A few years after I started researching William Waters, I
heard of a photo album consisting of Mr. Waters’ buildings. It was said to have been compiled by the
architects’ son and contained prints with a blue tint to them. What a tantalizing treasure, a researcher
dream come true. Some years later I
talked to someone who claimed to have seen the collection of pictures and had urged
the person to whom it belonged to donate it an historical organization, for
safe keeping. I was told that perhaps
the State Historical Society was the recipient of the book, so I went there
looking for it. The society didn’t have
the album but did have another collection, sketches from the 1870’ collected by
Willie Waters.
Like the treasure of Oak Island, the compilation still
eluded me. Further inquire reviled that
it had supposedly been passed along to the Neenah Historical Society. I had made other requests of the society in
the past and was always satisfied with the outcome. This inquiry was different, the group seemed
to have no knowledge of the book or its’ whereabouts. Furthermore no one seemed interested in
trying to find it.
The story of the photo album seems to be nothing more than a
myth. If it ever existed it surely does
no more, lost due to carelessness and incompetence. It’s a shame that a valuable research tool
and gateway to the past was lost to all.
