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From the Vault: Early La Crosse Aviation

The first regularly scheduled airmail service to La Crosse started on June 7, 1926.
(Originally written by Bill Petersen, retired Archives staff) With renovations at La Crosse Regional Airport unveiled last week, what better time to share a little bit of La Cros… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/early-la-crosse-aviation/

La Crosse Took to the Ice

For 150 years and more, people of La Crosse have been going outside in winter to ice skate.
(written by David Kranz, Archives staff) For 150 years and more, people of La Crosse have been going outside in winter to ice skate. An 1859 La Crosse newspaper reported that i… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosse-took-to-the-ice/

Fire!

For a town built by the lumber industry like La Crosse, the threat of fire held a particular terror.
(written by Barry McKnight, Archives staff) For a town built by the lumber industry like La Crosse, the threat of fire held a particular terror. On the morning of April 6, 1886… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/fire/

Dating Vintage Photographs

There are several tips we can share in dating photographs.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff) Let me share some tips with you to help date late 19th century and early 20th century photographs. If you have studio portrait… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/dating-vintage-photographs/

Christ Episcopal Church

On Grandad Bluff is a plaque noting that the first church service in La Crosse was held June 23, 1850, on the bluff, by a traveling Episcopal minister.
(written by Megan, Archives staff) On Grandad Bluff is a plaque noting that the first church service in La Crosse was held June 23, 1850, on the bluff, by a traveling Episcopal… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/christ-episcopal-church/

Syrians in La Crosse

In the last decades of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth, around 100,000 immigrants from the Ottoman province of Syria (what is now Syria, Lebanon and part of Jordan) came to the United States seeking economic opportunity or fle…
(written by Barry McKnight, Archives staff) With debate about Syrian refugees currently in the news, the Archives department recalls a prior period where Syrian refugees came t… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/syrians-in-la-crosse/

2015 La Crosse History Hunt

The 2015 La Crosse History Hunt, held during Historic Downtown Day on October 10, was a resounding success.
(written by Julia Roden and Calli Niemi, Archives interns) The public history field attempts to bridge the gap between society and the academic world. To cross this gap, publ… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/2015-la-crosse-history-hunt/

Take a 'Walk' on the Dark Side Redux

The Dark La Crosse Tour: Radio Show is back on the Pump House stage for 5 performances, starting October 30.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering and Scott Brouwer, Archives Staff) IF YOU GO WHAT:  Dark La Crosse Tour: The Radio Show WHERE: Pump House Regional Arts Center, 119 King … http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/take-a-walk-on-the-dark-side-redux/

See Dr. Crocker & Latest Book Oct. 12

You can get an introduction to our local houses and buildings from a new book, La Crosse Buildings Through Time, and enjoy a program by its author Oct. 12.
(written by David Kranz, Archives staff) There are good times ahead for area architecture. Why do I say this? Because interest in historical architecture is on the rise in La … http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/see-dr.-crocker-and-latest-book-oct.-12/

The Big Fellow

La Crosse has had its share of colorful characters, but few cast as long of a shadow as Thomas “Big Fellow” McDonough.
 (Written by Barry McKnight, Archives staff) La Crosse has had its share of colorful characters, but few cast as long of a shadow as Thomas “Big Fellow” McDonough. An enormous … http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-big-fellow/

Connecting to Film Director Joseph Losey

The original Joseph Losey, after whom the street in La Crosse is named, was not the only Losey family member to make a mark; his grandson was a major film director in the mid-20th century.
(written by David Kranz, Archives staff) People in La Crosse recognize the name Losey – if only because it’s the name of one of our major streets. You can visit the LPL Archive… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/connecting-to-film-director-joseph-losey/

FilmFreaks: Nicholas Ray & Joseph Losey

Two Central High School graduates made it big in the film industry.
(written by Scott Brouwer, Archives Staff) The FilmFreaks program at the La Crosse Public Library is proud to present a film series highlighting two directors with La Crosse ro… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/filmfreaks-nicholas-ray-and-joseph-losey/

A La Crosse Institution - Doerflinger's Department Store

As was common in towns all over the United States, the La Crosse downtown was the retail center of the city and Doerflinger’s department store was a downtown anchor.
(written by Megan, Archives Staff) As was common in towns all over the United States, the La Crosse downtown was the retail center of the city and Doerflinger’s department stor… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/a-la-crosse-institution-doerflingers-department-store/

1935 Crash Leads to New Cass Street Bridge

A single car caused a deadly bridge collapse that cut off land traffic between La Crosse and Minnesota in 1935.
(written by David Kranz, Archives Staff) A single car caused the destruction you see in the above photo, an accident that involved the deaths of two people and cut off lan… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/1935-bridge-accident-leads-to-new-cass-street-bridge/

In Hot Pursuit of the Truth

Discover the truth behind the photograph of President Theodore Roosevelt speaking to a La Crosse crowd in 1903.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff, and Doug Connell, Archives Volunteer) On a routine basis, the La Crosse Public Library Archives receives gifts from benefactor… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/in-hot-pursuit-of-the-truth/

The One and Only Sunrise Drive Arts Festival

The Sunrise Drive Arts Festival was an art show and competition for kids that took place in La Crosse on August 16, 1962.
(written by Bill Petersen, Archives staff) The Sunrise Drive Arts Festival sounds like it might have been some major art show in California of Florida. It was actually an art s… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-one-and-only-sunrise-drive-arts-festival/

New Old Church in La Crosse

The Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman at 6th and Main is the second church to occupy this site, and has a long history.
(written by Megan, Archives staff) Coming west on Main Street, as the road shifts left at 6th street, you are greeted by the Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman. This … http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/new-old-church-in-la-crosse/

Minimum Wage for Women... in 1913

On the evening of April 3, 1913 the Franklin Club, a debate society on the North Side, argued over the question of “Should the State of Wisconsin enact a minimum wage law of eight dollars a week for women?”
(written by Bill Petersen, Archives Staff) On the evening of April 3, 1913 the Franklin Club, a debate society on the North Side, argued over the question of “Should the Sta… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/minimum-wage-for-women...-in-1913/

Fires in Winter

Fighting fires with water in freezing temperatures makes for some very compelling photography.
(written by Scott Brouwer, Archives staff) As winter (hopefully) winds down, I thought it might be interesting to share some of the La Crosse Fire Department photos of fires in… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/fires-in-winter/

Lovely La Crosse Park is Formerly a Public School Site

Weigent Park, the lovely park on Cass Street that enhances the neighborhood with a softball field, tennis courts, playground equipment and green space, was once the site of a public school building.
(written by Megan, Archives Staff) Weigent Park is a lovely park on Cass Street (between 15th and 16th streets) that enhances the neighborhood with a softball field, tennis cou… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/lovely-la-crosse-park-is-formally-a-public-school-site/

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