Title: City of Abbotsford (P68-12-41-3N)
Location:

Description: Photograph from negative of an Abbotsford street scene showing people, horses and wagons on a dirt main street. The photo was taken by James M. Colby, a popular Wausau based photographer. While there is no specific date noted with the photograph the dress and technology shown indicate the turn of the 19th into the 20th century.

Title: City of Colby
Location:

Description: This photograph shows the Colby depot, a perfect representation of the town’s namesake. Following the Civil War, the U. S. government decided a railroad was needed from Menasha to Lake Superior. Congress granted Central Wisconsin Railroad a land grant of about 850,000 acres. By September 1872, the construction company had laid track to section 53 where the main construction camp remained for two years. This end of the track was named Colby in honor of Charles L. Colby, son of the president and a partner in the company. It is also the present site of the city of Colby.

Title: City of Marshfield (P75-1036-30N)
Location:

Description: Photograph from glass negative in James M. Colby’s collection of Main Street scene in Marshfield, Wisconsin. This photograph shows cars lined up and down Main Street, and while the photo is not dated, based on the automobiles is most likely turn of the 19th century into the 20th century. Marshfield is a city that borders both Marathon and Wood Counties.

Title: City of Mosinee (P75-1034-8)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of Main Street in Mosinee, taken by James M. Colby, a popular Wausau based photographer. This photograph shows cars and horse drawn wagons lined up and down a dirt covered Main Street in front of several stores. While a specific date is not noted with the photo, we can estimate the photo was taken sometime around the 1920s due to the store front fashion and increase in accessibility and popularity of the automobile for the average person in the United States.

Title: City of Schofield (2021-16-5)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of Main Street in Schofield, taken by James M. Colby, a popular Wausau based photographer. The photograph shows storefronts, horse-drawn wagons, and a trolley pulling up to people standing on the side of the street. This photograph was used on a postcard donated to the Marathon County Historical Society from the Merrill Historical Society.

Title: City of Wausau (P69-36-3)
Location:

Description: A photograph of downtown Wausau, at 3rd Street 400 block Westside, from Scott Street. Looking south on the far left is Mayer's Shoes, then McClellan’s "5 to $1" Store, and Mint Cafe moving north toward Scott Street. The date of the photograph appears to date post World War II based on the automobiles. Also note the many large trees lining the sidewalk along the 400 block, which were removed sometime later.

Title: Town of Bergen (2014-23-5)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of a bridge in the unincorporated community of Moon in the Town of Bergen on the Eau Pleine Reservoir. We are unsure of exactly when the photo was taken because the photo itself is dated November 1969, but the car and architectural structure of the bridge date the photo to about the 1910-1920s. This bridge no longer exists and has since been replaced with similar land bridge structures in the area.

Title: Town of Berlin (LM2007-162-4)
Location:

Description: Photograph of the Trinity Lutheran Church dedication in 1896, in the town of Berlin, Marathon County, Wisconsin. Ed Fromm is pictured, who is part of the Fromm Brothers Fur and Ginseng Farm in Marathon County. On the back of the photograph there is a handwritten note that reads, “We were married in this church. We think the picture was taken at the dedication, possibly 1896 or there abouts”. While unsure of who wrote the note on the back of the photograph, it was donated by the Fromm Family.

Title: Town of Bern
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of a lumbering operation in the town of Bern, Wisconsin. It is a snowy winter lumber camp with four men with tools, standing next to two work horses. The photograph also shows four men standing on top of the sled-cart stacked full of lumber being drawn by the horses. This photograph is a good representation of a standard logging camp in Marathon County, Wisconsin at the time.

Title: Town of Bevent (P2005-76-6a)
Location:

Description: A photograph of the County Line School in Bevent, Wisconsin. According to the 1943 Marathon County Schools Map Joint District #4 County Line School was located in Section 33, Township 26 N, and 9E. It was situated within 100 feet of the Marathon-Portage county line, just south of Wadley Lake at Shantytown.

