Birth of the Rails

 

June 11, 1967, Appleton Post-Crescent

With the future of the Menasha Soo Line depot in jeopardy in 1967, the Post-Crescent provided readers with a concise history of the birth of the railroads in Menasha and Neenah.    Menasha's ego was justifiably insulted by its treatment by the Chicago and North Western line, terminating its line at Neenah, instead of continuing into Menasha.  But this just furthered the rivalry between the two cities and led to the Wisconsin Central being founded at the National Hotel in 1871.  Eventually it was absorbed into the Soo Line system.