Neville Public Museum of Brown County

Snapshots in Time

Since April 6, 2005, the Green Bay Press-Gazette's weekly Community Snapshots section has included an historic image from the Neville Public Museum's photograph collection. Although only one image is featured each Wednesday, all of the images continue to be available for reproduction.

Snapshots featured in 2005

Arch Lights at Christmas#6209.66 Featured November 2005

Ornamental incandescent light bulbs hang over the streets of downtown Green Bay, 1916. While the arch lights were in use throughout the year, they were most beneficial during the Holiday season, when many shops remained open during the December evenings prior to Christmas. By the early 1920s, the lights were replaced by more efficient post-mounted lamps placed along the curb. The Otto Stiller Collection.

Clearing the Streets#6209.189 Featured November 2005

A Wisconsin Public Service snowplow clears the 300 block of North Washington Street, 1925. During the 1920s, Wisconsin Public Service operated two snow plows that removed the snow from the Green Bay Street Car System tracks. Remaining snow was flattened on the street area with an extension from the side of the plow. None of the snow was removed. It remained in the streets until it melted in the spring. The Otto Stiller Collection.

Ice Fishing at Shawano Lake#18.1988.3838 Featured November 2005

Small groups of people dot the ice as they fish on Shawano Lake, middle 20th century. Shawano Lake has been known for its Bluegills, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and Walleye since Europeans settled the region. Shanties began to be used for ice fishing in some Northern Wisconsin lakes as early as 1900. Many people, nevertheless, continue to fish in the open air. The Henry Lefebvre Collection.

Ice Harvest#8347 Featured November 2005

Machinery moves bales of ice from a local lake, c. 1900. Until World War II, many people owned iceboxes which required 25 - 50 lb blocks of ice to keep food cold during the summer months. To supply this demand, ice was cut in January and February of each year. Local farmers worked in teams to clear the snow over the ice and then score and cut the ice into 500 - 700 lb bales. Once cut, the ice was loaded onto wagons with a loading machine. Horses took the ice to an ice house where it would be unloaded by conveyor belt, and stacked between layers of saw dust to prevent the ice from thawing or freezing together. This allowed the ice to be stored for as long as a year.

John F. Kennedy Campaigns#18.1988.3042 Featured November 2005

Senator John F. Kennedy campaigns for President in De Pere during the Democratic Party primary, 1960. During the primary, Kennedy worked to prove to his party that he had the ability to win votes in heavily Protestant states and in those that had another clear favorite. Kennedy chose to campaign in a small number of states where he felt that he could win easily, while working in the background to gain support elsewhere. In Wisconsin he campaigned in both large and small towns, including Gays Mills, Reedsburg, and De Pere, eventually winning the Wisconsin primary over the favorite, Hubert Humphrey. The Henry Lefebvre Collection.

Lumber Train#6209.201 Featured November 2005

Lumberjacks stand around a steam locomotive that was converted from wheel to track propulsion, 1912. During the late 19th century and the early 20th century, small steam locomotives were pivotal in hauling logs out of the woods to lumber mills after teams of horses hauled the wood from the forest to the spur tracks. This train was unusual, and its modifications gave the lumber company a much more flexible and efficient means of transportation. The Otto Stiller Collection.

Santa Claus at City Stadium#18.1988.2064 Featured November 2005

Santa Claus visits Green Bay City Stadium while children, parents, and the news media look on, ca. 1950. Since Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas", in 1822, Santa Claus has been associated with Christmas. During World War II and after, Santa became the most popular symbol of the season. Cards, songs, and decorations revolved around the figure, while crowds of children attended Christmas events just to speak with him. The Henry Lefebvre Collection.

Santa Watches the Packers#PG - GB Street Scenes, 12/12/60, f25 Featured November 2005

Tom Lagers, dressed as Santa Claus, watches the Green Bay Packers on television, December 12, 1960. Green Bay Packer fans are so well known for their loyalty to their team that even Santa is a fan! In 1960, Paul Hornung led the NFL in scoring with 176 points -- 15 touchdowns, 15 field goals, and 41 extra points. Although they lost the NFL championship to the Eagles, the Packers were rated first in the NFL West with a record of 8 wins and 4 losses. The Press-Gazette Collection.

Skating PartyPG - St. Mary's Hospital, 2/6/63, f20 Featured November 2005

Sisters of the Order of Misericorde at St. Mary's hospital skate on the new skating rink on hospital grounds, February 6, 1963. In 1903, 13 sisters from the Congregation of the Sisters of Misericorde established a general hospital on the corner of Webster Avenue and Crooks Street in Green Bay. This hospital served the east side until 1960 when the Bishop of Green Bay, The Most Reverend Stanislaus Vincent Bona, requested that the hospital relocate to the westside. The new building was located on a large parcel of land on Shawano Avenue, allowing room for a larger building and grounds. The Press-Gazette Collection.

