The Sodom of the Northwest

People have been telling mythical stories about Oshkosh ever since the city has existed. Here’s a taste from 1878. The article below first appeared in the Fond du Lac Commonwealth newspaper. This is an abridged version, but you’ll get the drift...

𝗢𝘀𝗵𝗸𝗼𝘀𝗵, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝟬  – 𝗔 𝗪𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆. This is a hard town to write about, because if you tell the truth you have to write hard things. Three years ago Sunday, Oshkosh was nearly consumed by a fire started by Spaulding & Peck’s mill. To commemorate the third anniversary, a brewery burned Sunday night. Immediately back of the Beckwith House is a man who administers Turkish baths, and he told me nearly all citizens of Oshkosh who have lived here five or more years are web-footed. Many people in this city eat fish with neither salt or pepper, but with their fingers. Yes, Oshkosh is the Sodom of the Northwest.

I've posted a few other stories like this one. If you'd like more in this vein you can get it HERE and HERE.