MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Thompson Community Center
PROGRAM SUMMARY
“History of the Appleton Post Crescent”
CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 72
OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Tom Sutter, James Richter, Laura Leimer, Mark Moderson, John Marx, Brian Schneider, Gwen Sargeant, Linda Muldoon, James Krueger, and Diana Sandberg.
REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
August 12 – Growing Up in Appleton in the 60s – Jim Krueger
August 23 – Cemetery Walk – “Meet the Mayors” – Riverside Cemetery
September 9 – The History of Catholic Schools by Deacon Tony Abts
October 14th 100 block of E. College Avenue – Dave Buss and Christine Williams
November 11 – Appleton Picture Show
December 5 – 11th AHS History Fair, City Center
APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION:
•AHS Officers:
1President – Thomas Sutter
2Vice President – Christine Williams
3Secretary – James Richter
4Treasurer – Laura Leimer
•AHS Board of Directors:
1Terms through November 2017:
1Mark Moderson
2John Marx
3Laura Leimer
4Diana Sandberg
•Terms through November 2016:
1Linda Muldoon
2Jim Krueger
3Gwen Sargeant
4Brian Schneider
•Terms through November 2015:
1Tom Sutter
2Christine Williams
3James Richter
•Committee Chairs for the organization are as follows:
A. Mark and Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers
B. Brian Schneider, Technical Resources
C. David Buss, Research Specialist
D. Gwen Sargeant, Public Relations and Web Page
E. Christine Williams, Monthly Programs
F. Gwen Sargeant, Publications
PRESIDENT SUTTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1Greetings extended to members and guests.
2Introduced Officers and Board Members.
3Thanks to Antoinette Powell for June’s program “Appleton’s Historic Third Ward”.
4
5Provided a list of upcoming programs and events.
6The Vulcan Historical site on South Lawe Street received a new Historical Marker which was dedicated on May 29th.
7Hopes we all saw the recent Post Crescent article on the WEPCO Hydroelectric Plant in Appleton’s Industrial Flats. The plant has been in continuous use since 1901.
8The door prize of a Fox Cities Memories Book published by the Appleton Post Crescent was won by Milt Melander.
AHS COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS:
Jim Krueger, AHS Board Member:
* Encouraged us all to attend the Appleton Historic Car Show at Pierce Park on Sunday July 19th. The event is free.
Diana Sandberg, AHS Board Member:
•Encouraged us all to come to the second floor of the Appleton Public Library to see the new display on “Camp Appleton – the P.O.W. Camp”:
1The camp was operated a few months in Appleton during 1945.
2It contained German prisoners who were sent back to the U.S.
3The local canning factory ended up hiring many of these P.O.W.’s for the summer. Some 140 to 180 P.O.W. prisoners were included.
PROGRAM : “History of the Appleton Post Crescent”
Presenter: Dan Flannery
Speaker’s Background:
Dan Flannery served as executive editor of Post–Crescent Media from June 2007 to July 2014, and also served as regional executive editor
of Gannett Wisconsin Media from September 2011 to July 2014, when he resigned to join Goodwill NCW as vice president of community relations.
He joined The Post–Crescent as sports editor in December 1985, and over the next 28–plus years, served in a variety of
editorial positions — news editor, editorial page editor and more. He replaced Bill Knutson as managing editor in February 2002.
Over the years, Flannery earned state and national writing awards for his work as a columnist and editorial writer.
He's a native of Laona, Wisc., and a graduate of UW–Green Bay. He and his wife Mary live in Darboy, and have two grown daughters and three grandsons.
Introductions of His Former P.C. Staff:
•Bonnie Lutzewitz, a Post Crescent employee for 38 years, and the paper’s Archivist.
•Ed Berthiaume, a Post Crescent employee since 1989, and has served as a Reporter and now an editor.
The Program:
The Post Crescent is 162 years old and counting. It was founded in 1853 by Colonel Samuel Ryan of Fort Howard, and it has changed a lot over the decades. He expresses the lament of many current Post Crescent readers who say the the P.C. “ain’t what it used to be”.
When the P.C. started there were no cars, few roads, and a young city that had only been in existence for 5 years.
Although it took political positions from the start they weren’t always on the same party side. Example, in 1860 they endorsed Steven A. Douglas, a northern Democrat, for President.
It’s always been a business and how the community supports it has determined it’s success.