Blesch's Bay Brewery#10102 Featured September 2005

Brewery employees stand in front of the brewery, ca. 1870. Blesch's Bay Brewery was one of many established in Green Bay during the middle 19th century. While Hochgreve, Rahr, Hagemeister, and Van Dycke all began breweries, Francis Blesch was the first to brew in 1851, after he settled in the town of Ft. Howard the year before. For several years, it was the only brewery in the area, and demand for its product allowed a larger building to be constructed in 1856. The Brewery continued to prosper until it closed in 1879, around the time of Francis' death.

Charcoal Kilns #198 Featured September 2005

Men carry wood to load into charcoal kilns located near Kolb and Becher's Corners, ca. 1880. During the middle and late 19th century, Green Bay and De Pere formed an industrial center containing several iron smelting furnaces to process iron ore that was imported by barge from Escanaba, Michigan. To support the need for industrial charcoal to heat the ore, charcoal kilns were built by the iron companies and private investors so that the charcoal could be manufactured locally.

Green Bay 1893#10090 Featured September 2005

Map of Green Bay and Fort Howard, ca. 1893. Since its inception, the City of Green Bay has grown through a series of consolidations between towns. This included the joining of the towns of Navarino and Astor on the east side of the Fox River in 1838 to form the borough of Green Bay. An 1895 annexation to the city added the town of Fort Howard on the west side of the river. Later, a series of consolidations of portions of the towns of Hobart, Preble, Bellevue and Scott in the 20th century resulted in city limits that now encompass more than 29,000 acres.

James Arness at City Stadium#18.1988.3146 Featured September 2005

James Arness signs autographs during the dedication of new City Stadium in Green Bay, September 29, 1957. Celebrations for the dedication of new City Stadium included a parade, a winning football game against the Chicago Bears, and appearances of celebrities such as Gunsmoke's James Arness, Miss America, and Richard Nixon. Henry Lefebvre Collection.

Miss Green Bay#18.1988.4333 Featured September 2005

Elmer Villiesse sits in a Cletrac beneath the Boeing B-17 bomber, ca. 1941 - 1945. A Green Bay native who operated the Bay Beach Tavern, Villesse was maintenance crew chief for the B-17 bomber, Miss Green Bay, during WWII. The plane was considered one of the safest in the United States Air Force, logging twenty-seven consecutive missions free of mechanical failure, and fifty-five total combat missions, all without a crash. The Henry Lefebvre Collection.

M. J. Corbett Grocery#26.1989.168 Featured September 2005

Employees of the Corbett Grocery stand outside of the grocery, located at 212 -214 Main Street in the city of Fort Howard, ca. 1880. Main Street, later known as West Walnut, was a main thoroughfare in the city and an important part of a business district that also included Broadway Street. However, the business district on the west side of the Fox River never did rival that of Green Bay. Fourteen years after Ft. Howard was platted, Green Bay built a bridge over the river, bringing business to their city and leaving much of Fort Howard as an industrial center.

Packers Pep Rally#PG-Packer Pep Rally, October 26, 1980 Featured September 2005

Coach Bart Starr speaks to more than 2,000 fans as team members, cheerleaders, and band members look on, October 26, 1980. The Green Bay Packers have always relied on their local fans for support as well as their fan organizations. Both the band and the cheerleaders were originally informally organized by local citizens, and Green Bay Packers fan activities continue to be some of the most well attended events in the area. Press-Gazette Collection.

Shopping in the Rain #6209.229 Featured September 2005

People walk through the rain at the corner of Cherry and Washington Streets, November 6, 1941. Washington and Cherry Streets have been part of the heart of Green Bay's business district since the area was first platted as the village of Navarino in 1829 and became the town of Green Bay less than ten years later. During the middle 20th century, downtown Green Bay continued to be an economic center with shops, restaurants, and other services available. Otto Stiller Collection.

Wisconsin Hunters#18.1988.13208 Featured September 2005

Hunters pose with their trophies, ca. 1950. The 1950s were a transition period in Wisconsin wildlife management. At the time this photograph was taken, an unrestricted $5.00 bounty on bobcats was in effect. Bear-gun season coincided with the deer-gun season, and management officials began recommending doe and young buck hunts, which was received with protests from the public. Henry Lefebvre Collection.

A. C. Neville Home#5450 Featured July 2005

Located at 905 South Monroe, Arthur Courtenay Neville built the home in 1890 on two lots he had acquired earlier that year. A third adjacent lot with an existing house was purchased in 1914. The heirs to the previous owner removed the older structure, creating a spacious garden for the home. The Queen Anne style architecture found on the exterior is influenced by both the Shingle and Stick styles. The interior features 10 foot ceilings and oak paneled walls, while a leaded glass skylight illuminates the main staircase. The Neville Home is one of four homes in the Astor Neighborhood featured in the Neville 90th Birthday Tea Series.

