Neenah Historical Society

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Neenah Historical Society Collecting, preserving and sharing the history of our community. The Neenah Historical Society was formed in January 1948 at the home of Helen Kimberly Stuart.

Our mission is to collect and obtain information about the history of Neenah, compile and preserve it in a suitable and permanent form, and to share our history with interested persons. Today, we have two buildings dedicated to serving our mission. The Hiram Smith Octagon House is our museum and archive space. The Ward House is our office, research library, and classroom. Please give us a call at 920-729-0244, message the page on Facebook, or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. Additional information is also on our website: neenahhistoricalsociety.com

Under this Roof: The Tenant Timeline of Neenah Buildings. Today we will look at the history of 134 West Wisconsin Avenue...
10/20/2026

Under this Roof: The Tenant Timeline of Neenah Buildings. Today we will look at the history of 134 West Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Neenah.

This historic building has served many roles in our downtown community, starting in the 1850's. This buildings is the oldest commercial building in downtown Neenah and has witnessed a rich transformation from a 19-th century saloon, to a long-time hardware store, to a modern-day pub.

Here is a timeline of the various businesses that have been in this location:

*1856–1920s: Thompson's Columbian Sample Rooms. The initial tenant was a local sampling room (saloon) that operated for many decades.

*1920's – 1965: The Neenah Hardware Company had a long run as it transitioned the space from a saloon to storefront which served Neenah for over forty years.

*1965 – 1975: Storage space for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

*1976 – 1978: Granny's Restaurant – a short-lived eatery returned this space to the food and beverage business.

*1978 – 2004: Caliban's Restaurant – a very popular and memorable establishment held this space for over twenty-five years.

*2004 – 2007: Chatterbox – a new restaurant took over this for several years.

*2007 – 2008: Cornerstone Pub – held this location as another bar/restaurant.

*2009 – 2012: Five Generations Sports Bar and Grill – after significant renovations, the 5 G's Sports bar was a popular downtown location.

*2012 – Current: Greene's Pour House - The oldest commercial building in Neenah is now home to Greene's Pour House. This thriving bar and grill has expanded to include a banquet room on the second floor.

Beginning in 1866, William Kellett operated a dry goods business in downtown Neenah. Although the business occupied seve...
10/15/2026

Beginning in 1866, William Kellett operated a dry goods business in downtown Neenah. Although the business occupied several locations over the years, this photograph shows the store around 1887 at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Cedar Street. Cedar Street was later renamed Commercial Street in the late 1890s.

In 1888, Kellett partnered with Edward Jandrey and moved the business to 120 W. Wisconsin Avenue. Following the deaths of William and Mrs. Kellett, Jandrey purchased the business from the Kellett estate, and it became known as Jandrey's. The store expanded over the years but remained on W. Wisconsin Avenue, serving the community until its closure in 1983.

COME SEE IT BEFORE ITS GONE! The current exhibit at the Neenah Historical "Growing Up Neenah: An All-American Childhood"...
10/13/2026

COME SEE IT BEFORE ITS GONE!

The current exhibit at the Neenah Historical "Growing Up Neenah: An All-American Childhood" takes a unique look at what makes the childhood experience of growing up in Neenah special. This exhibit will close in early December.

Childhood is not simply a stage of life. It is an adventure in which we all embark on. While the concept of childhood has changed over time, the experiences of those lucky enough to have grown up in Neenah have largely stayed the same.

Unique to our city is the Rocket Slide at Riverside Park, Brigade and Camp Onaway, the Santa Float, the Neenah Pool, Parks and Recreation programs, fishing in waterways and so on. Growing Up Neenah means indeed having, an All-American Childhood. The exhibit features unique stories from our History Harvest outreach.

The History Harvest was born out of the idea to capture the everyday stories of Neenah residents. This project has allowed us to broaden our archives and knowledge of the history of Neenah. Through a combination of online form responses, handwritten memories, and oral histories we have collected over 30 perspectives from individuals born and raised in Neenah.

Come see the exhibit before it closes in early December!

Join us for some entertaining and educational sessions! The Neenah Historical Society has the following events for all t...
10/08/2026

Join us for some entertaining and educational sessions!
The Neenah Historical Society has the following events for all to enjoy!

*Upcoming Library Talks -
Join us at the Neenah Public Library for a series of presentations exploring the people, places, and stories that shaped our community.

October 15, 6:30 p.m. - Fame in Neenah
Discover notable individuals with connections to Neenah and explore their contributions and accomplishments.

November 19, 6:30 p.m. - Neenah Neighborhoods: Talk of the Town
Ever wondered what Bridgerton would sound like in Neenah? Join local Realtor and history enthusiast, Sara Laabs as she explores Neenah’s neighborhood gossip.


*Stumbling Through History –
Our last Show for the year will be October 19 at 6:00pm. The Lion's Tail Brewing Company in Neenah will again be our host.