Title: Town of Brighton (P68-26-1B)
Location:

Description: Photograph of a threshing scene on the old Ferdinand Gripentrog farm, off of Route 1, in the town of Brighton, Wisconsin. While the photograph does not have a specified date the threshing machine dates it around the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Threshing machines were used to separate grain from stalks and husks, which revolutionized the process of harvesting wheat, corn, peas, soybeans, etc. for farmers, especially in Wisconsin.

Title: Town of Cassel
Location:

Description: The only two communities in the original township of Cassel were the eastern portion of Edgar and the western portion of Marathon City. This town was originally part of the Town of Marathon, but when set apart Cassel was numerically as strong as the other half. This is a postcard of Cassel, Wisconsin, and is a street scene looking north. Unfortunately, the exact year of the photo is unknown.

Title: Town of Cleveland
Location:

Description: Cleveland Township was formed out of part of Mosinee Township in 1884 and named for the recently elected President of the United States, Grover Cleveland. The photo above is of the local church in Cleveland, Wisconsin, with the congregation posed in front. Many of the families in this photograph and who were part of this congregation farmed and raised herds of cattle in the area. The photograph was taken sometime in the early 1900s.

Title: Town of Day (P2005-76-16a)
Location:

Description: A photograph of McKinley School, town of Day, Marathon County, Wisconsin. According to the 1943 Marathon County Schools map Joint District #5, McKinley School was located in Section 13, Township 26 N, and Range 4E. The Centennial Book, Town of Day 1881-1982 101 Years, page 33, said this school was a brick structure built in 1921, and it continued to operate until 1964.

Title: Town of Easton (2015-2-3-23)
Location:

Description: This is a postcard photograph of Echo Grocery in the town of Easton, Marathon County, Wisconsin. On the back of the postcard there is a note that reads, "Larson Stores in Echo Corner-north of the Sandberg farm". The postcard is dated circa 1890-1900's. The postcard was loaned to Marathon County Historical Society by the Tesburg family.

Title: Town of Eau Pleine (P2005-76-22a)
Location:

Description: A photograph of Lindbergh School in the town of Eau Pleine, Marathon County, Wisconsin. According to the 1943 Marathon County Schools map District #5, Lindbergh School was located in section 9, Township 27 N, Range 3 E. The centennial history of the Town of Eau Pleine 1875-1975 has a detailed history of the district #5 schools, their locations and construction costs. The school was originally built in section 4 but was rebuilt in 1927 in section 9. It was named in honor of Charles Lindbergh, who made the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris in 1927. Unfortunately, after the school had already been named, it became public knowledge that Lindbergh had made several statements in support of the Nazi regime and anti-Semitism. The school has since been renamed.

Title: Town of Elderon (P56-2722)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of a scene at Comet River in Elderon, Wisconsin, with three men along banks. Written on the back of the photograph is the names of the men identifying them as, Mr. Cannaday, Mr. Cannaday's son, and a stranger, who are assumed to be local men. The photograph is dated to around the year 1865.

Title: Town of Emmet (P2005-76-24a)
Location:

Description: This photograph is of Ludington School in the town of Emmet, Wisconsin. According to the 1943 Marathon County Schools Map, District #1 Ludington School was located in section 15, Township 27 N, Range 5 E. This photograph was taken on June 1st, 1949, and shows a class of children posing in front of the school for their yearly photo.

Title: Town of Frankfort (P1999-47)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of the Hamann-Eggebrecht Sawmill in about 1874. It was the first stationary sawmill in the town of Frankfort, Wisconsin. The photograph includes the following people posed in front of the sawmill with tools and cattle: Bill Lueschow, George Mueller, Bill Foundry, Fred Wuphafenning, Henry Hamann, Bill Rogers, Charles Mueller, Frank Bergander, "Lizzie" Eggebrecht, "Gutsie" Hamann, John Eggebrecht, George Lueschow, and Fred Eggebrecht. There were originally two sawmills running in the area, but the Hamann-Eggebrecht Sawmill burnt down and was never restored.

