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Abortion Access in La Crosse

Before the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, all abortions were illegal in the state of Wisconsin. But this doesn't mean they weren't performed. So what did this look like in La Crosse?
(written and researched by Jaci Bedtka, UWL Public History Intern Fellow) CONTENT WARNING: This article contains descriptions of unsafe abortions and the complications that fol… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/abortion-access-in-la-crosse/

A Fresh Look at Nathan Myrick

Living in La Crosse, you’ve likely heard Nathan Myrick cited as our community’s founding father. Places like Spence Park and Myrick Park offer us the commemoration of Nathan Myrick and his trading post, but we forget to ask ourselves why we hold this narr…
(Written and researched by Jenny DeRocher, Archives staff. Edited by Tiffany Trimmer and Anita Taylor Doering. A special thanks to Henry Greengrass and Tracy Littlejohn for provid… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/a-fresh-look-at-nathan-myrick/

This Will Floor You

A pattern book from the Congoleum Nairn company dated 1927 and used by the O. J. Oyen company has recently been donated to the La Crosse Public Library Archives, providing a wonderful insight into floor coverings and people's preferences almost a century …
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, Emeritus Professor of Art History) A pattern book from the Congoleum Nairn company dated 1927 and used by the O. J. Oyen company has recently been do… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/this-will-floor-you/

Marian Dorset's Family, Home, and Letters

The Dorset-Colwell family papers at LPLA include the personal correspondence for the whole family, who were extremely dedicated record-keepers. Marian Dorset even saved her drafted replies to her correspondents, which is the case for some 1901 love letter…
(written by Jenny DeRocher, Archives Staff) At her death in 1951, Marian Dorset was 82 years old. She was the daughter of Nannie Hammer Colwell Dorset and Rev. Charles P. Dorset.… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/marian-dorsets-family-home-and-letters/

The Colonial Golf Club Took Flight in the 1930s

In 1931, Joseph and Mary Leidel bought land on rural Mormon Coulee Road and by June 1934, the Colonial Golf Club was open for business.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff) Joseph and his wife Mary Leidel bought the land that became the Colonial Golf Club in 1931. A close-up of the title/abstr… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-colonial-golf-club-took-flight-in-the-1930s/

History Tours this May

May is Historic Preservation Month. Find out how to celebrate this May with history tours that explore four different neighborhoods in La Crosse.
Come celebrate Historic Preservation Month this May and join the Footsteps of La Crosse history tour series, guided by LPL Archives staff. Footsteps explores how class, culture, a… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/history-tours-this-may/

La Crosse Pioneers: W. A. Roosevelt Family

William A. Roosevelt was an early La Crosse steamboat engineer who established a plumbing business and warehouse, serving the needs of steamboat trade plying the waters of the Mississippi River
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives staff) William A. Roosevelt was an early La Crosse steamboat engineer who established a plumbing business and warehouse, serving th… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosse-pioneers-w.-a.-roosevelt-family/

S**t Happens

To what lengths did early La Crosse residents go to account for their transportation animals'... uh... waste?
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, Emeritus Professor of Art History) With thanks to J. S. who has shoveled a lot of muck. A typical city buggy on 10th Street in La Crosse. Seen h… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/st-happens/

La Crosse Center: The First 40 Years

With the opening of the $42 million addition to the La Crosse Center in December, it seems a fitting time to take a look back at the La Crosse Center’s first 40+ years.
written by Scott Brouwer, Archives Staff With the opening of the $42 million addition to the La Crosse Center in December, it seems a fitting time to take a look back at the La… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosse-center-the-first-40-years/

Neighbors Making History: Doris Deane

In the 1920s and 1930s, a young woman, born in La Crosse and an actress in Hollywood, was regularly the object of national attention.
(written by Jeff Rand, Adult Services Librarian) Doris Deane, 1929. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library There seems to be a never-ending, insatiable appetite… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/neighbors-making-history-doris-deane/

Looking Back (2021)

A look back at the local history stories shared by the La Crosse Public Library Archives in 2021.
Archives staff/volunteers/interns/guest historians put together a lot of great blog posts in 2021; please take a moment to check out these local history topics by clicking on the … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/looking-back-2021/

The Poisoned Pharmacist

Early German immigrant Adalbert Moeller was a recognized businessman and community leader in La Crosse when the disastrous accident that took his life occurred.
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, Emeritus Professor of Art History) Image of Adalbert Moeller's drug store ad in the 1866 La Crosse city directory Adalbert Moeller was one … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-poisoned-pharmacist/

A Viewer's Guide to Dark La Crosse Stories

Over 50 episodes of Dark La Crosse Stories, a collaboration with the La Crosse Tribune, have been produced since 2019.
What is Dark La Crosse? Dark La Crosse is a suite of programs that look at the seedier side of La Crosse history. The program started as a walking tour, and quickly became a var… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/a-viewers-guide-to-dark-la-crosse-stories/

Roll out the Barrel!

How did La Crosse's Oktoberfest actually start? Some say it began on the golf course in 1960.
(written by Mary Dunn, former Library staff) The tapping of the Golden Keg marks the official start to Oktoberfest. This scene from 1964 features Fest Master Roy Kumm of the … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/roll-out-the-barrel/

La Crosse’s German Vereins: Their Rise and Decline, Part 2

When the Great War broke out in 1914, German Americans found themselves sympathizing with their homeland politics, yet firmly identifying as American. When the US left its neutrality behind and joined the conflict in 1917, these German Americans had to de…
(Written by Gabriel Eagon, UWL Capstone Project, edited by Jenny DeRocher, Archives Staff) By 1914, La Crosse’s German community had experienced a demographic decline for nearly… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosses-german-vereins-the-consequences-of-world-war-i-part-2/

La Crosse's German Vereins: Their Rise and Decline, Part 1

La Crosse is known to have strong German roots, thanks to things like the brewing industry and the large annual Oktoberfest celebration. But how did early, first-generation German immigrants socialize and preserve their culture? They created Vereins—socie…
(Written by Gabriel Eagon, UWL Capstone Project, edited by Jenny DeRocher, Archives Staff) Many readers will no doubt be familiar with La Crosse’s German roots, thanks to the ci… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosses-german-vereins-their-rise-and-decline-part-1/

The Rubber Mills Blues

"It was just blue in there!" reported Herman Tietz, as he described working in the La Crosse Rubber Mills factory on days where they cured rubber in the ovens. Tietz worked at the factory starting in 1908—just over a decade after the Rubber Mills opened.
(written by Jenny DeRocher, Archives staff) The La Crosse Rubber Mills Company, Inc. opened its doors in 1897 on La Crosse's North Side. In the early years, the compan… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-rubber-mills-blues/

Burns Park: A Community Legacy

Timothy Burns, a native of Dublin, Ireland, was an important figure in La Crosse's early development. Despite his early death at age 33, his contributions are memorialized in the naming of Burns Park.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff) Burns Park, donated to the city of La Crosse as part of the Timothy Burns, B. Farnam and Peter Burns addition, was platted as … https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/burns-park-a-community-legacy/

La Crosse's Struggle for Safe Water

The city’s first waterworks was designed mainly for fire protection.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff) The city’s first waterworks was designed mainly for fire protection. Fifteen cisterns were built under downtown city sidewalks… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/la-crosses-struggle-for-safe-water/

Historic La Crosse Fire Stations

Take a photo journey through past and present fire stations.
(written by Scott Brouwer, Archives staff) Organized fire-fighting in La Crosse is almost as old as the city itself. Prior to and shortly after the city of La Crosse was offic… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/historic-la-crosse-fire-stations/

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