1 Acknowledgem e n rs In preparation for the writing of this book, many of rhe obvious sources were used; HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY by Publius V. Lawson HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY by Richard L Harney HISTORY OF NEENAH bv G. A. Cunningham MILLSTONE AND SAW by Alice E. Smith FACTORIES IN THE VALLEY by Charles M. Glaab and Lawrence H. Larsen THE GEORG F- BANTA COMPANY STORY 1902-1 962 by C. A. Peerenboom PAPER WITH PRESENCE* A GILBERT CENTURY, by Mark Bernstein and William Hoest ONE THIRD CREW, CNF. THIRD BOAT, AND CNF. THIRD LUCK by Mowry Smith, Jr. p and Giles Clark City Directories Newspapers However, most information came from personal interviews with chose who had their own memories and those who remembered Stories told by their parents and grandpa rents. Those we want ro thank for their rime and their help in getting this book to the printers; Peter Adams Harry Lopas Elmer Becher G retch em Wi herd mg Mating Katie Brehm Thomas Scott McGum Armon Chapel le Allan Merrill William Dresser Inran Kevch Larry Easton John Sehmerein Robert Erdmann Grace Smith Helen Faa& John Stilp Jack Giese Jane Strange Gerbricfe Frank Heekrodt Ruth. Streck William Fleck rodt Beverly Hope Strong John Heims Donald Vought Barbara Jetsild Hill James Webb, Jr. Bettie Falvey Hill Frank "Brock 1 ' Whiting Phyllis FJer/igcr Kruegt Viler Zilisch V 3 To the Readers . * Fur some time the proud inhabitants aid business people of Doty Island have felt that local writers have beer remiss in not recording the bland story, According to the plan of James Duane Doty* the island was to become an independent city. The ''powerd-that-be” Had different ideas and divided it between the twin cities of Nccnah and Menasha. Although ii is divided politically, it Has Strong connections to the other parts of the cities not only by bridges but by the hearts of the people. This book is not meant to be a chronological history of Doty Island, nor merely a collection of historical data. In fact, n will nei^er be considered .in academic writing, A TALE OF TWIN CITHER an excel lent early history of Menasha and Neenah + took care of that and should he used as a reference for any details thereof, Also, no stories or events which took place after World War II arc included. The main consideration was to tell things which either have been forgotten or were merely heard of by word of mouth. Those who did research, held interviews, and wrote the following pages hope that these little stories, whether they be face or hearsay, will bring back fond memories to the old- timers, Even the newcomers will no doubt raise eyebrows and w smile at some of the things that “used to be. Caryl Chandler Herziger William Hcragcr Winifred Anderson Pawlowski Mowry Smith Math an Wanda James Duarte Doty Progression of Doty Island Busy residents* truck drivers, or visitors traveling on Highway 114 from rhe Y,M.C„A. in Nee n ah to the LLS* Paper Company, are seldom aware that they are crossing an island surrounded hy two branches of the Fox. River, Lake Winnebago, and Little Lake Butte des Moris. In char short Space of about one-half mite* travelers have Spanned parts ed two cities and countless eras of history* Having been formed in glacial times, occupied by Indians and set- tlers* named for James L>. Duly, the Island was divided down the Center by the feuding communities of Meuasha and IMeenah. In ]£E7l Doty Island was 1700 acres* two miles long, itnd sometimes less than a mile at its greatest width* Ex- tending from beyond the present daj sewage plant on one end to Lake Road on the Other, is an area that could be * community unto itself. It was, in fact, designed by Dotv and Others as the Island City. I heir dream never became a reality, bur the Island continues today to be almost self- sufficient, The Island Emerges The hind of the Twin Cities has been shaped for minions of years by natural forces building it up and eroding it away, It took thousands of years for the progression of Dory Island. 1 he first known geologic event which affected this area took place a billion years ago. This was .1 time of tremendous thrusting and folding of the earth's surface. For the next 400 million years torrential rainfall eroded the mountains unci! all of Wisconsin was a flat area. N« vegetation nor animals broke the monotony of the peneplain. Later warm seas advanced to submerge the land. Slowly I 2 Memories of Doty Island marine plants and animals developed. Thu surface was alter- n lately above and below water level as the seas advanced and receded. The sedimentary rocks which underlie our area were formed from deposits of Sand* silt, and marine creatures. No further significant geologic happening affected Wiscon- sin until the ice age began. This period of glaciation produced important changes. The Green Bay lobe of a glacier shaped the land xve live on by scooping out Green Bay and Lake Win- nebago and exposing High Cliff. The lard mass rose in a re- I bound effect as the tremendous weight of the glacier was lift eel. The huge Lake Winnebago watershed, which included the Fox River and Little Lake Butte des Moris* drained into Green Bay- fa pari of Lake Michigan). Two branches of the box River were formed, one flowing on each side of an island, originally one and one- ha If -miles long anti three-quarters of a mile wide. For hundreds of years, successive generations of Indians and white men have used this land as best suited their mode of liv- ings harvesting its animals and the products of the soil, taking advantage of its position as a gateway to a major waterway, and enjoying its beauty. The surface was ever changing, both through uses made of it. and through natural changes. Though at times it sank beneath a sea, it again emerged. Channels were cut through it and silt deposited on it. It changed from barren to fertile, swampy to dry* and wooded to cleared. Life accom- modated to each change. This is our Doty Island, The Island Becomes Inhabited I'he most primitive of the Palco-lndian tribes found their way into Wisconsin 1 3*000 to 14,000 years ago during periods of reduced glaciation. They were a nomadic people, traveling in small family groups, totally dependent upon the success of the hurt for their survival, 1 he Woodland people who lived in this area 1*400 to 2000 years ago had a much more advanced anti distinct culture which involved the building of effigy mounds. At the turn of the cen- A Link Between Two Cities 3 tury, sixteen Indian mounds: could be identified between Smith and Doty Parks. All but three of these mounds were Leveled by Inland Farmers and home builders. The three remaining ones are in the south vast end of Smith Park. The mounds were used for burial and also served a ceremonial or religious purpose. Next came the Upper Mississippi people who were the first farmers of Wisconsin, They remained in one place while earing for their crops and developed semi -permanent villages of bark and saplings or rushes. These natives were the ancestors of the j Winnebago which became the dominant tribe in the Fox River area. At this time these same people lived j in permanent villages or dome-shaped wigwams. Also present at that time were the Fox and Menominee. Jean Nicolet was sent by Samuel de Champlain, the gover- nor of French ’held Canada, to meet with the Winnebago in order to make peace and encourage the French fur trade.