Title: Town of Franzen (P2004-175)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of a Mohr-Stotzer Lumber Co. Sawmill in Holt, an unincorporated community in Franzen, Wisconsin. The photograph shows men with several teams of horses hauling sawn and prepared lumber to the next destination. Unfortunately, the sawmill in Holt closed in 1912, not long after this photograph was taken.

Title: Town of Green Valley
Location:

Description: Photograph of the Week’s sawmill in the town of Green Valley, Wisconsin. The Week's sawmill was the primary mill in Green Valley in the mid-to-late 1800s, only to burn down in 1880. The Farrish logging camp located itself in Green Valley, Wisconsin, but unfortunately closed in 1913.

Title: Town of Guenther
Location:

Description: This photograph shows the Little Eau Claire School in the town of Guenther, Marathon County, Wisconsin. According to the 1943 Marathon County Schools map, District #2, Little Eau Claire School was located in section 32, Township 26 N, Range 8 E.

Title: Town of Halsey
Location:

Description: Unemployed coal miners from Pennsylvania and other settlers from the Milwaukee area moved to this area to work in the woods and sawmills and later, as the land was cleared, to go into farming. Pennsylvanians came as early as 1896, though many did not stay. Logging and clearing the farmland proved harder than the work that the coal miners had come from. The above photo is logging work that was being done in Halsey, Wisconsin.

Title: Town of Hamburg (P75-6054-6)
Location:

Description: A photograph of several silver foxes gathered together on the Fromm Bros. Ginseng and Fur Farm located in Hamburg, Wisconsin. Fromm's Fur Farm & Ginseng Gardens - the first Ginseng gardens were planted in 1902. The first fox yards (six pens) were set up in 1908. The Fromm brothers were instrumental in developing Marathon County into the "fox producing capital of the world" in the 1940's and into the major ginseng producer of the 1900's. The Fromm family continued to develop and invest in their foxes, as well as other animals like dogs and cats, by co-creating the fox encephalitis vaccine, fox distemper vaccine, canine distemper vaccine, and feline distemper vaccine. They have continued their business today by creating high quality dog and cat foods.

Title: Town of Hewitt (P2005-76-42A)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of the McMynn School in the town of Hewitt, established in 1909. According to the 1943 Marathon County Schools map, District #5, McMynn School was located in section 20, Township 30 N, Range 9 E. The School Board decided to locate the building on the southeast corner of Ernest Lehman’s farm, now the Lyle Weden farm, at the corner of County Q and Landing Road. In 1962 the school was consolidated within the town of Texas into the Hewitt-Texas School and became part of the Wausau School District.

Title: Town of Harrison (P86-799)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of two young boys holding two horses in the Swanson farm field in the town of Harrison, Wisconsin. After most of the trees had been logged in the early days of Harrison, eventually the town relied on dairy and potato farming as its main industry, which is why this photograph is such a great representation of everyday life in 1935 Harrison, Wisconsin.

Title: Town of Holton
Location:

Description: George W. Holeton, born July 9, 1840, and a Civil War veteran, settled in the area with his family in October 1871, and is considered the first white settler; he also helped to establish the first school district in the town. In 1876, the township was named after him. The above photo shows a logging company in Holton, Wisconsin, a common occupation for men like George W. Holeton and those in Marathon County at the turn of the 20th century.

Title: Town of Hull
Location:

Description: The photograph shows the dense forest wilderness around the town of Hull, Wisconsin. Prior to 1870, most of Hull, and other western Marathon County towns, were forest wilderness. In 1870, the Wisconsin Central Railroad was formed to expand into the wilderness areas. Gardner Colby, an eastern financier, and president of the railroad overcame financial difficulties to complete the portions of the railroad which ran along the western Marathon County border, including areas like that of the photograph in Hull.

Title: Town of Johnson
Location:

Description: The photograph shows school #2, Section 11, Ladd School in Johnson, Wisconsin. An exterior view of the school in 1920 showed a frame building with porch, including a class of children and their teacher standing out front for their yearly photograph.

Title: Town of Knowlton (P68-12-213-1170N)
Location:

Description: A photograph from James M. Colby’s original negatives of "The Old Tavern” in Knowlton, Wisconsin, built in 1849. In the photograph there is a sign on the front of the building that reads "Knowlton House" with people standing and sitting on the porch beneath it.

