Mementos from a World War I Trunk

Nov. 11, 2018, will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War, “The War to End All Wars,” or as we now call it, World War I.

Copyright La Crosse County Historical Society

In 2017, the La Crosse County Historical Society received as a donation the trunk of World War I veteran and Wisconsin native Richard Thornton (1896-1973). A donation from Thornton’s grandson, the trunk contained mementos from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. It provides a glimpse into two generations of military service.

Born in Chippewa Falls in 1896, Richard Thornton enlisted in the military on April 4, 1917, and fought in France during the First World War. Richard survived an attack on the steamship Tuscania, when a German submarine torpedoed the transport off the Irish coast on the evening of Feb. 5, 1918, sinking the ship and killing 213 people. He earned a Victory Medal with a citation star for gallantry in action and received an honorable discharge in May 1919.

A World War I German short bayonet, Richard’s memorial certificate signed by Richard Nixon, and a black and white photograph of Richard and his wife Elizabeth were a few of the keepsakes inside the trunk.

Here's a look at some of the treasures inside the trunk of World War I veteran and Wisconsin native Richard Thornton.

Richard’s brother Francis (1898-1963) also served in World War I. Later, Francis was ordained a Catholic priest. He served as a chaplain in the Canadian army in World War II. The donated trunk included two books of poetry he wrote, “Bitter Wine and On Wings of Song.” Father Thornton worked as an editorial assistant at the Catholic Digest later in his life.

Richard’s son James Thornton served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War. The majority of the artifacts inside the trunk came from James’ military service. After James’ service, he settled in La Crosse. Highlights include a 1952 Guidebook for Marines, with illustrated chapters on flamethrowers, pistols, and machine guns; James’ dog tags and marksmanship badges; and a Marine Corps dress uniform. The uniform belonged to R.E. Currie, an acquaintance from James’ barracks.

From newspaper clippings to clothing and military memorabilia, artifacts are an important aspect of our shared human history. A century after the Great War, what Richard, Francis, and James Thornton saved in this trunk gives insight into the times and people of the Twentieth Century. They remind us of where we’ve been and how the people of Wisconsin have always been active in the events that shape our world.

Overalls Paint Historic Picture

Copyright La Crosse County Historical Society

Amy Vach

The work of a painter can be a bit messy with stray splotches of paint haphazardly covering clothing, but the result is worth the mess.

These overalls tell a story of local artwork that is still visible inside churches, homes and county municipal buildings throughout the Midwest.

Odin Oyen was born in 1865 into a family with roots already established in the interior design business. His father, Lars, was a gilder and molder; he also owned a factory in Trondjem, Norway, that created decorative items such as picture frames.

Copyright La Crosse County Historical Society

The Oyen family immigrated to America when Odin was a young boy due to financial setbacks. They settled in Chicago and later moved to Madison. When Odin was 14, he apprenticed at a decorating firm. At 18, he returned to Chicago and enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago. While Odin was a student, he gained practical experience for his future business endeavors in the employ of a decorating company on Michigan Avenue.

A few years later, Odin moved to La Crosse and helped start an interior decorating business with Louis Nelson in 1888. Two years later, the partnership had dissolved and the young men went their separate ways. Odin stayed in the interior design business and brought his father and brother into his business.

After the business became a success, he settled down and married a teacher named Emma Nelson. Odin and Emma had two sons, Leighton and Harold. Just as Odin had followed in the footsteps of his father, Leighton and Harold followed in the footsteps of Odin. Leighton became an artist and Harold a salesman.

Shortly after his sons joined the firm, Odin died at age 61. Oyen Interior Design Firm was carried on by Odin’s former partner, Louis Nelson, and Odin’s son, Leighton. The firm dissolved in 1931 during the Great Depression, when the need for lavishly decorated buildings was put on hold.

This pair of overalls was discovered tucked away in the attic of the home of Leighton after he had sold his home in the 1980s. Along with the overalls, samples of wallpapers from the studio were found.

These overalls are stamped OYEN on the inside of the bib. They are a made of a heavy, once-white canvas and have a crusty texture of dried-on paint in shades of gray and yellow. These overalls more than likely witnessed the creation of a few local masterpieces in their day.

Fortunately, the buyer of the home made sure that the overalls and other items from the attic were donated to La Crosse County Historical, where their story of an immigrant’s successful business is preserved.

This article was originally published in the La Crosse Tribune on May 19, 2018.

This object can be viewed in our online collections database by clicking here.

Mons Anderson's Lion Statue

Hailey Hudzinski

Copyright La Crosse County Historical Society

Mons Anderson was born in Norway in 1830 and came to America when he was sixteen, settling in Milwaukee. Anderson moved to La Crosse in 1851, recognizing La Crosse as a growing city with great business opportunities.

Upon his arrival, Anderson began working as a clerk in S.T. Smith’s store on Front St. Smith quickly made Anderson a partner and in 1852 Anderson became sole proprietor. In 1856, Anderson built a one-story brick building at 2nd and Main streets and moved his business to this location. The building underwent several additions throughout the years and Anderson had tripled the size of the business area by 1870.

During this time, it was common for businesses to use some sort of emblem as a way to advertise. Anderson adopted the lion to act as his store’s emblem. Two life-size lion statues flanked Anderson’s store for many years, one of which is pictured here. 

Anderson’s use of the lion emblem went beyond the life-size statues. He used the lion emblem on a variety of business documents including stationary, bills, cards, and paper notes. 

Anderson also had his own coins minted with the emblem on them. The earliest known coin is dated 1863. It is believed that Anderson halted the production of these coins around 1880. The coins were the size of a modern penny and were engraved on one side with “Mons Anderson—dealer in dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes—La Crosse, Wis.” The other side featured the lion emblem beneath the words, “Sign of the Lion.”

It was believed that the coins were used as a way to advertise and that they operated like modern-day coupons. However, it is also said that the coins were widely accepted by businesses in La Crosse in place of an actual penny.

Anderson also manufactured men’s work clothes and labeled them “Lion Brand.” The work clothes often featured buttons that were printed with the lion emblem with the words “Lion Brand” beneath it.

Anderson was so connected to his lion emblem that he even had the doorknobs in his home cast in the shape of a lion’s head.

Anderson ran a very successful business for many years. He was so successful, in fact, that he was commonly known as the “Merchant Prince.” Anderson was also known as the “Lion of La Crosse,” as a result of his association with the lion emblem.

Following Anderson’s death in 1905, the two lion statues were separated. One of the statues was given to Anderson’s cousin and good friend, Mons Fladager. This statue was placed in front of Fladager’s store in Spring Grove, Minn. and served as the trademark for more than 75 years. It can now be found in Spring Grove City Park. The other statue remained in La Crosse and was donated to the La Crosse County Historical society in 1970 by Jake Hoeschler. It can now found in the courtyard of the La Crosse Public Library.

Interestingly, Jake Hoeschler was another local businessman who had an animal as a personal symbol. The Hoeschler bull was made of fiber glass, and stood atop the Hoeschler building at 224 N. 6th St. from the late 1970s until 2006, when the building changed hands and his son Jay sold the bull.

The Hoeschler family had for many years promoted their business by saying that they were “bullish on La Crosse.”

This article was originally published in the La Crosse Tribune on May 12, 2018.

This object can be viewed in our online collections database by clicking here.