History and refreshments make a great combination! Join the Neenah Historical Society at Lion's Tail Brewing Company for an evening of lighthearted local history while enjoying some of Lion's Tail's finest beverages. The theme for our final session will be Naughty Neenah.

*Step Into History: Wisconsin Winter Fun -
The Neenah Historical Society is excited to host a stop on the Wisconsin Historical Society's History Makers Tour with the Wisconsin Winter Fun Photo Opportunity.

This free, interactive exhibit features a large-scale historic photograph from the Wisconsin Historical Society's archives, allowing visitors to step into the scene and become part of history. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and take photos with the display.

The exhibit is open to the public during regular museum hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The display will remain on view through the end of the Growing Up Neenah exhibit.

For more information about these and other programs, please visit the Neenah Historical Society Website: Neenah Historical Society Programs & Events

The Community Foundation of the Fox Valley celebrated 40 years of serving the area by awarding grants to 40 different no...
10/07/2026

The Community Foundation of the Fox Valley celebrated 40 years of serving the area by awarding grants to 40 different non-profits. The Neenah Historical Society is honored to be one of the selected organizations. The grant will go a long way towards continuing to update our buildings and grounds to preserve them for years to come.

ON THIS DATE IN NEENAH HISTORY! On October 6. 1913, Frank J. Sensenbrenner, legendary executive who later became preside...
10/06/2026

ON THIS DATE IN NEENAH HISTORY!

On October 6. 1913, Frank J. Sensenbrenner, legendary executive who later became president of the Kimberly Clark Corporation, sold 11 ½ acres of land for just $1 to the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

This transaction established the St. Margaret’s Cemetery. This was located just off of Oakridge Road and adjacent to Oak Hill Cemetery.

Under the terms of the transaction, there was a strict condition that “the name of the cemetery shall forever remain St. Margaret’s.”

This cemetery is Jointly managed by St. Patrick, St. Margaret Mary, and St. Gabriel parishes.

The second session of Tours of the Babcock House was held this past weekend. Entitled, “Yesterday Supports Tomorrow” thi...
10/05/2026

The second session of Tours of the Babcock House was held this past weekend. Entitled, “Yesterday Supports Tomorrow” this event allowed for two dates where guests were allowed to tour the historic house on East Wisconsin Avenue.

Proceeds from the “Yesterday Supports Tomorrow” house tour will benefit the Neenah-Menasha Emergency Society and its efforts to help residents affected by the July 27 tornado.

Special thanks to Peter Adams and Patricia Mulvey, current owners of the house, who opened their home for this tour. This venture called on many volunteers to make this happen. The Neenah Historical Society took the lead on the coordination, promotion, ticketing, as well as training all volunteers. The Neenah-Menasha Emergency Society also provided a number of volunteers. Thanks to the additional volunteers that made this event a huge success!

TODAY IN NEENAH HISTORY! October 1 marked the dedication and official opening of the Oak Street Bridge in 1949. The open...
10/01/2026

TODAY IN NEENAH HISTORY!

October 1 marked the dedication and official opening of the Oak Street Bridge in 1949.

The opening of the bridge was a major milestone in the city's infrastructure, as it provided a critical second bridge connection to Doty Island.

In addition to relieving traffic congestion, the bridge served an important public safety purpose by significantly reducing emergency travel times to what was then known as Theda Clark Memorial Hospital.

According to local records, the dedication ceremony was celebrated by residents as "quite the party!"

In 2009, the new Oak Street Bridge opened and was named in honor of longtime city engineer and director, Wayne G. Bryan.

Pictured are views of Theda Clark prior to the original Oak Street Bridge construction. The second picture is of the original Oak Street Bridge from the early 1950’s, with the final picture being a view of Theda Clark from the new Oak Street bridge.

Neenah’s Octagon House has been a fixture in Neenah since the 1850s. During that time, it had several owners. The Smith ...
09/29/2026

Neenah’s Octagon House has been a fixture in Neenah since the 1850s. During that time, it had several owners. The Smith family occupied the house for nearly seventy years. Hiram Smith’s widow, Vesta Smith, lived there until her death in 1919. Ownership of the house then passed through John Brown before being acquired by the Quinn family in 1923, until the Neenah Historical Society purchased it in 1993.

The Quinn family owned the house for seventy years. They also owned and operated Quinn’s TV and Appliance, a well-known family business in Neenah, Wisconsin. Donald and Betty Quinn, along with other family members, ran the store from the 1950s until its closure in 1989.

Located near the Octagon House, the store became memorable to local residents for its advertising slogan: “340 is the place to go!”

The first photograph, taken in 1958 on Main Street, shows Quinn’s TV and Appliance with the Octagon House visible behind the store. The second image is an advertisement from the 1959 Twin-Cities News-Record highlighting some of the products and deals Quinn’s TV and Appliance offered to its customers.

Address

343 Smith Street
Neenah, WI
54956

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+19207290244

Website

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