Title: Town of Maine (P57-3270-1)
Location:

Description: A photograph mounted on heavy cardboard of eleven men on or near farm machinery. Horses are pulling machinery and an old tractor. Writing on the cardboard mount reads, "Steidmans threshing outfit town of Maine 1905." After the timber was mostly cleared from the area, the leading industry turned to farming which meant threshing and cultivating the land was even more important.

Title: Town of McMillan (P67-22-1)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of the McMillan Sawmill in the town of McMillan, Wisconsin. Two brothers, Benjamin Franklin and Charles V. McMillan came to the area in 1873 from Unity to build a sawmill, which they had running by 1874. It was equipped with a band saw, the first in the “Pinery”, also known as the north central logging area that follows the Wisconsin River, and the first to be manufactured by E.P. Allis Manufacturing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, the mill ended up closing in 1911 about the same time the logging industry in central Wisconsin collapsed.

Title: Town of Marathon
Location:

Description: This picture dated 1949 is the Woodlawn School in the Town of Marathon, Marathon County, WI. According to the 1943 Marathon County School Map Joint District #6 Woodlawn School was located in section 12, Township 28 N, Range 6 E.

Title: Town of Mosinee
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of Oleson School, located in Section 3 of the town of Mosinee, Wisconsin. The photograph is of a class of children and their teacher in front of the school for their yearly photo. According to the Wausau Daily Herald, the school was named for a local farmer in the vicinity who boarded many of the school's early teachers. This photograph is one of a group of donated images from the Lyon family.

Title: Town of Norrie (P68-12-12-4N)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of “Go-To-It” Lake in Norrie, Wisconsin. This particular photograph was taken by James M. Colby, a popular Wausau based photographer, and is a glass plate negative belonging to his collection. During the 1890s, wealthier residents of the City of Wausau built summer residences along the shores of the Norrie’s lakes.

Title: Town of Plover (2022-67-38)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of the Eau Claire Dells County Park in the Town of Plover, Marathon County, Wisconsin. The photograph shows a view of some of the people viewing from the rocks, the rock formations, the Eau Claire River, and forested area in the background.

Title: Town of Reid
Location:

Description: The local Reid schoolhouse and its pupils in the 1930s, out-front taking their yearly class photograph. The photograph was taken in the spring, the snow is melting and several children have ridden their bikes to school. The children are possibly learning how their town of Reid was named after Alexander H. Reid, who was Circuit Judge of the 16th Judicial District of Wisconsin, then located in Wausau.

Title: Town of Rib Falls (P2003-163-10A)
Location:

Description: This photograph shows the Wausau Lumber Co. Store with a sign that reads, “Sharples Tabular Cream Separators”, on the left of building. The building was still standing in June 2004, and is located south of the Rib River and east of County Highway S.

Title: Town of Rib Mountain
Location:

Description: The above photo shows the Rib Mountain Ski Hill circa 1910, before being rebranded as Granite Peak in 2000. In the mid-right frame is the Ski Chalet, with Rib Mountain Ski Hill in the background, and with cars and people in the foreground of the photo.

Title: Town of Rietbrock
Location:

Description: In search of rich farmland, the first settlers, being of Polish nationality, bought land from local Fred Rietbrock, became lumberjacks, worked in the sawmill of Rietbrock, cleared the land, and started a farming community. With the Johnson, Rietbrock, and Halsey law firm advertising in the Polish-language newspapers, other settlers Poland soon arrived. This photograph shows one of the local houses built in the town of Rietbrock, Wisconsin, representing the Polish cultural influence on the town.

Title: Town of Ringle (P2002-257)
Location:

Description: The photograph shows a man out in front of a blacksmith shop holding two hammers and another man standing with a team of horses. The shop belongs to R. Hettinga and was located on the Main Street of Ringle, Wisconsin in 1935. Roy Hettinga, a relative of the blacksmith in the photograph, painted a rendition of the photograph including other parts of Main Street in Ringle, in 1993. It is currently hanging on the wall at the Marathon County Historical Society, on the second floor in the Woodson History Center.

