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The lumber kings and paper barons of the Fox River Valley transformed a wilderness of vast, rich timberlands and raging river waters into empires of pine, paper and power. In Oshkosh, lumber dynasties such as Paine and Morgan helped rebuild a nation ravaged by fire and war. Four young Neenah entrepreneurs with no experience in papermaking formed Kimberly-Clark, one of the largest paper manufacturers in the world. H.J. Rogers of Appleton watched his home light up the night after he wired it with Edison's electric lightbulbs, the first in the world to do so utilizing hydroelectricity. These men ushered in an era of opulence shining with steamboat excursions along the river, palatial mansions in plush neighborhoods and lavish hotels and movie houses. Much of this bygone age now exists only in photographs, written accounts or memories. Local photographer and historian Scott Wittman recovers this vanishing history.
About the author
Scott Wittman is a professional photographer based in Wisconsin's Fox River Valley. A native of Appleton, Scott has traveled the highways, byways and backroads of this great nation documenting its people, places and heritage. A graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art, Scott has written and created images for a multitude of publications, businesses and online platforms, telling the stories of those who have come before. He is the host of the Trippn' on History podcast, launching in 2018, and his work can be found at ScottWittmanVisual.com. Scott lives in Appleton with his wife, Vicky, and three sons, Asa, Jett and Rhodes.
