I knew I wanted them the minute I saw them!
These post cards are from the years when what is now the town of Wisconsin Rapids was then two communities, Grand Rapids on the east side of the river and Centralia on the west. Those two communities were merged into the city of Wisconsin Rapids in 1920.
This flatiron building, which was a bank back in 1907 when Pa Pa wrote his message, is called the Ahdawagam building.


"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone, paved paradise and put up a parking lot!"
If you go about a block east on Baker Street, which would be a right turn at this intersection, you will come to our church.
Notice the white patches between the trees beyond and to the right of the cars in the parking lot?
I have the feeling I've seen a tower like this somewhere in town - - - but when I went out the other day searching for it, I couldn't find it where I thought it SHOULD be.
Sadly, there is nary a remnant of it left. No one I've asked can remember exactly where it was either.
"No one" would be my friend Eloise (pronounced E-Lois) and her hubby Bill who have lived here most of their adult lives, so if they don't know "ain't" nobody knows! HA
That concludes the Wisconsin Rapids - Then and Now Tour. What are you showing us in your city today?
26 comments:
Oh Keetha, what a great post, I am always attracted to now and then, funny how we like vintage clothes but when it comes to building we have to make room for humans.
My favorite is probably the now law building, what a wonderful shape.
I must admit I am split about conservation, I live in a listed building but I would love at time for the architect to have thought forward!!!
I really enjoyed your post and each time I see little bits of the US my longing to visit increases. Have a great Sunday. x
:)
This is a great post. Good example how our neighborhoods change.
Thanks for sharing!
I love "then and now" photos and it is stunning, always, to see how things change with time. This was a beautiful tour, Keetha. Steeped in nostalgia.
I go nuts whenever I visit a town I've lived in to see how some things that were favorite spots/stops have disappeared in the name of development I often think, if I were to go away for a year from where I currently live, I might not recognize the area.
Thank you for sharing those postcards. Lovely.
It is a great post! I am always amazed at how difficult it is for me to picture how things used to be, once they have been altered and the "skyline' changes. While you live in the city, you get used to the new thing pretty quickly.
Wisconsin Rapids looked good, then and looks good now, too!
nice pics! my royal heaven is in stuttgart - germany :)
This was a wonderful nostalgic look at the past and present views of your town. The flatiron building to very cool.
Great post of your town's transition. I think we are too quick to change, don't you? Europeans keep their buildings far longer.
Keesha - What a FUN post. Great idea. Love the fact that PaPa did all his business with a bank in 1907 - wonder if it was still there in 1929?
I bet you had so much fun driving around finding what was there and what was not.
What a treasure! I do wish we weren't so quick to replace the old buildings.
Great subject post. That old bank building is certainly unique. Look at the old photo. Notice the two feneals either side of the crest. Also notice the drinking fountain just outside the main door. Both features are gone from your modern photo. Also there apparently was a flagpole near the crest of the building - it no longer is there.
See this web site for more historical photos of your area.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcmillanlibrary/
On pages 6 and 7 are images of the bank. The page 7 image is the best. Note the standing people either side of the buiding.
It would be fun to continue what you are dong - comparing this set of old photos with the same angle photo from the 21st century.
Thanks for the "then" and "now" tour of your town. It looks beautiful in both eras.
The gorgeous train depot in my town is a restaurant...and still where the passenger trains pick up and drop off.
What a great idea to enlarge old postcards! Now you've got me thinking ...
Very well done. Loved seeing and hearing about the before and after of your fair city.
I love the picture of the bank. There is a similar one in a few towns over where I live. This one is still a bank though. I enjoyed your post Keetha!
What a fabulous post! It is a shame the old library and train depot are gone but nice to see some of the old buildings still remain. When life settles down I think I will start looking for turn of the century postcards those are terrific. Have a wonderful week.
I love that corner building, but I have to say, it's probably a good thing they've updated/replaced the water tower, no?
What a great post. It is great to see how places change yet still remain the same. I love the postcard from Pa Pa.
Aw, Chippy is adorable! The bear might be a little scary, but I'd really like to see one! We looked and looked when we were in Yellowstone, but no bear.
I love that the law building kept the original building....that sentence makes no sense but I'm sure you "get" it! :) Just recently they tore down the train station in town and it was such a shame. I wish we could keep our history around and not think we new something new and improved!
What a great post. You always do such a wonderful job on these.
Cool post Keetha. I enjoyed seeing the old and the new. That is sad about the train station.
I love those postcards!
Interesting! Thanks.
Love this post, AND love that old Greek Revival church. It's a beauty, with or without its steeple.
And yes, that depot would have made a great cafe or antiques shop. The closest train station to us still has its old building in use -- but nowadays with automated ticket machines, it doesn't need all the space, so there's also a great tavern in the old brick building. Nice for thirsty commuters, I guess!
Cass
Fantastic post! That one picture makes me think of the lyrics of a Counting Crows song, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."
Great pictures and what a wonderful idea for a post.
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