Crandon is the only incorporated community in Forest County and therefore the county seat. The city saw growth as the railroad lines made their way north, allowing for the lumber industry to boom. Spend some time exploring the city in Crandon Public Library’s Crandon Community Building Collection.
The description of this photo is A+: “View looking South toward the north end of Lake Metonga. The road on the right is the South end of Lake Avenue and which, then as now, turned left into Lakeview. To the left is the home of one Calvin T. H. Riggs. Calvin was not satisfied with having one or two first names. He had to have three. He also was not satisfied with being the citizen of one town – Crandon. He needed two. He became the prime mover behind the establishment of a second town East of the Soo Line up in a hillside North of Routes 8 and 32. He called the townlet “Riggsville”. The area is still so referred to by the older residents in town, but has through the years come to be part of Crandon proper.”
This is the original Shaw Building, located on the north side of Madison between Lake and Forest Avenues. It is presently the offices of Crandon Realty Co. At the time of this photo (about 1900) it had three occupants: the front of the first floor served as the post office. In the back Mr. Brady and his son were busily producing some of the earliest editions of the Forest Republican newspaper. And while all this was going on downstairs, Mr. M.M. Ross was operating his furniture store upstairs.
East view on Madison Street, undated.View from atop the stage tower of the Opera house at the southwest corner of Washington Street and Lake Avenue. Camera is looking northeast. (A) Washington Street (B) Jack Hoffman’s shoe store and harness shop, northeast corner of Lake Avenue and Washington Street. (C) The Catholic Church (D) Woodman Hall, still standing. (E) Forest Avenue (F) Wolentowski Woodworking shop, still standing. (G) The High school, still standing. (H) The Town of Lincoln building, now the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and moved forward to Washington Street.
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