Title: Town of Spencer (P68-12-311)
Location:

Description: It has been said that the railroad and lumber mills gave Spencer its beginning, but it was the hard-working farmers that kept it going after the mill owners moved north. This can be seen in the above photograph of the cheese factory and several horse and wagon teams with their drivers lined up in the loading area.

Title: Town of Stettin (P90-382)
Location:

Description: A photograph of people outside enjoying the nice weather at the Mount View Sanatorium. In 1919, Mount View Sanatorium was established to treat those in the county diagnosed with the contagious disease tuberculosis. This photo was taken by Toburen Studio, a popular photography business in Wausau, Wisconsin, of which we have a substantial collection of local photos from. The Toburen Studio was family and locally owned for over 80 years.

Title: Town of Texas (P87-1190)
Location:

Description: Originally, the Town of Texas was the largest in the county, thus being the reasoning behind the name. Its present borders were established on December 19, 1894.Two farmers living in the Town of Texas, William and August Neitzke, pooled their money and bought a steam tractor together. They used their tractor to assist in both farming their lands and clearing it. The photograph shows both men using the tractor to saw wood, c. 1911-1920s.

Title: Town of Wausau (Aviation Collection 08-21-01)
Location:

Description: This photograph shows John P. Wood & Grace Prahl, the king and queen of Wausau’s Winter Festival, in front of the Yawkey House during the late 1920s. John P. Wood was a famous pilot during the 1920s in Wausau, Wisconsin and around the world. The Marathon County Historical Society has many pictures of John P. Wood, including this one, due to the research and commitment of Bob Wylie and his dedication to creating the Marathon County Aviation Collection.

Title: Town of Weston (P69-4-1)
Location:

Description: This photograph shows the picnic grounds at Yellow Banks on the Eau Claire River, in the Town of Weston, near Camp Sturtevant. In the photo there is a canoe on the river with a man, woman and two children enjoying their day on the river, c. 1894.

Title: Town of Wien (P81-336-1)
Location:

Description: The above photograph shows the three-tine fork at work, feeding bundles into the grain separator. The photograph was titled “Old Time Threshing” on the Kurt Umnus farm in the town of Wien, Wisconsin, c. 1978.

Title: Village of Athens (2012-50-1-P)
Location:

Description: A photograph of the fair in Athens, Wisconsin, c. 1911-1913. This fair is a staple in the village of Athens, Wisconsin, and a tradition that has yet to cease. The Athens Fair has seen its 118th summer and fall season this year. The event has featured activities, music, food, rides, agriculture and exhibits for the whole family for 118 years.

Title: Village of Birnamwood (P95-361)
Location:

Description: This is a photograph of the German Lutheran Church in Birnamwood, Wisconsin, constructed in the early 1900s. This photograph is from a postcard sent by Frank D. Selma in Birnamwood to Mrs. Frank Genrick, in Wausau, Wisconsin. There is a message on the postcard from Frank D. Selma that reads, “This is where we are today. Eat a big dinner today”. The card is postmarked Birnamwood, Wisconsin, November 27, 1913.

Title: Village of Brokaw (P87-1151)
Location:

Description: Brokaw was the site of the first paper mill in Marathon County. The Wausau Paper Mills Company was formed in 1899 with Norman H. Brokaw of Kaukauna being one of the stockholders and the first president. The above photograph shows an aerial view of the prominent Brokaw paper mill and the town behind it.

Title: Village of Dorchester (2018-111-1)
Location:

Description: This photograph shows a street view of the Sauter Bros. Farm Implements & Coal store in Dorchester, Wisconsin, c. 1949. At the Sauter Bros. store they sell and repair farm equipment, feed, coal, and other products related to maintaining and running a farm in central Wisconsin. There are several trucks, cars, and tractors in front of the store as well as other equipment.

Title: Village of Edgar (P56-1726-1&2)
Location:

Description: The above photo shows the exterior of the H. Brehm Tavern and Boarding House and was taken by the popular Wausau photographer, James M. Colby. There is not an exact date on the photograph but knowing when James M. Colby was most active as a photographer and looking at the fashion and the automobiles, the date is probably c. 1920s.

