| A CN local crosses the last remaining scrap of what was once the South Channel of the Fox River through 'The Flats' via a former C&NW bridge at Appleton, WI on 27 Apr. '19. Train was headed back to the yard at Appleton Junction after working Kimberly and Combined Locks. Old maps reveal that the west end of the South Channel was filled in at some point between 1916 and 1957. Most of the remainder of the South Channel was filled in the following years. This remaining portion forms the confluence with a mill race which connects West’s Power Canal (a.k.a. West’s Canal, a.k.a. Grand Chute Island Canal) to the Fox River. Neenah Paper (formerly Fox River Paper Co.), 600 S. Vulcan St., the only current rail customer in 'The Flats,' is partially visible in the background at right. The facility partially visible to the left is currently home to JWM Coenen Mechanical (historically Allis-Chalmers, originally Valley Iron Works), 401 E. South Island St.. Over the past several years, I have noticed that some misinformed individuals erroneously refer to ‘The Flats’ as ‘Oneida Flats,’ or some other variation. However, the historic, industrial heart of Appleton is simply ‘The Flats.’ |