Wisconsin 101

OBJECT HISTORY: Council Oak Tree Bench

Dating from the early 1800’s, the Council Oak Tree, planted in Eau Claire stood for over 150 years with little to no disturbance. However, on July 10, 1966, a summer storm blew through the city and lightning struck the tree, leaving a…

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October 1, 2021

Art, Sport & Entertainment / Art & Design / Industry / Neenah / Related Stories / Everyday Life / 1848-1877 / Manufacturing & Trade / 1965-1987 / Winnebago County / 1987-2011 / Region 5 - Center East / 2011-Today / Neenah Foundry Manhole Cover

Manhole Cover Designs and Contemporary Aesthetics

Over the past 45 years, there has been a growing worldwide fascination and appreciation for the beauty and craftsmanship of manhole covers. Some enthusiasts even created a subreddit aptly titled, Manhole Porn: Sewer covers in all their glory!, celebrating this ubiquitous iron…

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September 29, 2021

Industry / Marathon / Food & Cooking / Object Histories / Everyday Life / Marathon County / Manufacturing & Trade / 1945-1965 / Region 4 - Center / Marathon Brewing Company "Superfine" Beer Bottle

OBJECT HISTORY: Marathon Brewing Company “Superfine” Beer bottle

The "Superfine" beer bottle is from the 1940/1950s from the Marathon City Brewing Company. Superfine was one of the many labels produced by Marathon City Brewery over eight decades from 1881 to 1966, featuring names such as Tannenbaum, Marathon Holiday, Marathon Bock,…

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August 31, 2021

Home Furnishings / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Art & Design / Related Stories / Iowa County / Everyday Life / 1900-1918 / Nature & Environment / 1918-1945 / Region 6 - South West / Frank Lloyd Wright Pew/Bench

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Organic Architecture

Born in 1867 in Richland City, WI, Frank Lloyd Wright designed nearly 150 buildings in Wisconsin alone, as well as numerous homes and churches across the United States. Wright’s philosophy of matching an architectural structure to its natural environment, along with his…

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August 19, 2021

Appleton / Home Furnishings / Science & Technology / Related Stories / Everyday Life / 1877-1900 / Outagamie County / Science & Medicine / Region 5 - Center East / Hearthstone House Chandelier

The Hearthstone House and Electricity to Wisconsin

Built in 1882, the Hearthstone House operated using the first system of central electricity designed by Thomas Edison and it was the first private residence in the nation powered through hydroelectricity. The house was originally known as the Henry J. Rogers House,…

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June 7, 2021

Home Furnishings / Appleton / Object Histories / Everyday Life / 1877-1900 / Outagamie County / Science & Medicine / Region 5 - Center East / Hearthstone House Chandelier

OBJECT HISTORY: Hearthstone House Chandelier

Known as Edison Light Fixtures, the original lighting fixtures of Appleton’s Hearthstone House, were created by Bergmann and Co., in association with the Edison Company for Isolated Lighting, out of New York. They designed the electric lights with the same general components…

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June 7, 2021