| A CN local crosses S. Story St. as it heads southwest via former C&NW rails at Appleton, WI on 25 Jun. '18. Train was headed back toward Neenah after working Little Chute and Kaukauna. The Non-mountable Curb Island (one variant of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approved traffic channelization devices) has been installed recently (since 6 May) as part of Appleton's quest for so-called 'Quiet Zone' status. The interesting, old building at 302 S. Story St., partially visible beyond the locomotives, is currently home to The Train Station. Their facebook page describes it as a venue for “live music, open mic, educational presentations, film showings, yoga, classes, meetings.” The building dates to at least 1921, when it was a neighborhood grocery store owned by Otto J. Ruhsam. Circa the ‘50s it was the Heigl Grocery Beer Depot. The area to the right was home to the historic Pierce Manufacturing plant that occupied this city block from 1917 until it was razed in 2011. This plot of land has been divided into lots for Habitat for Humanity and some homes have sprung up to partially obscure the view. |