The First Edition of the Post:
1Colonel Ryan’s sons Samuel Jr., James, John, and Henry were all partners.
2It was printed with handset type on an handcranked press in a building on what is now Soldier’s Square.
3Subscriptions were $1.50 a year.
4The front page of that 2/10/53 issue said “in politics, we shall express our opinions of men and measures, without fear or favor we shall.”
5The only communications at the time were by telegraph.
Competition in the Early Years:
1The Appleton Motor was established on August 18, 1859. In 1867 it became the Appleton Post. It was a weekly newspaper at that time.
2From 1860 the 1880 the Appleton Volksfrund, a German newspaper, operated.
How the Post Crescent Developed:
1In 1883 the Post converted to a daily and improved content with 6,000 circulation.
2On 9/12/1889 came the “birth of the Buzz” with basic community journalism, answering basic community questions:
1What’s being built?
2What is it being built?
3How big will it be?
4How much will it cost?
3In 1915 the Green Bay Press and Gazette merged and became the Press Gazette.
4On 2/2/20 the Appleton Post and Crescent merged and became the Post Crescent, and stated in their first joint issue“The independent newspaper serves no master. It is not controlled by politicians, party pressure, or any other self–seeking interest. It bears no party label.”
5On 6/27/32 the P.C. moved from 123 S. Appleton Street to it’s current building at 306 W. Washington Street. The building was made in the art deco style.
6In 1934 they added an addition to the building for photography and engraving.
7From 1951 to 1953 they constructed another addition to the building. 11,000 square feet were added for more space and a new press. That press would print 25,000 copies an hour.
Showed a Video on the Post Crescent in 1953:
1Had 24 full time reporters.
2Also 6 full time photographers.
3Operated with a Neenah–Menasha office that had it’s own staff.
4They were one of the first to operate linotypes over wires.
5Published 32,000 copies per day.
And So the Post Crescent Progressed:
1On 10/31/58 they published their first paper with a color photo. The subject was Angelo Cardinal Roncalli, before he was named Pope John the 23rd.
2In 1960 they purchased the Twin City News Record and then piggy backed it with the Post Crescent.
3On 9/24/61 a Sunday Edition was launched.
4On 1/4/65 Appleton was dropped from the title.
5On 3/31/71 a 22,400 square feet addition begins, provided a new press and new mailroom.
P.C. Ownership Over the Decades:
* 1853 Colonel Samuel Ryan of DePere started the Appleton Post Newspaper with his sons Samuel Jr., James, John, and Henry as partners.
* 2/2/20 the Appleton Post and Crescent merged and became the Post Crescent.
* 7/18/63 Original Partnership split. The Minahan group kept Post Publishing Co. and the Post Crescent.
* 3/12/64 Post Publishing becomes the Post Corporation.
* 8/1/84 P.C. sold to Gillett Communications.
* 12/84 P.C. sold to Thomson Newspapers, based in Toronto.
* 7/21/01 Thomson sells eight Wisconsin Newspapers to Gannett Publishing based in McLean, Virginia.
Interesting Facts from P.C. History:
1 The first female publisher of the P.C. was Ellen Leifeld.
2 The organization takes pride in supporting Appleton businesses over the years.
3 They tout that “we were a small town newspaper covering big stories.
Some of the Big Stories Covered Over the Years (projected on screen):
1 End of World War I in 1918.
2 Opening of the Valley Fair Mall in 1955.
3 Assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
4 Airlliners collide over Lake Winnebago killing 13 in 1972.
5 Killer toronado in Greenville racks area in 1984.
6 Shuttle blows up and whole crew lost in 1986.
7 A.A.L. and Lutheran Brotherhood merge in 2001.
Waves of Change:
1 1991 Pagination replaced paste up and more color appeared throughout the paper.
2 1998 P.C. launches its first website.
3 2000 had their first big online story with the Packer hiring of Mike Sherman.
4 2001 Downtown Press was closed and new printing facility near Hwy 441 and Northland Avenue opened.
5 2002 Began all day publication.
6 2007 Changed to Morning Delivery only.
7 2009 USA Today Nation/World covered in the Post Crescent.
8 2014 P.C. Mobile App launched.
What Is the Future for the P.C./ Ed Berthiaume:
•The Post Crescent intends to continue its commitment to the area.
•Gannett is the largest newspaper organization in the world and promises growth for all its publications.
James L. Richter, AHS Secretary
July 24, 2015