Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 38 of those read), 1880

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 38 of those read)

The Business Firms of Oshkosh After the Fire in Board Shanties - The City Protected Against Further Extensive Conflagrations - A new Impetus in Progress and Improvement - The Public and Private Enterprises in Oshkosh in 1879 - Nicholson Pavement on Kansas Street - New Bridge in Course of Construction - New Iron Railroad Bridge - Another Railroad Added to the Communications of Oshjjosh - The Construction of the Grand Exposition Building - New Branches of Manufacture - The Government Ship Yard - State Editorial Convention - Popular Gatherings and Amusements - The Northern State Fair - Geo. Peck's Comments on Oshkosh.

H E burnt district was a desolate looking tract immediately after the fire. One vast field of ashes and debris - the remains of the wreck of a city; but it soon began to assume the appearance of life and activity. The rapidity with which firms resumed business was a matter of surprise to people at home and abroad. Little shanties began to spring up before the ashes were cold. In fact, the erection of temporary structures began the day after the fire, and in a few days many of the business firms were in new quarters - rough board structures which were erected principally on the side streets and intended for temporary occupancy. There probably was never another instance of such a wide-spread conflagrati on attended with so few failures and so slight an interruption to business.

Oshkosh, arisen from the ashes of her late conflagration, was, in 1876, a newly-made city. The immense district, over a mile in length, of bran new buildings, was a sight that is seldom witnessed. Donned in her new attire she was now ready to renew her career in the race of progress.

This was the third time that a large portion of the burnt district had been rebuilt, and this time it was wholly composed of fire-proof buildings. The danger of fire so long menacing Oshkosh, was bow, to a great extent, removed, as all the wooden structures that formerly endangered the business portion of the city were destroyed, and an ordinance prohibiting the erection of wooden buildings in the newly prescribed fire limits enforced.

The fires that have occurred since that time in that portion of the city have been rare, and have not spread beyond the building where they originated - in fact, no building on Main street since it was rebuilt has been wholly destroyed, the fire simply consumingthe inside finish. The business center of Oshkosh is, therefore, placed on a foundation of safety, and the danger which so long menaced the place removed.

Although times were unusually dull throughout the country at the time of the great fire, many of the business and manufacturing firms enlarged their facilities, and this was especially the case with the mammoth sash and door f: ctories.

Kvknts In 1877, 1878 And 1 879

In 1877-8 a number of fine residences were erected, and some additional business buildings. On Wednesday morning, January 24, 1877, the Revere House was destroyed by fire. This was a sad calamity as it involved the loss of life. Jefferson Murdock in attempting to find egress from the burning building was intercepted by the flames and perished. His untimel)- death caused a wide-spread grief, as he was a young man of much promise, whose untimely end was mourned by a large circle of relatives and friends.

Among the events of the year was the Northern State Fair, which is held annually in this city. It was attended by an immense concourse of people and was universally pronounced one of the finest agricultural exhibitions ever held in the Northwest.

In 1878 the Schmit Brothers erected the new trunk factory, which employs from forty to fifty hands, and is quite an accession to the manufactures of the city.

A Spirit Of I'Kuckkss Awakened

The year 1879 ushers in an awakened spirit of progress and marks a new epoch in the advancement ofthis city. Thespirit of improvement and enterprise is fully aroused, and Oshkosh is making rapid strides in public and private enterprise, giving her future an appearance of the brightest promise. Among the public improvements of theyear is the new Nicholson pavement on Kansas street. This fine piece of work was done by William Sharpe,with his usual dispatch and thoroughness, and adds very much to the handsome appearance of that main business thoroughfare. The new brick block just constructed on that street is an additional improvement. Kansas street, with its fine brick blocks and Nicholson pavement crowded with teams, wears a decidedly business-like look and is a credit to the city.

The new bridge, now in course of construction, to cross the river from Oregon to Light street is to be a massive iron structure, and is contracted to cost $27,000. Henry Schneider is the contractorforbuiltlingthe stone supports,

Theexpositionbuildingof the Northern Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechanical Association was completed in August. This is an immense structure, and is the largest agricultural exposition building in the Northwest. Oshkosh may well feel proud of her achievements in the year 1879, and this and the new railroad are the crowning glories.