FDR Visits#6209.173B Featured July 2005

President Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses a large crowd at Bay Beach Park, August 9, 1934. Roosevelt's visit to Green Bay was the climax to the area's Tercentennial event that featured pageants, parades, and other events celebrating Jean Nicolet's landing at Red Banks 300 years earlier. Otto Stiller Collection.

Football Action#17.1998.10 Featured July 2005

A Green Bay East High School football player runs towards the camera as East and West High Schools battle for the ball, November 11, 1920. Green Bay East and West High Schools have been rivals in football since 1905. Between 1918 and 1925 East continued to win against West. However, at the introduction of West's Arnie Herber, who later became a well-known football player with the Green Bay Packers, the winning streak was broken. As of 2004 East High School has won only two more games than West.

George G. Greene Residence#847 Featured July 2005

George Greene, a prominent Green Bay attorney, built this Italianate and Queen Anne style home between 1885 and 1889. Like many of the homes built in the Astor neighborhood, the home was constructed after an older, more modest, house was removed from the lot. The residence has since undergone a number of its own changes, including the shortening of the veranda into an entry porch and the reduction in the number of fireplaces. However, the high ceilings, decorative wood interior, and stained glass continue to grace the home.

Green Bay Press-Gazette#18.1988.915 Featured July 2005

The first Green Bay Press-Gazette building located at 315 - 317 Cherry Street. The Green Bay Press-Gazette was established in 1915 after the merge of two local newspapers, the Green Bay Free Press and the Green Bay Gazette. The new periodical was published by the Green Bay Newspaper Company Publishers on Cherry Street until they moved to Walnut Street in 1925. Henry Lefebvre Collection.

Last Remains# PG-GB City Stadium 7/12/1966 Featured July 2005

Ferrari Wrecking Company demolishes the old Green Bay City Stadium press box while Ted Fritsch, Jug Earp, and other ex-Packers and fans watch. While the Green Bay Packers began playing games in the new City Stadium in 1957, the old City Stadium remained intact until the week of July 11, 1966. A small group of mourners came to watch as all but the surrounding wall of the stadium was razed. Unlike the launch of the new stadium, there was very little media coverage about the event.

Lombardi Day#PG-Lombardi, Vince 8/6/1968 Featured July 2005

Vince Lombardi signs autographs beneath a new Lombardi Avenue sign. Seven months after Vince Lombardi resigned as head coach of the Packers and the team won their second Super Bowl, Green Bay celebrated Lombardi's achievements. The culmination of the honor came as Highland Avenue was rechristened Lombardi Avenue on August 6, 1968. Press-Gazette Collection.

Northeastern Wisconsin Fair#6209.36 Featured July 2005

Two people stand in the gathering of automobiles and horse-pulled vehicles parked at the fair grounds on Green Bay Day, August 1915. Prior to the turn of the century, fairs, circuses, and other large events were held at Hagemeister Park. However, as the park's race track was abandoned for the De Pere Riding Park, and East High School was built on the property, the regional fair also found its way into De Pere. Eventually, Northeastern Wisconsin communities began to support their own events, and the land became home to the Brown County Fair. Otto Stiller Collection.

Thomas Drug Store#18.1988.668 Featured July 2005

The staff of Thomas's Drug Store stands around the counter, ca. 1957-1958. Located at 901 S. Webster Avenue, Thomas Drug Store opened around 1933 after the site briefly held Randant's Drug Store in the early 1930s. The family owned pharmacy remained largely unchanged from the 1950s until its close in 1986, selling pharmaceuticals, gifts, and housing a soda fountain. Henry Lefebvre Collection.

Green Bay and Western Depot#8467 Featured May 2005

Green Bay and Western Depot, West Mason Street, Green Bay, ca. 1900. The depot was one of four railroads in 1900 that had both general offices and depots in the city, three of which were on the Westside. The depot was demolished in the late 1970s after the current Mason Street Bridge was erected.

Bay Beach#6209.149 Featured May 2005

Bathers swim at Bay Beach, June 20, 1943. Swimming was a popular activity at Bay Beach during the early part of the 20th century. Swimming suits, the use of the bathhouse, and a towel could be rented at the park for 25 cents, leading more than 1000 people to use the beach on hot days. However, by 1933, increasing pollution began causing skin sores and the beach was forced to close. Many residents continued to swim until ten years later when the Green Bay Board of Health began to enforce the closure and the beach was finally abandoned. Otto Stiller Collection.

