| A CN local parallels the Newberry Trail (originally Newberry St.) as it descends the grade into 'The Flats' via the former C&NW rails at Appleton, WI on 15 Sep. '18. Train was headed back to the yard at Appleton Junction after working Kimberly and Combined Locks. It's difficult to see from this angle, but near the telephone pole to the left, you can see where a spur used to cross Newberry St. to serve the Consolidated Papers Interlake Division (historically Interlake Pulp & Paper Co.) mill. The oldest part of the mill was built ca. 1890 by the Manufacturing Investment Company, on the site of the 1861 Richmond Brothers paper mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1887. The large, historic manufacturing facility was destroyed several years ago in order to make way for butt-ugly condominiums, a dreadful apartment building, and an unadorned, overrated hotel. Over the past several years, I have noticed that some misinformed individuals erroneously refer to ‘The Flats’ as ‘Oneida Flats,’ or some variation of same. However, the historic, industrial heart of Appleton is simply ‘The Flats.’ |