This mammoth building is four hundred feet long and sixty feet wide, and is another evidence of Oshkosh enterprise. A grand harvest ball was held in the building on the second of September, The building was lighted with over one hundred lamps and presented a gay scene. Over 600 persons were dancing on the floor at one time.

The New Northern Railroad

In May, 1879, the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railway submitted to this city a proposition in substance as follows, viz: To issue to said Company its bonds to the amount of$7S,000, bearing interest at therate of seven per cent, and payable $15,000 fifteen years from date of issue, and that amount annually thereafter until the whole is paid; and said bonds to be placed in the hands of Alexander Mitchell in escrow, to be delivered to said Company when they shall build and fully complete a road from Oshkosh to connect with the road at Hortonville; and at the time of delivery of said bonds, that the Company deliver to said City of Oshkosh certificates of stock in said road to the amount of $75,000, the said proposition to be binding on the City of Oshkosh if approved by a vote of the people ofthis city. ,

The above proposition was submitted to avote of the people on Tuesday, June 24th. The election resulted in an almost unanimous vote in its favor, nine \otes out often being cast for the proposition.

The route was immediately surveyed and the right of way purchased. The construction of the road is now in progress, and it is expected that it will be completed early in the coming winter. This gives the city a direct road to the Northwest and is a much needed connection.

The summing up of public improvements in this city for the year 1879, as will be seen from the foregoing, are the Nicholson pavement on Kansas street, the new bridge to cost $27,000, the exposition building, the northern railroad and the iron bridge of the Chicago & Nothwestern Railroad.

Private Enterprises And Improvements

PRIVATE ENTERPRISES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN 1879. The manufactures of Oshkosh have received an important accession in the establishment of the extensive carriage works of Parsons, Neville & Co. This firm was doing a heavy business in Chicago, but believing that this city was a favorable location for their business, they moved their works to this place last spring. They occupy the building formerly known as the Vulcan Iron Works, which has been remodeled and is to be further enlarged. One hundred hands arc employed and the force is to be largely increased,

The moving of a grist-mill to this place from ^^'inneconne is one of the novel events of this season. It was floated on barges and is probably the only instance of a large building being moved in this manner.

The handsome residence and grounds of J. J. Moore have been purchased for the purpose of turning it into a hospital by the Brothers of Mercy.

Among the business and manufacturing structures erected the present season are the large saw-mill of Geo. W. Pratt, Horn's large brewery, the brick block on Kansas street, Geo. Cameron's livery and sale stable, and several fine residences.

The inside construction of the Fraker Opera House is to be remodeled on a grand scale, so as to convert that splendid building into a firstclass opera hall.

The Government ship-yards were in full blast last winter. A large steam dredge and steamboat were built to be used in the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. This work in the ship-yard gave employment to a number of men.

The favorable weather last winter for lumbering operations gave full employment to a large force of men, and the log crop is estimated at I 20,000,000 feet.

Popular Gatherings, Amusements, Etc

Among the events of the season was the assembling of the State Editorial Convention in this city, the regatta of the Oshkosh Yacht Club, the rendition of the operetta of the Naiad Queen, which was given for seven successive nights to crowded houses; the Pinafore also raged extensively. The Hess Opera Company also gave two entertainments. These drew large crowds here from neighboring cities. Oshkosh is, in fact, becoming quite a center for popular amusements.

They took the crowd of editors and their wives, and other female relatives all over town, through the busy streets, around the residence streets, where some of the houses and yards would do great credit to Grand Avenue, or Cass, or Marshall, or Division streets in Milwaukee. We could see the outside of the fine homes reared by hard labor of rich men who com menced life riding a saw-log, and are now honored by the state and by the nation. We passed mills that turn out the best of lumber in quantities to suit, and we drove to the bank of Lake Winnebago, where one day Oshkosh will have as fine a park as there is in the State. We passed the stores where men have been burned out so often that when they smell pine burning they put their insurance policies in their pocket and go to packing up their goods, in the belief that they will soon have to put up a board shanty to do business in. Every business man has the appearance of a man who is prepared for any emergency, be it from fire, flood, chinch-bugs, grasshoppers or the devil. Oshkosh has a crowd of men that know no such word as fail. If I were asked to pick out a hundred men th.at would illustrate Western pluck and enterprise, I would go to Oshkosh, pick up the first man with a slouch hat on, and ask him to ring afire bell and get the boys together, and the hundred men could be picked out in four minutes by the watch.