| A CN local services Neenah Paper, 135 N. Commercial St., via a remnant of the former C&NW main line at Neenah, WI, on 12 Nov. '20. The company was founded at Neenah, WI, as the Patten Paper Co. by Azel Wilder Patten in 1873. The original 150’ by 40’ paper mill was built in ‘74 on the former site of the Empire Flour Mill and several smaller businesses. In ‘81, A. W. Patten built a second Patten Paper Co. mill at Appleton, WI. Samuel A. Cook and Frank T. Russell purchased the Neenah mill in early ‘85 and incorporated as the Neenah Paper Co., with A. W. Patten as president. The company was later taken over by the Kimberly family. Some references state they acquired a controlling interest in ’93, others state John A. Kimberly, Jr., bought the mill outright in 1900. When the original portion of the paper mill was built, 4 other sizeable industries stood between its west wall and Cedar St., now N. Commercial St. Numerous additions were erected over the years as the mill expanded westward and northward (some additions were built on pilings above the Fox River). By ’26, when their Mediterranean Revival-style office building (partially visible at far left) was constructed, they occupied the entire small peninsula east of Commercial St. Neenah Paper Co. officially became a division of Kimberly-Clark Corp. in ‘56, and operated as such until it was spun off in 2004. Some sections of the former C&NW main line have been removed, but other sections, like this one, remain to facilitate rail service to several industries. |