Bicycle Parking Only#6209.135 Featured May 2005

Bicycles line the 300 block of North Washington Street, August 1, 1921. During the summer months, movies were a popular pursuit for Green Bay's youth. Like many movie houses, the Bijou catered to these customers, showing nine reel "thrillers" during the day and even reserving the northern portion of the block for bicycle parking at peak hours. Otto Stiller Collection.

Buffalo Bill#6209.64H Featured May 2005

William Cody greets children from St. Joseph's Orphanage at Hagemeister Park, July 19, 1915. Cody's Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show featured cowboy tricks, event reenactments, Native Americans, military veterans, and female entertainers. The Press-Gazette arranged and funded a trip to allow the orphans to see the performance, providing not only the ticket, but chartering an interurban streetcar to carry them to the park for the show. Otto Stiller Collection.

Chili John's Restaurant#8473 Featured May 2005

John "Chili John" Isaac, an unidentified woman in a hat, and Florence Isaac stand behind the counter of Chili John's Restaurant, ca. 1924. Established in 1913 as a tiny lunch counter on Green Bay's Main Street, Chili John's featured Isaac's personal recipe for chili con carne and short orders such as hot sandwiches and pork chops. Over the years, the restaurant changed locations six times and dropped most of the menu items, but kept Isaac's original chili recipe as the basis for the business.

Fox Theater#10398 Featured May 2005

Crowds gather outside of the Fox Theater on Washington Street in Green Bay, 1931. Since its opening in 1930 as one of seven vaudeville and movie houses in the area, the Fox underwent several changes. These included a bankruptcy in 1933 that led to the theater's operation under the new name, the Bay, and later being converted into a movie multiplex. In 1998, the theater underwent a restoration and rechristening as the Meyer Theater, now hosting live performances.

Green Bay vs. St. Louis# 6209.164 Featured May 2005

The Green Bay Packers play the St. Louis All-Stars football team, October 7, 1923. The game was played on Bellevue Field, a sandlot located behind the Hagemeister Food Products Company on Manitowoc Road. In the end, neither team scored, resulting in a 0 - 0 tie. Otto Stiller Collection.

Picnic Grove#6209.56 Featured May 2005

A horse waits while its owner relaxes in the Hagemeister Park picnic grove, ca. 1912. Hagemeister Park's pine grove was a popular picnic location until the trees began to die during the summer of 1915. Within a few years, the site of the grove and the park's clubhouse was chosen for Green Bay East's new high school. The remaining trees were removed to provide space for what became an athletic field and City Stadium. The remaining portion of Hagemeister Park was renamed Joannes Park. Otto Stiller Collection.

Adams Street#6209.151 Featured March 2005

Adams Street looking north from Cherry Street in downtown Green Bay, ca. 1912. The image shows several well respected businesses as well as the arc-lamp street lights which had to be serviced daily. The Otto Stiller Collection.

Dehn's Ice Cream Store#15.2004 Featured March 2005

Students crowd Dehn's Ice Cream Store after a West High school football game on December 6, 1949. The store at 412 West Walnut was one of two in Green Bay, and was a favorite place for high school students on both sides of the Fox River.

Bay Beach Amusement Park Pony Ride#18.1988.5623A Featured March 2005

Linda Lefebvre of Green Bay enjoys the Van Bellinger pony ride at Bay Beach Amusement Park, ca. 1950. Walter Van Bellinger began the pony ride in 1927, and his family has continued operations through several generations of Shetland ponies. The Henry Lefebvre Collection.

Construction Of The Bellin-Buchanan Building#22.2000.3 Featured March 2005

Construction of the Bellin-Buchanan building on the southwest corner of Washington and Walnut in Green Bay, ca. 1915. The Bellin Building was one of many Green Bay buildings erected during a period of construction and downtown redevelopment.

The Bohemian Baking Company#71.1995.7 Featured March 2005

The Bohemian Baking Company, located at 1263 Main Street in Green Bay, ca. 1920s. This building was constructed in 1912 to house a large baking operation. It has since been redeveloped to accommodate retail and office space.

Workers at John Hoberg Paper Company#156.1984.107 Featured March 2005

The John Hoberg Paper Company workers stand in front of the Number Two Paper Machine, ca. 1916. An influential company in Northeastern Wisconsin's paper industry, the mill was established in Green Bay in 1895. It became the Charmin Paper Products Company in 1953 and a subsidiary of Proctor & Gamble four years later.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game#6209.188A Featured March 2005

Crowds watch as the Kelly's and the Stiller's baseball teams play near the roller coaster at Bay Beach Park, 1928. During the 1920s and 1930s, Green Bay was home to numerous amateur baseball leagues. Many were connected to well-known local businesses like the Stiller Company. Games were played during the daylight hours because electricity was unavailable at the ballparks. Otto Stiller Collection.