| GTW 4623 crosses W. 2nd St. while working the CN, former C&NW, yard at Appleton Junction, WI, on 25 Sep. '20. Carter's Caboose, 1428 W. 2nd St., a small, old, rail side tavern, is partially visible to the right. It dates to at least 1887, when it was a grocery store operated by Peter Leininger. By 1901 it was a sample room operated by John Sigl. By ‘30 it was a soft drink establishment owned by Hubert J. Merkel and August F. Brandt (Prohibition was still in effect). By ’36 it was a tavern operated by Albert Giesen, owned by Mrs. Gretchen Merkel. By ’38 it was Bob’s Tavern, still owned by Mrs. Merkel. It was the Junction Tavern from at least ’43-’71, still owned by Mrs. Merkel until at least ’60 (there were at least two different owners between ’67-’71). At some point in the ‘70s it became Pete’s Junction (possibly Palomino Pete’s Junction). It was called Netticoat Junction ca. the ‘90s (owned by Joanne M. ‘Nettie’ Nett). I haven’t learned how long it has been Carter’s Caboose. The former Appleton Wood Products Co. factory, now part of the Miller Electric facility, is partially visible beyond that. Built in 1916, the walls include some nice, decorative brickwork (including cast or carved keystones depicting bowling pins above the windows), which Miller obscured with cheap metal siding at some point after they bought it ca. 1975. |