Collins had it all!
Named after General Superintendent Collins of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, the community of Collins was established in the 1890s and was a bustling center of activity. Settled by German immigrants, Collins was created by the railroad passing through the rural town. The railroad, which led from Manitowoc to Menasha, had stops at Wells, Collins, Quarry, Valders, and Madsen Station (also known as Alverno). Soon the activity of the railroad led to a grain elevator, grocery store, hardware and shoe shops, hotel, lumber yard, and more.
Collins’ rich history can still be seen in many of its structures. The current Al Corso site dates back to 1853 when the property was sold to Catherine Schultz from the United States government. The early building also included a dance hall. In the 1950s through the 1970s, the tavern was known as Waniger’s Bar.
Today’s Braunie’s Sportsman’s Club building has been a fixture in the community since the late 1800s. It is believed that Emil Taube built the present building and it became the site of the Collins Post Office. Mr. Taube was the first postmaster at this address. The building also served as a hotel. By 1906 the building was listed as “Hotel Collins, C.F. Rusch, Proprietor. First class accommodations for the traveling public. Fine wines, liquors, and cigars.”
Bowling alleys were added in 1948 under the management of Charles and Viola Pilger. The opening night of the bowling alleys featured a match between Collins area businessmen and the Town Board of Rockland.
The Collins State Bank began in 1914 and continues to proudly serve the local community. A special stockholders meeting was held in March, 1914 to buy a lot of land two rods by three rods deep from Gust Valleskey at a price of $50. A cement block building was soon constructed on the land. In 1919 a Cannon Ball burglary system was installed and a decade later it was decided to bulletproof the banking room. Recorded history states that to test out the bulletproof area, local hunters were brought in with their riffles and it was determined that the bulletproofing was a success. A new bank was built in 1983.
Like any community, Collins had a general store, blacksmith, cheese factory, schools, and churches. But it also had a screen factory. The Metallic Screen Company began in the early 1900s and their products were sold to A&P Tea Company, which had a wholesale grocery. During its height of productivity, a railway went into the factory to bring in raw materials and ship out completed product. The business was dissolved by the late 1940s. In 1960 the building was sold to the Town of Rockland and was used for over 25 years as the town shop.
For a brief period Collins was also home to Collins Bottling Works, operated by H.C. Wilde. Its claim to fame was a soda called Cherry High Ball.
The Collins Fire Department was established in 1904 and the first community picnic was held that summer as well.
Weekly movies were shown on the side of the grain elevator in the 1940s and early 1950s, proudly sponsored by local businesses.
As trucks took over the roads in the 1930s and 1940s, the rail service declined and the last depot agent served the Collins Depot around 1950. The Collins Depot was later relocated to the Manitowoc County Historical Society’s Pinecrest Historical Village in 1972.
In its heyday Collins had everything that we look for in a community – entertainment, jobs, transportation, schools, churches, and stores. The railroad may have led to the rise and fall of the Collins community but the rich history of its businesses and people can still be found along its streets.
