The Webster Block, 1897-1899

The Webster Block is located at the corner of Main Street and Church Avenue. John W. Webster had the structure constructed in 1895 to replace an earlier wooden building on the same site. It housed his real estate office.

Webster Block, 2019

Tara wanted to recreate this photo as close to the original as possible. She made sure her stance was from the same view of the Webster Block. Still a beautiful building, it now holds apartments at the top of the building with a great view of downtown.

The Webster Building, 2019

The Webster Building Main Street, Oshkosh.

Webster Block, 2019

To get this shot with his pinhole camera, Nick had to place the tripod legs were over the curb while a lot of traffic went by during the exposure. The view down Main and Church and the stoplight in the foreground really distinguish this image from his normal architectural views.

Merrill School, 1907-1915

Merrill School was first built in 1900 and named in honor of Mayor James H. Merrill who died in office that same year. At the time it seated 400 students. This structure was rebuilt in 1940.

Merrill School, 2018

Nothing testifies to the vintage of a large public building like a giant oak growing this close to it, such as this one shading the Middle School side of Merrill School.

Orville Beach Manual Training School, 1916

The Orville Beach Manual Training School was built on the Beach family property. The school was designed by William Waters and built by Oshkosh contractor August Pitz in 1911-1912. The current address is 240 Algoma Blvd. and is used for commercial office space. To the right of that address are houses on Algoma, none of which are still standing.

The Beach Building, 2018

Like many other classical buildings on Algoma Boulevard, The Beach Manual Training School’s entrance was on the Algoma side of the building. In recent years, we most often see these buildings from the rear as we approach them from the parking lot.

Twentieth Century Club, 1908-1920

The Twentieth Century Association was organized by Mrs. Mary Jewell Sawyer and many other prominent Oshkosh women. The all-female group was interested in the culture of the day such as art & music, education, philanthropy, and social. The Club purchased the previous home of Lumberman Joel Mead in 1900 from the Oshkosh Ladies Benevolent Society. The building was remodeled and a ballroom on the east side of the building was added. The club finally sold the property in 1968.

The 20th Century Club, 2019

This familiar building at the corner of High and Wisconsin started out as the Ladies Benevolent Home and the Twentieth Century Association. Now it’s an apartment building full of students who attend the University.

The Beckwith, circa 1878

The Beckwith House was built in 1876, after the great fire of 1875. The new Beckwith House had a total of 75 rooms on the top three floors and several businesses on the ground. Four years after the new building was completed on December 3, 1880, a fire destroyed the hotel. A new Beckwith building was quickly built from the ruins, but only two stories were salvageable and it no longer was a hotel.

The New Moon Café, 2019

The New Moon Building on Main Street, Oshkosh.

The First National Bank Building, circa 1962

This structure was designed in 1926 and completed in 1927 at the north-east corner of Main Street and Washington Avenue. It is still standing today.

First National Bank, 2019

The 1926 First National Bank Building was the tallest building in Oshkosh for only a year, outdone by the Raulf Hotel in 1927. From the parking lots behind the businesses on west side of Main Street, it’s notable looming over it’s two and three-story neighbors.

Main Street Bridge, 1905

During the construction of the fourth Main Street Bridge, this photograph was taken. A crane is visible at left. The bridge is swung open for river traffic and a steamboat at the landing at the foot of North Main Street. This bridge was replaced by the present structure in 1971.

The Main Street Bridge, 2019

The Main Street Bridge lit with color-changing lights by Dan Cook, president of Witzke Electric in 2017. Dan and Bud Kaufmann, V.P., bought the company from John Hazelberg in 2019.

Chicago & Northwestern RR Bridge, 1919-1929

This view was taken looking north across the Fox River in Oshkosh and shows the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Bridge. The date is judged by the Power Plant building visible to the left, which was the Oshkosh Gas Light Company until 1922 when it became Wisconsin Public Service.

The Canadian National Bridge, 2019

The Canadian National Bridge is at the site where the first railroad crossed the Fox in Oshkosh bringing the wood and paper products from factories powered by the river downstream to markets in Milwaukee, Chicago and beyond.

Commercial Bank, circa 1887

The Commercial Bank of Oshkosh, incorporated in 1860, was located on the south-west corner of Main Street and High Avenue. This structure is still standing today but has a later facade.

