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Hearthstone Historic House Museum

625 West Prospect Avenue
Appleton, WI 54912

920-730-8204

About Us:

The country's first hydroelectric central power station using the Edison system began its operation September 30, 1882. The generator was situated in the beater room of the Appleton Paper and Pulp Company. The three buildings that were lighted on that historic occasion were the Appleton Paper and Pulp Company owned by John Van Nortwick and run by Henry J. Rogers who owned the home on the bluff above, now known as Hearthstone, and Kimberly & Clark's Vulcan Paper Mill located nearby. 

Only one other Edison central station existed in the nation. Thomas Edison's steam powered Pearl Street Station in New York City began its operation September 4, 1882. It lit several businesses in the Wall Street area

Hearthstone is currently featuring an exhibit of Victorian era dolls.

In all, more than 75 vintage dolls are on display throughout the house.  The dolls are a diverse lot:  large and small, male and female, child and adult, porcelain, bisque and celluloid, some dating back as far as the 1860s.   Many are elaborately attired, with hats, wigs and parasols, and a few have their own wardrobe trunks.

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