Mantiwoc-Two Rivers: Online Resources

Enduring Understanding: The geography and resources of Manitowoc/Two Rivers contributed to its early settlement, industrial development and continued growth.

Segment Summary: The geography of a protected bay on Lake Michigan with natural river harbors created the setting for Native American and European settlement. A tremendous fishery and abundant forest lands gave the first settlers an early foothold in the commercial economy of the day.

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Enduring Understanding: Changing needs and evolving technologies inspire innovation and adaptation, allowing for the growth of the maritime industry.

Segment Summary: Early schooner-building (including the invention of the “clipper-schooner”) in both Manitowoc and Two Rivers gave the area more control over its destiny, and created new opportunities. With its relatively reliable harbor and deep river, Manitowoc would go on to become a major shipbuilding center, building an astounding number and variety of boats.

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Enduring Understanding: The prosperity and progress of the maritime industry creates unique dangers, opportunities, and responsibilities for the people of Manitowoc-Two Rivers.

Segment Summary: There was a price to pay for prosperity, for Lake Michigan storms battered apart many a boat, and both cities felt the sorrow of frequent wrecks. To save lives, a U.S. Life Saving Service was established, with one of the first stations on the Great Lakes built at Two Rivers.

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Enduring Understanding: Local entrepreneurial spirit encourages growth and industry through innovation and diversification.

Segment Summary: As the frontier expanded westward, skilled woodworker and mechanic J.E. Hamilton, stumbled upon a growing need for large wooden type used in print shops. The Holly Wood Type Company expanded rapidly and eventually cornered the wood type market. Hamilton’s company eventually went on to diversify--crafting type-holding cabinets, dental office furniture, children’s furniture, and even America’s first automatic clothes dryer.

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Enduring Understanding: Community-minded leadership integrates industry into the social fabric of Manitowoc-Two Rivers through investment in the improvement of its workforce and products.

Segment Summary: After seeing the popularity of aluminum novelties at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Joseph Koenig set up a shop in a corner of the Hamilton Holly Wood Type factory, and began to discover how to manufacture combs from this little-known “mystery metal.” In Manitowoc, Henry Vits closed his tannery business and with two of Koenig’s former workers, formed the Manitowoc Aluminum Novelty Company. A few years later, Mr. Koenig’s company merged with Mr. Vits’, creating the Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Company, or as it was known locally—“The Goods,” and working at “The Goods” became an institution in both Manitowoc and Two Rivers.

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Enduring Understanding: World War II resulted in a community war effort that showcased the local pride and talent of a skilled and productive workforce.

Segment Summary: Manitowoc and Two Rivers, like all Wisconsin cities, retooled for the WWII war effort, making their own unique contributions: canteens & aluminum ware, airplane fuel tanks, canned food, evaporated milk, ship engines, wooden ships, minesweepers, and the biggest and most unusual contribution: submarines.

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Enduring Understanding: Building on a past rich in tradition and innovation, the people of Manitowoc and Two Rivers continue to reinvent themselves to meet the challenges of the new global market.

After World War II, with the ship yards closing down, the “The Goods” continued to thrive.  But when the company was bought out its fortunes began to change, and eventually all the plants in both cities were shut down. Recently though, Manitowoc and Two Rivers began a notable economic turnaround.  Burger Boat and the old Mirro rolling mill found new owners.  New industries using the area’s skilled labor force are adapting to new needs for green industries, building wind towers and energy efficient lighting systems heading toward a new future.

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