Oshkosh Tattoo, 2019

Tara took this photograph looking the same direction as in the original photograph of the Commercial Bank of Oshkosh. Today the front half of the building has been restored differently and Oshkosh Tattoo now resides in this building. As the original photo, it was taken looking toward the south-west with High Avenue at right.

High and Main Street, 2019

The facades on Main Street have changed several times, but the original wall of the Commercial Bank is still visible on High Street.

The Diamond Match Factory, circa 1915

This photograph shows the backside of the Diamond Match Company buildings in Oshkosh. It was taken looking across Osceola Street and North towards Pearl Avenue. The Diamond Match Company got its start in 1868 and operated successfully until 1955, when the company consolidated its operations and the Oshkosh plant was closed in 1965. The area is now the location of the parking garage on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus.

The Diamond Match Company, 2018

Many pictures in the archive depict the Diamond Match Company from the northeast corner at High and Osceola, but this contemporary view with the prominent solar panel made an interesting contrast to the photo taken from the riverside which featured a belching smoke stack.

North Main Street, circa 1945

Looking north up Main Street from Ceape Avenue, the building on the right was Pueppke Brother’s tavern. This site is now the apartment complex on the 100 block of Main Street.

Curator Comment: The US Bank is located today in the entire block across from the Pueppke Tavern.

US Bank, 2019

Using the GPS (good old modern technology), Tara found the location of this building from the old address. What was once an entire block of stores and businesses on Main Street in Oshkosh, is now a grand big US Bank.

Streetcars on Main Street, 1923

This scene is taken from the corner of Otter Avenue looking south along the east side of Main Street past Ceape Avenue to the Main Street bridge. It also shows five new lightweight one-man operated interurban cars of Eastern Wisconsin Electric Company.

Apartments, 2019

What was once a block on Main Street of cafes, taverns, and stores, is now a location with a completely new building consisting of apartments and a variety of businesses.

Lakeside Sanitarium, circa 1915

Lakeside Sanitarium was designed by William Waters and built by C. R. Meyer & Sons Company in 1912. In 1918 the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother took the facility over and renamed it Mercy Hospital. By 1922 the north wing was added and in 1938 the south wing. The building was last used as a hospital in 2000 when a new Mercy Hospital was completed on the west side of Highway 41 on Oakwood Road.

Lakeside Sanitarium, 2019

Originally designed by noted Oshkosh architect William Water, Lakeside Sanitarium eventually became Mercy Hospital which added many additions, making the original structure unrecognizable. Bella Vista Retirement Community now take advantage of the views over Menominee Park and Lake Winnebago.

Bella Vista, 2019

Taken with a fisheye lens, Tara visited the old Mercy Hospital which is now Bella Vista Retirement community in Oshkosh.

Two Unidentified Cavalrymen, circa 1863

Two unidentified Cavalrymen wearing cavalry service jackets (tinted yellow by the photographer). Several companies of cavalry were raised in Oshkosh during the Civil War. Most commonly called a tintype it is a photograph made by creating a direct positive on a thin sheet of metal coated with a dark lacquer or enamel and used as the support for the photographic emulsion.

Two Airmen, 2019

Airman Avra Taylor poised with Tech Sergeant Chris Hibben in front of the Oshkosh Public Museum’s grand staircase. Airman Taylor was home on leave after Advanced Individual Training in the US Air Force before an Okinawa assignment. Tech Sergeant Hibben just completed a deployment to Africa as a combat photographer in the Air Force Reserves.

Jay A. Hinman with Bicycle, circa 1895

This self-portrait was done by Oshkosh photographer Jay A. Hinman. He is posed with his "Ordinary Bicycle" or "High Wheeler". Jay was a photographer and bicycle shop owner. He took several photographs of the "Oshkosh Wheelmen" circa 1892 and other Oshkosh and regional sites.

Benjamin Rennert, 2019

Benjamin Rennert owns Winnebago Bicycles.

Curator Comment: Stolley photo-shopped his bicyclist into a scene of a shoreline and mountains. This made it similar to the photo studio backdrop used in the archival image.

Bicyclist, 2019

When he saw the archival picture of the young man posing with his high-wheel bicycle, it reminded Nick of this picture he had taken with his new bicycle earlier in the year. He didn’t intent to submit it for the exhibition until he read the description and discovered the archival image was also a self-portrait

Oshkosh High School Football Team, 1907

The Oshkosh High School Football Team in 1907. All of the players are dressed in the protective equipment of the time. John Edwards, the donor, is the young man standing at the center wearing a striped shirt.

