Iola in Waupaca County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Spud Alley Era
Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 15, 2016
1. The “Spud Alley” Era Marker
Inscription.
The Spud Alley Era. . The first half of the 20th century found Depot Street, popularly referred to as “Spud Alley,” abuzz with potato buying, storage, grading, and packing activities. Potato warehouses lined the street and railroad rights-of-way from North Main to North Summit. A dairy farmer cash crop in the late 1800s, local yields commanded about a 10% quality premium over the prevailing 30 to 40-cents price range. In the early 1900s boxcar loads were regularly shipped to Milwaukee, Chicago, and as far away as Baltimore. From the late 1930s through World War II as many as 35 to 40 bulk boxcar loads of Red River Valley harvested potatoes arrived in “Spud Alley” daily for grading, government inspection, and sacking, destined for the military. A creamery when built in the 1890s, this building was a potato warehouse from 1917 to 1958, subsequently a grocery store, and since 1980 a Grayhill manufacturing plant. Commercial potato growing ceased locally in 2012 when Faldet Farms discontinued their operation.
The first half of the 20th century found Depot Street, popularly referred to as “Spud Alley,” abuzz with potato buying, storage, grading, and packing activities. Potato warehouses lined the street and railroad rights-of-way from North Main to North Summit. A dairy farmer cash crop in the late 1800s, local yields commanded about a 10% quality premium over the prevailing 30 to 40-cents price range. In the early 1900s boxcar loads were regularly shipped to Milwaukee, Chicago, and as far away as Baltimore. From the late 1930s through World War II as many as 35 to 40 bulk boxcar loads of Red River Valley harvested potatoes arrived in “Spud Alley” daily for grading, government inspection, and sacking, destined for the military. A creamery when built in the 1890s, this building was a potato warehouse from 1917 to 1958, subsequently a grocery store, and since 1980 a Grayhill manufacturing plant. Commercial potato growing ceased locally in 2012 when Faldet Farms discontinued their operation.
Erected 2015 by Iola Historical Society. (Marker Number 7.)
N, 89° 7.907′ W. Marker is in Iola, Wisconsin, in Waupaca County. It is on Depot Street 0.1 miles west of North Main Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 165 Depot Street, Iola WI 54945, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 15, 2016
2. The “Spud Alley” Era Marker
Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 15, 2016
3. The “Spud Alley” Era Marker
Looking east along Depot Street toward Main Street
Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 15, 2016
4. The “Spud Alley” Era Marker
Looking west along Depot Street
Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2016, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 561 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 16, 2016, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
