Travel Back in Time to Wisconsin Rapids

Wisconsin Rapids, cut by the Wisconsin River was formed in 1900, when the communities of Grand Rapids, on the east bank, and Centralia, on the west, but did not have a shared name until 1920. Logging and the paper industry spurred early settlement and the area today is known for cranberry production. All images are from the McMillan Memorial Library digital collection: https://content.mpl.org/digital/collection/mcml+4.

First Street North. The bottom view is taken from the Witter and First National Bank south towards Oak street. It was taken in 1896 but could have been in 1892 as well.
Centralia Hardware Company 1907.
West Grand Avenue in Wisconsin Rapids about 1929. Bank at left and Johnson & Hill store at right. Streetcar tracks in road.
North First Street, 1934.
Aerial view, 1939. Have to include the Rapids!
American Legion Drum and Bugle Corp marching past the Armory on the way to Legion Park for the Decoration Day ceremonial. Undated.
Greetings from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.