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Appleton
Appleton, the largest of the Fox Cities,
abounds with shopping, dining, entertainment and recreational activities.
Downtown Appleton's College Avenue hosts an abundance of ethnic eateries and
eclectic shops, while sidewalks dotted with bars and pubs provide a lively
source of nightlife for locals and visitors alike.
Cultural activities and theatrical
performances delight audiences in the Performing Arts Center (opening 2002) and
in Lawrence University's Memorial Chapel and City Park's tranquil green space
offers a respite from life's hectic pace.
Fur traders seeking to do business with Fox
River Valley Indians were the first settlers in Appleton. Hippolyte Grignon
built the White Heron in 1835 to house his family and serve as an inn and
trading post.
With the financial backing of Amos Lawrence,
the Lawrence Institute was chartered in 1847. Samuel Appleton donated $10,000
to the newly founded college library, and in appreciation, his name was given
to the community.
Appleton was incorporated first as a village
in 1853 (John F. Johnston, the first resident, village president) and later as
a city in 1857 (Amos Storey, Mayor).
Among the 36 individuals who have served as
the city's chief elected official, John Goodland, Jr. had the longest tenure,
with 18 years in office. Dorothy Johnson, Appleton's first female mayor, was
elected in 1980 and served for 12 years. Timothy M. Hanna is the current
mayor.
Area business has been responsible for
Appleton's economic prosperity and progressive attitude. The paper industry,
beginning with the building of the first paper mill in the city in 1853, has
been at the forefront of the development of Appleton, In order to provide
electricity to this industry, the nation's first hydro-electric central station
began operation in Appleton on September 30, 1882. Not too long afterward, in
August of 1886, Appleton was the site for another national first, the operation
of a commercially successful electric streetcar company. Electric lights
replaced gas lamps on College Avenue in 1912.
Our community also made history when Alfred
Galpin put together his own telephone in 1877, connecting his bank and his
residence. Later, a druggist installed several phones in his store, linking
them with those in other offices. This Wisconsin Telephone Company purchased
this exchange in 1881.
Retail trade has also contributed to the
area's progress. Because stores have always been concentrated on College
Avenue, businessmen actively cooperate with city government in downtown
redevelopment. A major convention center, the Paper Valley Hotel, was opened in
1982 and a shopping complex, The Avenue, commenced operations in March of
1987.
From its beginnings in 1853 as the Appleton
Crescent, now the Appleton Post Crescent, the newspaper has provided coverage
of the political, educational and industrial arenas of the
community.
Cultural growth was encouraged early in
Appleton. Central to that development has been public library service.
Beginning in a reading room above a grocery store on College Avenue, the
Appleton Public Library has developed over the years. Today it is housed in a
modern 2 story facility on North Oneida Street. It offers a 240,000 volume book
collection, audiovisual equipment and software rental, as well as computer
database searching. In 1986, the APL was designated among the 50 outstanding
libraries in the nation.
The preservation of Appleton's history has
been the work of the Outagamie County Historical Society. Its museum contains
artifacts of Appleton's famous native son, escape artist Harry Houdini and
author Edna Ferber, who grew up in Appleton. The museum showcases Appleton's
heritage as a progressive, industrious community in Wisconsin's Fox River
Valley.
The residents of our community are proud of
Appleton's past and present, and they manifest a great confidence in its future
and a dedication to its ongoing betterment.
Selling Your Home >Selling the Details
It is the little things--both positive and negative--that can make a big difference to prospective buyers. Pay close attention to detail when you prepare your home to sell.
Before you list your home, go through the house with a careful eye. Fix any loose door knobs, popped screen doors, and loose grout around the tub and shower. A coat of fresh paint can work wonders to dress up a house. Wash the windows, hang a healthy plant from the bathroom skylight, and clean out the closets. Arrange the furniture to make the room look larger. If the rooms look cluttered, put your extra furniture into storage. You can brighten up a room by increasing the wattage of the light bulbs.
Going the extra mile to showcase your home will pay significant dividends when it's time to show it to buyers.
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| Q |
Which U.S. hotel has more fountains than any other hotel in the world?
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| A |
The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada has more than 1,000 fountains embellishing an 11+ acre artificial lake.
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