Oshkosh North Football Players, 2020

Due to chilly January weather, the players decided to pose indoors.

Women with Picture Frames, circa 1889

Five unidentified young women having fun with a staged studio photograph with the use of empty frames.

Five Ladies with Picture Frames, 2019

Phil started trying to replicate the original photo of five ladies with frames by having his models act rather highbrow. However, it wasn’t long until they cracked up into laughter and presented this current day style of how such a photograph should be taken. Front row: Stacey Grey and Marcia Gonzalez. Back row: Kristen Lasky, Kelly Olmsted, and Jennifer Weston.

Elderly Rural Couple, 1910

An unidentified elderly rural Winnebago County couple. It was taken in the household of Fred Haase in 1910.

An Elderly Couple 2019

The sweetest couple, who would like to remain unidentified, posed for Tara in December of 2019. No matter what, they make sure that they get out and travel and live life to the fullest.

Oshkosh High School Manual Training Class, 1910

This interior view of the Orville Beach Manual Training School shows students doing woodworking projects.

Training at Fox Valley Technical College, 2019

Captured in this photograph is Wood Manufacturing taught on state-of-the-art technology at the S.J. Spanbauer Center at 3601 Oregon St. in Oshkosh. Instructor Glenn Koerner shows students Dave Magruder, Austin Stumpf, and Melissa Verhalen how to set up a machine for milling wood. The course is one year in length and currently has a very good successful placement of graduates.

Herrmann & Ernst Grocery Store, 1907

Interior view of the Herrmann & Ernst Grocery Store located on Main Street. Richard C. Ernst (the balding man at the right of the counter) and Rudolph A. Herrmann operated the store from 1890-1920.

Ski’s Meat Market, 2019

Once Main Street consisted of many grocery stores. Today, there is Ski’s Meat Market, kind of a boutique grocery with lots of specialty brands. In the back is the butcher shop, frozen foods and produce with a very contemporary ceiling full of paper lanterns to soften the spotlights.

Interior of the Old National Bank, 1917

This panoramic image was taken as part of a series by John H. Whitney showing the interior of the Old National Bank in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This is the third building built on this site, constructed in 1910 it was torn down in 1927.

First National Bank building, 2019

The cavernous lobby today has working businesses around the perimeter but uses the center space for events. During the exposure, two workers were setting up for weddings that evening and the next morning. Everybody he dealt with seemed really proud of the place they were working.

Interior of Wille's Hardware Store, 1905

The Frank Wille & Company Hardware Store, located on Main Street in Oshkosh. Pictured from left to right are Richard F. Willie, secretary & treasurer; Fred Olmsted, teamster; and Richard A. Pommerening, clerk.

Kitz and Pfeil, 2019

Looking for a hardware store interior Nick went to Kitz and Pfeil. However, he acquired more than just an interesting image. One customer asked what he was doing, so he explained about the Museum project and pinhole photography. Then an employee came by and told him how much she loved pinhole photography. Another patron shared that the building originally had been a JC Penney’s and the stairs an escalator he loved to ride as a child.

Sawyer Library, circa 1930-1940

Image taken for a Museum postcard. It shows the Sawyer home library located on the first-floor.

Museum Library, 2019

This photograph was taken the morning after the Museum Auxiliary had their Gala in November. Motivated by an archive image of the same room, both images capture the public use of the space.

Sawyer Grand Staircase, 1930-1940

Grand staircase at the Oshkosh Public Museum. This shows the first floor stairway to the second-floor landing.

Museum Grand Stair, 2019

As a regular volunteer at the Museum, Nick came early one day to use his Cuboid kit pinhole camera. Using as inspiration an archival image of the Sawyer Grand Staircase, he was required to have the shutter open for about twenty minutes.

F. W. Woolworth Store, circa 1914

Part of a series photographed by John H. Whitney, this panoramic image shows the interior of the F. W. Woolworth Store on North Main Street.

Curator Comment: This Woolworth store was located where Opera House Square Park is presently. Woolworth’s built a new store across the street in 1950 in an Art-Moderne-style. This building eventual became the Exclusive Company.

