This is a finding aid (or, description) of materials available in the La Crosse Public Library Archives. At this time, none of the materials listed below are accessible over the internet.
Contact the Archives to learn more about using these materials.
Guide to the Mississippi Valley Public Service Company Records, 1914-1942
MSS 028
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Abstract
- Records of the Mississippi Valley Public Service Company based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, which operated the streetcar lines. Records are incomplete but include newspaper clippings (1932-1942); a franchise book (1883-1913); and personnel records (ca. 1914-1936).
The franchise book includes copied agreements between four utilities and their shareholders and appropriate municipalities. The four companies are La Crosse City Railway Co. (1892-1908), La Crosse Water Power Co. (1905-1913), Winona Railway & Light Co.(1883-1909), and Wisconsin Railway, Light & Power Co. (1913).
The personnel records are arranged alphabetically and include information such as birthdate and place of the employee and a summary of accidents incurred during employment. This set is not complete but is representative of typical streetcar employees. - Collection Title
- Mississippi Valley Public Service Company Records,
- Date of Materials
- 1914-1942
- Creator
- Mississippi Valley Public Service Company (La Crosse, Wis.).
- Call Number
- MSS 028
- Amount
- 0.4 cubic feet
- Physical Description
- 1 archives box
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- La Crosse Public Library Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Mississippi Valley Public Service Company Records, MSS 028, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Historical Note
La Crosse's first street car company was the La Crosse Street Railway Company, which began service on July 4, 1879. In June 1881, the City Street Railway Company was organized. The two companies merged in 1885 and were then known as the La Crosse City Railway Company. Horse drawn cars were replaced with electric trolley cars in 1890. On February 10, 1913, the Wisconsin Light and Power Company, under the direction of its president, Clement C. Smith, purchased the streetcar lines in La Crosse. The company continued operation of the streetcar lines and changed its name to the Mississippi Valley Public Service Company in 1926.
Between the years 1929 and 1945, the Mississippi Valley Public Service Company gradually replaced the streetcars with motorized passenger buses. The company removed old tracks and ties on many streets as buses came into use. Old car barns at 601 N. 3rd Street were remodeled to accommodate the new buses.
Ray M. Fey, his sons and Andrew G. Anderson purchased the Mississippi Valley Public Service Company on Jan. 1, 1949, and changed its name to the La Crosse Transportation Company.
Privately owned bus companies such as the Mississippi Valley Public Service Company provided bus transportation in the city until 1975. In 1974, the city of La Crosse received a grant to purchase the bus transit system. As of Jan. 2, 1975, the La Crosse Transit Company became a public utility owned by the city of La Crosse.
Scope and Contents
Records of the Mississippi Valley Public Service Company based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, are incomplete but include newspaper clippings (1932-1942); a franchise book (1883-1913); and personnel records (ca. 1914-1936).
The earlier newspaper clippings, 1932-1934, include articles pertaining to the Mississippi Valley Public Service Company. Most of the clippings from 1935-1942 are notices of schedule changes and company advertisements.
The franchise book includes copied agreements between four utilities and their shareholders and appropriate municipalities. The four companies are La Crosse City Railway Co. (1892-1908), La Crosse Water Power Co. (1905-1913), Winona Railway & Light Co.(1883-1909), and Wisconsin Railway, Light & Power Co. (1913).
The personnel records (circa 1914-1936) are arranged alphabetically and include information such as address, birth date and wages of the employee. A summary of accidents incurred during employment is also included. This set is not complete but is representative of typical streetcar employees.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
La Crosse Public Library Archives
800 Main St.La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use.
Acquisitions Information
Donated by Percy Mallum via Doug Connell, March 17, 1987.
(Accession No. 1987.003)
Processing Information
Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, Oct. 1993; finding aid updated by Christine Stolz, Jan. 2002.
Related Materials
Related material
- (Clipping file)
- La Crosse--Transportation--Bus
- (Clipping file)
- La Crosse--Transportation--Street Cars
- (388.46 C16B)
- Canfield, Joseph M. Badger Traction. Chicago: Central Electric Railfans' Association, 1969.
- (MSS E)
- Wendell A. Anderson Papers
- (MSS R)
- Harry J. Hirshheimer Papers
- (La Crosse Series 11)
- Committee on Streets and Alleys Records
- (La Crosse Series 29)
- Committee on Public Utilities Records
- (La Crosse Series 32)
- Committee on Railroads Records
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Mississippi Valley Public Service Company (La Crosse, Wis.).
Subject(s)
- Business records--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Cable cars (Streetcars)--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Street-railroads--Wisconsin--La Crosse
- Transportation--Wisconsin--La Crosse
OCLC Number
41575536
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Clippings, 1932-1942 |
1 | 1 | ||
|
Franchise book, includes: La Crosse City Railway, Co., 1892-1908; La Crosse Water Power Co., 1905-1913; Winona Railway & Light Co., 1893-1909; Wisconsin Railway, Light & Power Co., 1913 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Personnel records, 1914-1936 |
1 | 3-9 | ||