La Crosse Public Library Archives

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/

1947 Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against Hotel Stoddard

In 1946, Black delegates traveled to La Crosse from all over the Midwest to attend a labor union conference. They stayed at the Stoddard Hotel, where they experienced racial discrimination. In a 1947 court case, one of these Black delegates, James Tate, w…
(written by Jenny DeRocher, Archives staff) In 1946, the United Automobile, Aircraft, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America Local Union 395 (UAW-CIO Union #395) held th… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/1947-racial-discrimination-lawsuit-against-hotel-stoddard/

Trane Company and the Nuclear Age

During World War II, the Trane Company switched from the manufacture of U. S. residential, commercial and industrial heating and cooling systems to wartime production thanks to local women joining the workforce and filling the jobs left open when men left…
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff) A full-page ad in the local newspaper encouraging housewives and others left on the homefront to come to work for the Trane… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/trane-company-and-the-nuclear-age/

An Early Automobile Saleswoman

In 1925, Dorothy Hofweber was touted in the local newspaper was being “one of the few women automobile merchants of the country.”
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff) Dorothy Hofweber grew up in downtown La Crosse in the early part of the twentieth century. She was the youngest of 12 childre… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/an-early-automobile-saleswoman/

The Segelke & Kohlhaus Manufacturing Company

The Segelke & Kohlhaus Manufacturing Company was a major manufacturing concern in downtown La Crosse for over 100 years.
(written by Scott Brouwer, Archives staff) The Segelke & Kohlhaus Manufacturing Company was a major manufacturing concern in downtown La Crosse for over 100 years. The compa… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-segelke-and-kohlhaus-manufacturing-company/

Vigilantes in La Crosse

One night in 1857, La Crosse was "overrun with scoundrels," as the local Committee on Vigilance took over the city, inciting a mob and setting fires.
(written by Jenny DeRocher, Archives Staff) In 1856, most of the U.S. population was clustered on the east coast. Minnesota was not yet a state, so pioneer Wisconsin towns al… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/vigilantes-in-la-crosse/

An Unappreciated Italianate Delight

James Vincent built a family home in 1884-85, but a family home with delightful details at 1024 Cass Street..
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, Emeritus Professor of Art History) Beginning in the 1870s, Cass Street and West Avenue became the most exclusive neighborhood in La Crosse. The Car… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/an-unappreciated-italianate-delight/

Digging into the Past - The LPL Archives Celebrates 40 Years of Service

Almost 100 years after the La Crosse Public Library opened its doors in November 1888, the Archives and Local History program began to serve the public in December of 1980.
(written by Anita Taylor Doering, Archives Staff) The original Archives reading room, 1988 Almost 100 years after the La Crosse Public Library opened its doors i… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/digging-into-the-past-the-lpl-archives-celebrates-40-years-of-service/

Looking Back (2020)

A look back at the local history stories and resources shared by the La Crosse Public Library Archives in 2020.
Archives staff/volunteers/guest historians put together a lot of great blog posts in 2020; please take a moment to check out these local history topics and digital resources avail… https://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/looking-back-at-2020/

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