La Crosse Public Library Archives

John F. Kennedy Slept Here...

Any guesses where?
(written by Megan of the Archives Staff) ...at the Stoddard Hotel. Opened on June 23, 1904 and located at the corner of 4th and State Streets (across from the old post offi… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/john-f-kennedy-slept-here/

Rock and Roll All Night

The bands that played “The Sawyer” were often on the cusp of making it big.
(written by Bill Petersen, Archives Staff) Growing up as a teenager in the 1970s in a small town near La Crosse, I still remember the excitement and anticipation upon hearin… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/rock-and-roll-all-night/

Model Airplane Contest!

Win a prize?
(written by Cate Putirskis, Archives Staff) Found in the La Crosse Tribune, March 30, 1943: Did any of you enter the contest? How'd you do? Let us know! (Girls… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/model-airplane-contest/

Ye Olde Courthouse

La Crosse County's third courthouse dated from an era when public buildings were grand in size and impressive in style.
(written by Megan of the Archives Staff) In this photo is La Crosse County’s third courthouse, which opened in 1904. It was in the heart of downtown, on a block surrounded … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/ye-olde-courthouse/

The Art of Gardening

Of the many gardening clubs that have been formed in the La Crosse area, perhaps some of the most unique items were created by the Floral Arts Garden Club.
(written by Cate Putirskis, Archives Staff) How is your garden doing this summer? Gardening has been popular in the La Crosse area over the years, and a number of gardening c… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-art-of-gardening/

A Royal Visit

On May 7, 1939, La Crosse rolled out the red carpet for Crown Price Olav of Norway and his wife, Princess Martha.
(written by Bill Petersen, Archives Staff) Since 1887, La Crosse has hosted visits from eight U.S. presidents while they were in office. On rare occasions, the city has also pl… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/a-royal-visit/

Uncle Sam is Using the Telephone a Lot Now

With all the different cell phone service options and many people moving away from land line phone service entirely, it is sometimes hard to believe that choice of phone service is a relatively new development.
(written by Scott Brouwer, Archives Staff) With all the different cell phone service options and many people moving away from land line phone service entirely, it is sometimes … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/uncle-sam-is-using-the-telephone-a-lot-now/

Elmer & Tenney Captured Scenes of La Crosse in 1880s

Elmer & Tenney, Winona photographers, took a series of stereo views (or stereoscopic cards) of La Crosse in 1880-1881 titled “Views in La Crosse, Wis., and Vicinity,” and the La Crosse Public Library Archives has a fairly complete set of these.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff) A stereo view card contains two offset photographic images produced simultaneously with a camera that has two lenses, spaced a… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/elmer-and-tenney-captured-scenes-of-la-crosse-in-1880s/

Local Resident Makes Olympic History

Did you know that the first African-American to win a medal at the modern Olympic games was from La Crosse?
(written by Megan of the Archives staff) Did you know that the first African-American to win a medal at the modern Olympic games was from La Crosse? George Coleman Poage (18… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/local-resident-makes-olympic-history/

Food For Thought

One of the many things from the past that seems to have gone the way of the dodo bird is the neighborhood grocery store.
(written by Bill Petersen, Archives Staff) One of the many things from the past that seems to have gone the way of the dodo bird is the neighborhood grocery store. In the cur… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/food-for-thought/

Calling All Vocational Homemakers...

Unless you have personally been a member of one of these organizations, it might come as a surprise to you that from the early 1900s up to the present day, there have existed thousands of clubs around the country focused solely on “homemaking.”
(written by Taylor of the Archives Staff) Unless you have personally been a member of one of these organizations, it might come as a surprise to you that from the early 1900s u… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/calling-all-vocational-homemakers/

An Historic Look at Grandad Bluff

Gideon Hixon and his second wife, Ellen Jane Pennell Hixon, did a lot and left a lot for the City of La Crosse. The most commonly known thing is how the Hixons helped save Grandad Bluff.
(written by Cate Putirskis, Archives Staff) Joseph Hixon and his mother, Ellen Jane Pennell Hixon, did a lot and left a lot for the City of La Crosse. The most commonly know… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/an-historic-look-at-grandad-bluff/

La Crosse's 'Mr. Baseball'

“Boober” Parizek may not be a name familiar to baseball fans in La Crosse today, but for a generation of American Legion players in the 1960s and '70s, he was “Mr. Baseball.”
(written by Scott Brouwer, Archives Staff) “Boober” Parizek may not be a name familiar to baseball fans in La Crosse today, but for a generation of American Legion players in … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosses-mr.-baseball/

Expanding the Boundaries of Your Research

The La Crosse Public Library Archives is a great place to conduct research on topics or people with a connection to La Crosse--but what about topics that go beyond the city limits?
(written by Cate Putirskis, Archives Staff) You've come to the La Crosse Public Library Archives to do some research--maybe on an ancestor, a business that's piqued your… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/expanding-the-boundaries-of-your-research/

Time To Go For A Walk (or Ride)!

Join us for the Spring 2013 series of historic Footsteps of La Crosse walking and bus tours.
https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/time-to-go-for-a-walk-or-ride/

La Crosse Heads to the Polls

In just over a week, on April 2nd, the people of La Crosse will go to the polls to elect a new mayor. 100 years ago, on April 1st, 1913, they did the same thing.
(written by Cate Putirskis, Archives Staff) In just over a week, on April 2nd, the people of La Crosse will go to the polls to elect a new mayor. 100 years ago, on April 1st… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosse-heads-to-the-polls/

Have You Ever Wondered...

Highlighting resources on our new website that will inform your curiosities.
(written by Cate Putirskis, Archives Staff) Do you ever wonder (or remember!) what some of La Crosse's busiest intersections looked like decades ago? Snap a mental image o… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/have-you-ever-wondered.../

A Scrapbook for your Community

Consider donating to the La Crosse Public Library Archives
(written by Cate Putirskis, Archives Staff) Whether in digital or hard copy, we all like to have our important family photographs stored in a safe, readily accessible place… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/a-scrapbook-for-your-community/

Big Movie Comes To Town

On November 14, 1915, America’s first epic motion picture came to La Crosse.
(written by Bill Petersen, Archives Staff) On November 14, 1915, America’s first epic motion picture, “The Birth of a Nation,” came to the Majestic Theater at 514 Main St. in L… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/big-movie-comes-to-town/

Early La Crosse Major Leaguer

Probably the best baseball player ever to call La Crosse home was Edward Konetchy.
(written by Bill Petersen, Archives Staff) Probably the best baseball player ever to call La Crosse home was Edward Konetchy, whose major league baseball career lasted from 190… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/early-la-crosse-major-leaguer/

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