The Exclusive Company, 2019

The Exclusive Company’s building was originally a Woolworth’s. The front is the recorded music store, with the same kind of categorized bins costumers been flipping through for years. Nick found it amusing to use a section on long-playing vinyl records as the theme of one of the “now” photographs.

Interior of a Men's Clothing Store, 1914

A panoramic image was taken as part of a series by John H. Whitney showing the interior of an unidentified Men's Clothing Store, probably on Main Street in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Satori Imports, 2019

Satori Imports is in the former Spoo Brothers Clothing Store, so it seemed the perfect choice for Nick when modernizing the interior of a men’s clothing store. Satori, however, offers a little bit different style clothing and accessories.

Audience at the Grand Opera House, 1913

The photograph was taken from the stage at the Grand Opera House looking out into the audience.

From the Oshkosh Grand Stage, 2019

Craig Burnett welcomes the audience to the 2019 TEDx Oshkosh event at the Oshkosh Grand.

Set Construction at the Grand Opera House, circa 1902

A view showing set construction work being done at the Grand Opera House.

Grand Oshkosh Stage Setup, 2019

This photograph captured the final stage and soundchecks made for the 2019 TEDx Oshkosh event. Adam Bell Corelli does a sound check while the first speaker of the event, Colleen Bies, waits on the wing and Jason Toney checks the placement and operation of a Go-Pro camera hanging from the projection screen. This was the fourth year for the TEDx Oshkosh event.

Wisconsin Sailing Regatta, 1926

Orin L. Stinson, editor, and photographer at the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, took this outdoor view of sailboats on Lake Winnebago during the 1926 Wisconsin Regatta. The Class A scow numbered 46 is identified as the boat "Haywire" and owned by John Buckstaff.

A-Scow Regatta, 2019

A-Scows competing in the 2019 National ILYA Regatta on Lake Winnebago. Members of the Inland Lakes Yachting Association came from several states to compete in the five-day event hosted by The Oshkosh Yacht Club.

Barbers at Work, 1900-1915

This staged photograph was taken of two unidentified barbers at work in their shop.

A Barbershop, 2019

This contemporary barbershop has walls painted green and modern music playing to set a relaxed mood. Meeting this creative barber and watching him work his magic reminded Tara of what a true barber does, very solid work that should be appreciated. The barber is Jordan and owns Rubrum Barbershop.

Mary Stini Meyer at Work, circa 1910

This photograph shows Mary Stini Meyer at her work station at Buckstaff's Coffin Company. Marie Mary Stini was born on April 25, 1879, in Hirschberg, Austria. When she was two years old the family immigrated to the US and settled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 1898 she was working for Paine Lumber Company and by 1900 she was working for the Wisconsin Grass Twine Company. She was married on Jun 14, 1904, in Oshkosh to Edward A. Meyer and the couple had eight children. She died in Oshkosh on November 26, 1943.

A Woman at Work, 2019

When considering the archival photograph of a woman working at the Buckstaff factory, Nick thought of the lady he buys cheese from nearly every week. All the boxes, blocks of cheese and tubs of spread made a better match for the belts and pulleys in the archival picture.

Curator Comment: Nick’s image is of a woman working at the Winter Market held on the site that used to be the Buckstaff factory.

Discher Architectural Millwork, 2019

John and Bruce Discher confer with Dawn Benedict regarding a project on the company’s Nested Base CNC Router while operator Brady Hoffman uses a lifting machine in the background to place material on the machine’s bed. The company was formed in 1945 by brothers Melvin and Gilbert Discher. Brother Harold joined two years later. When Harold & Gilbert retired in the early 1980s, Melvin partnered with Bruce forming Discher Architectural Millwork. Bruce Discher took sole ownership of the company in 1997. John Discher, Bruce’s son, joined the company upon graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2008, becoming a partner & Vice President in 2012. Continuing the strong family influence, Melvin’s grandson & Bruce’s nephew, Marc Metoxen, is the company’s Operations Manager.

Curator Comment: Phil’s take was to show a female in the modern Discher Millwork company.

Oshkosh Police Department, 1919

Four members of the Oshkosh Police Department on State Street. The old police station was located in the lower level of the old City Hall. George O'Conner is the man at the extreme right and Claude Edmonds is on the motorcycle at left.

Oshkosh Policeman, 2019

Oshkosh Police officer Mark Lehman poses with children at his motorcycle during the 2019 Touch-A-Truck event at the Leach Amphitheater.