Title: Village of Elderon (P68-12-11)
Location:

Description: In this photograph several framed buildings can be seen, including a real estate agency and other businesses located on the Main Street of the Village of Elderon, Wisconsin. Although this photo does not have a specific date noted, it appears to have been taken some time around the turn of the 19th to the 20th century.

Title: Village of Fenwood (P68-12-2)
Location:

Description: This photograph of Fenwood, Wisconsin, shows Grand Avenue covered in logs and timbered wood. The surrounding area includes acres of heavily timbered woods and forests, which were quickly lumbered and shipped by railroad like the rest of Marathon County. This photograph of Fenwood, Wisconsin, shows Grand Avenue covered in logs and timbered wood. The surrounding area includes acres of heavily timbered woods and forests, which were quickly lumbered and shipped by railroad like the rest of Marathon County.

Title: Village of Hatley (P88-384)
Location:

Description: Once one community, the Village of Hatley broke away when the Town of Norrie voted to be alcohol free. This motivated the Hatley area residents to form their own non-dry village. The above photo shows Hotel Shilo in Hatley, Wisconsin, a place where people passing through and living in the town could gather to socialize in both “dry” and “non-dry” ways.

Title: Village of Marathon (P68-2-57)
Location:

Description: The above photo is of Main Street in Marathon, Wisconsin, taken James M. Colby, a prominent Wausau photographer. There is not an exact date on the photograph but knowing when James M. Colby was most active as a photographer and the fashions in the photo it can be dated around the early 1900s. The Marathon County Historical Society has a large collection of Colby’s photographs, including local towns, portraits, families, pets, etc. The above photo is of Main Street in Marathon, Wisconsin, taken James M. Colby, a prominent Wausau photographer. There is not an exact date on the photograph but knowing when James M. Colby was most active as a photographer and the fashions in the photo it can be dated around the early 1900s. The Marathon County Historical Society has a large collection of Colby’s photographs, including local towns, portraits, families, pets, etc.

Title: Village of Rothschild (P57-2900-1)
Location:

Description: This photograph is of the Rothschild Saloon owned by W.M. Schmidt in the Village of Rothschild, Wisconsin. There are three children posed with a goat, and three dogs, a man with a team of horses, another man standing on the porch of the saloon, and a woman standing behind the child by the well pump. This photograph appears to be at the turn of the 20th century based on fashion.

Title: Village of Spencer (P68-12-213-1144N)
Location:

Description: The above photograph shows the Wisconsin Central Depot in Spencer, Wisconsin. This photograph was taken by James M. Colby, a prominent photographer in Wausau, Wisconsin, and used as a postcard photo. The depot is a great representation of the Village of Spencer because of the farming settlement’s reliance on railroad transportation for their harvest.

Title: Village of Stratford (P87-1495)
Location:

Description: This photograph shows a steam hauler named “Rosie”, owned by the R. Connor Company in Stratford, Wisconsin. “Rosie” was used in the summer months for hauling logs. Unfortunately, the steam hauler crashed through a bridge on May 18, 1910, in a major disaster. The photograph was courtesy of Frank Bobert and Mrs. Adella Cline.

Title: Village of Unity (2017-2-8-10)
Location:

Description: The above photo is “A Glimpse of Main Street, Unity, Wisconsin”, taken by James M. Colby, a prominent photographer in Wausau, Wisconsin. This photograph was used on a local postcard for the town of Unity sold by James M. Colby. We have a large collection of postcards by James M. Colby, as he made many postcards of local places in Marathon County, and the Historical Society has come to collect over the years.

Title: Village of Weston (P-86-1597)
Location:

Description: In the Village of Weston stock raising was profitable, especially the dairy industry. The above is a photograph of a man in front of the Weston Dairy in Weston, Wisconsin, c. 1950s. This was a local dairy operation, which included delivery, as can be seen by the van in the back with the business decal “Weston Dairy” and phone number on the side.