Eden-Ashford School District #4

Among the many old ledgers packed away in the library archives, is one volume relating to the expenses of running the local school.  The first entry is dated Dec 19, 1868, and is a payment to Miles Lytten of $5.00  for repairs.  Then on Dec 23, 1869 J. C. Divers is paid his teachers wages of $20.
On Feb. 4, 1869 J.C. Divers is paid $26 for teachers wages, and then on March 24, 1869 he is paid $174.35.

Further pages show expenses for 1892, and in this year  Genevieve Doyle is paid $129.00 for teachers wages.  They also paid $9 for a dictionary, and 20 cents for a box of chalk. A tin cup and dipper cost 30 cents.

In 1916 there must have been some work done on the building, because there are a lot of expenses for shingles, and labor for masonry work.

Quite a picture of what it took to operate a school, and how the many neighbors all participated in the upkeep of the building, as well as furnishing the wood to keep it heated.

McCulloughs Dry Goods Store, Campbellsport

You never know what will turn up when you are cataloging books.  This week, I was cataloging a box of business ledgers, and most of the old books did not have a company name in them.

Then I came across one, where the names on the ledger sounded like familiar names from the Campbellsport area, and I had to check deeper

This is a ledger from Jas. McCullogh, who sold Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots and Shoes, Crockery and Glassware.  The entries start on Jan. 1, 1884.

The page on the left shows an entry for Nick Gantner.  He purchased 2 lb. sugar, 1/2 gal. molasses, 2 spools of thread, and 2 pieces of candy.....all for 51 cents.

Here is a list of some of the surnames that are found in the 1884 ledger for Jas. McCullough's store in Campbellsport:  (see previous post)

Adams

Bonesho

Bradly

Brayford

Burke

Calahan

Campbell

Cisco

Clifford

Coartney

Cobler

Curran

Davis

Dechendroffer

Dougherty

Doyle

Doyle

Fellenz

Gagner

Gantner

Goodrich

Haessley

Harter

Helmer

Hermander

Hull

Jewsen

Johnson

Katen

Klotz

Knickle

Lichinsteiger

Loomis

Marx

Mayer

McCullough

McInrow

Mead

Meade

Miller

Mudge

Mullholen

Murrey

Obrien

Odekirk

Piehl

Seefeld

Sennke

Slattery

Stack

Tanor

Thompson

Ulrich

Ulrick

Vandergrinton

Ward

Welsh

Yancy

Website

The Thornton Research Library now has a separate page on the FDL Co. Historical Society's website.  It is still not complete, but one by one you will find the indexes to our many collections.

Check it out, and stop by often to see what's new.

 http://www.fdlhistory.com/library.iml

Main St Boathouses in Lakeside Park

Lakeside Park was originally a swampland and not at all what it appears today. The following pictures were taken by Langdon Divers, and show what the park was like in the early days.

Langdon was standing on the edge of Main St., (about where the train engine is now) and these boathouses are just to the east of Main St.  If you look closely, you can barely make out the top of the bandstand just behind the second row of boathouses.

Here is a summer photo of the same boathouses, but with all of the growth that clearly defines the channels through the swampland.

This photo shows the newly constructed stone bridge, which is easily recognizable today.

Old Lakeside Park

Few people loved Lakeside Park as much as Fond du Lac native Langdon Divers. He had a camera with him in the early 1920's, rode bikes around the lake in the summer, and went ice-boating in the winter.  Thanks to his collection of photos, we know that there were free swimming schools, and the swimming 'chute' was rebuilt after a summer storm. All of the following photos were taken in the early 1920's.

This is a photo of the first 'chute' built for swimmers into Lake Winnebago.

This photo shows the walkway leading to the chute.

Here Langdon took a shot of the walkway in the winter time. Dated Jan. 1925.

Who, but Langdon Divers, would take a camera to the top of the 60 foot chute, and take a picture of the actual chute as a friend obviously landed in the water. Dated July 12, 1921.

Another winter scene on the lake, showing a large ice-skating scene in 1922.

Ice boats on the lake by the chutes

The Idea Theater

You've all seen the sign.  Many pictures over the years of Main St. in Fond du Lac show a little arrow sign, pointing down First Street to the "Idea Theater".  But those Main St. photos only contain the sign, and not a glimpse of the actual theater.

Well here it is in all its glory.

The Idea Theater

First St., Fond du Lac, WI

Willow Lawn School

It takes a lot to move a building, and recently I found some pictures showing all of the work that goes into adding a building to the Galloway House and Village complex

This is Willow Lawn School, in its original location

The roof had to be cut off, because of height restrictions.

Here comes the school, crossing Highway 41

Here is the school on Pioneer Road crossing Main Street.

And don't forget the roof!

On the grounds of Galloway House and Village.