Santa Claus in Sleigh, 1929

In November of 1928 Oshkosh herald in the holiday season with a parade that featured Santa in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and two Alaskan Inuits. The event was captured by an Oshkosh Daily Northwestern photographer.

Santa, 2019

When the 2019 holiday season kicked-off for the indoor Winter Farmer’s Market, Nick went early to get some pictures. Santa was willing and there were no youngsters nearby. Santa held still for two minutes…except for moving his right index finger.

Hoaglin & Chase Bicycle Shop, 1895-1910

The Hoaglin & Chase Bicycle Shop was on Main Street in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Leorr O. Chase is seated at a work table with a bicycle rim.

Winnebago Bicycles, 2019

Winnebago Bicycle is located at 502 N. Main Street in Oshkosh. Benjamin Rennert is the owner.

Winnebago Bicycle, 2019

Photograph captured at Winnebago Bicycle of a man checking out a new ride.

Winnebago Bicycles, 2019

Winnebago Bicycles took care of Nick’s old beater Timberlin for years, so when he needed a new bike he bought it there. The owner Benjamin is in the foreground and Nick’s bike on the repair stand behind him getting new studded winter tires.

The T. S. Whitely Dry Goods, 1905

Interior of the Topliff Dry Goods Store located at 60 Oregon Street in Oshkosh and in 1905 became T. S. Whitely Dry Goods.

Camera Casino, 2019

Andy and Jay Ratchman discuss a camera’s capabilities to Karin Markee at Camera Casino, 439 N. Main Street in Oshkosh, while Dylan Bush rings up a customer’s purchase. The building began as the William & Hill Company, Dry Goods Store in 1876. Since then a variety of enterprises existed there including a vaudeville theatre before becoming home to Camera Casino.

Custom Farming, 2019

Custom farming operator Brian Poppy chats with Vincent Santos in the cab of an eight-row John Deere harvester while corn is unloading from the machine’s hopper near Waukau, Wisconsin. The 2019 growing season was shortened by both a wet spring and fall. The GPS device (center, top of cab) collects yield data for evaluation of nutrient application effectiveness.

Friday Motor Company, 1914

The Friday Motor Company garage was at 33 (later changed to 121) Algoma Boulevard in Oshkosh. The company was only in business for a few years selling Cadillacs and Chevrolets. Mechanic Frank W. Green is seated in a car.

J&R Auto Service, 2019

The J&R Auto Service 629 N. Main Street, Oshkosh with its crew — Brad Cook, Katie Stenstrom, Josh Price, Ben Dalhke, Mike Anderson, Scott Brehmer, Ben Black. Brad is the third-generation owner of the business started by his grandfather, Russ Cook followed by his father, Paul Cook.

Workers at Richmond Cleaning Company, 1920

The Richmond Cleaning Company, Incorporated began in 1908 by John J. Richmond as the Richmond Clothing Hospital. In 1916 the name was changed to the Richmond Cleaners and Dyers and by 1919 had moved to 18 Waugoo Avenue. In 1920 they became the Richmond Cleaning Company and built a new plant and delivery car garage at 152-156 Lake Street. In 1937 the business was sold to the Kagan brothers. They were still in business in 1953.

Stannard Dry Cleaners and Launderers, 2019

The LeRoy family including Joe, second from left, his son Jim, third from left and Jim’s wife Donna, first left with Char Eichman at Standard Cleaners on 653 N. Main Street, Oshkosh.

Interior of a Printing Shop, 1890-1898

This image shows the composing room of an Oshkosh printing shop with desks and printing type boxes.

John Jacob Zwicky, the owner of the original photograph, worked for the Hicks Printing Company at 38 Main Street from 1890-1895. By 1898 he was working for Globe Printing Company at the same building and location. He later worked for the Oshkosh Northwestern, owned by Hicks Printing Company.

Castle Pierce Printing, 2019

Jamie Wright and Emily Higgins check a press plate at Castle Pierce Printing Company in Oshkosh. Printing plates are generated automatically with electronic plate making equipment in the prepress department from customer-supplied data.

Oshkosh Print Shop, 2019

Photograph of a print shop in Oshkosh- Image 360. The owner is standing to the right expecting a print, and another employee working hard on the computer to the left. A lot of projects go in and out of this shop. Located at 347 North Sawyer Street, Oshkosh.