Lost Fox Cities

by Scott Wittman

The lumber kings and paper barons of the Fox River Valley transformed a wilderness of vast, rich timberlands and raging river waters into empires of pine, paper and power. In Oshkosh, lumber dynasties such as Paine and Morgan helped rebuild a nation ravaged by fire and war. Four young Neenah entrepreneurs with no experience in papermaking formed Kimberly-Clark, one of the largest paper manufacturers in the world. H.J. Rogers of Appleton watched his home light up the night after he wired it with Edison's electric lightbulbs, the first in the world to do so utilizing hydroelectricity. These men ushered in an era of opulence shining with steamboat excursions along the river, palatial mansions in plush neighborhoods and lavish hotels and movie houses. Much of this bygone age now exists only in photographs, written accounts or memories. Local photographer and historian Scott Wittman recovers this vanishing history.

179 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2025

Reviews

[Ian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very neat history 100+ years before growing up in the same spot, surreal at times.

[Joel Swokowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, really meant for the people from this area of Wisconsin.

[Emma White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Very well-researched. He really showed the humanity of these cities.

[Matt Wawiorka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice way to build a foundation for understanding the history and context of the today’s fox valley.

Key takeaways:
- The fox cities were built on lumber, furniture, and paper making.
- The area was a tech hub during the late 1800s and there was a lot of wealth.
- Appleton had one of the first modern electrical grids and electric street car.