Sheboygan Wi Historic Photos,

This sketch was done shortly after the Civil War.  The plate of this sketch was originally owned by an early Sheboygan settler and lake captain, Captain Rudolph Rieboldt.  The depiction, done about 1868, shows one railroad entering the city, The Sheboygan and Mississippi Railroad, with the depot on the south side of the river directly east of the Eighth Street bridge.  The old Pennsylvania Avenue bridge called the "Shanghai Bridge" is also pictured.  The population of Sheboygan at this time was about 5,000 people.

This photograph was taken in 1885.  The picture depicts the early Sheboygan Volunteer Fire Department outside its headquarters building.   The photograph was taken on North Eighth Street between Wisconsin Avenue and the alley to the north on the east side of the street.  The words "bowling alley" are on the front of the building next to the headquarters, which was also the building housing Sheboygan's first two room schoolhouse.

In 1887, Sheboygan launched it largest ship, the Helena, built at the Reibolt and Wolters shipyards located on the present C. Reiss Coal Company land.  Even though the river was dredged for the launching, the stern was severely damaged from the force striking the river bed.   The New Jersey bridge was erected in 1891 and by 1893, the population had grown to 23,000.  Garbage collection for the city had begun.  Electric street cars replaced horse drawn ones in 1895 and land was purchased for a new high school (Central Admin. Bldg.)in 1899.  Fire destroyed Dock #1 at the C.Reiss Coal Co. in 1900.  North 7th St. between Superior Ave. and Bluff Ave. was closed per a city ordinance from 2 to 4 o'clock daily for horse racing in the snow.

The above and below photos were taken in 1911.  They show the paving of Bluff Avenue and North 6th Street.  As can be seen, paving was a labor intense operation.

The city's Common Council changed greatly at the beginning of the 1920's, due to death and elections.  Circulating throughout Sheboygan was a petition for a new post office (then located on the NW corner of 8th and Penn.)  No action was taken.  In 1924, Kiwanis Club donated land for Kiwanis Park.  Funds for Memorial Hospital were bequeathed to the city in 1928.  By 1931, street paving during the previous 10 year period showed 75.9 miles of 18 ft. pavement had been laid.  Fountain Park was the proposed location for a new court house site in 1932, but opposition caused a new site to be chosen.  All Water Dept. customers were metered in the city by 1933 and the next years saw tremendous growth and improvements to city sewers, pavements and curbing due to W.P.A. projects throughout the city.  During this same period, the sewage disposal plant south of the city went before the council.  The need for a new high school was recognized and by 1937 the cornerstone was laid for one.  Bus transportation replaced street cars so the tracks were removed in 1939.