The history of Lakeshore Avenue began when Charles and Emma Briggs sold all of lot nine in blocks "C" and "D" of the Lake View Addition for $1,400 to the city of Neenah. The sale was made on June 30th, 1925 after the city council approved of the purchase on June 18th. In April 1928, the city council made a resolution which kept the land donated by the Briggs open for the public. Therefore, the land was placed under the jurisdiction of the city's park commission, and the land was included in the city park system. During August of 1928, Edward P. Sherry granted the city lots 1-8 in block "C" and parts of block "B," asking the city to keep the park public. The actual park was still confined to lot 9 in blocks "C" and "D."
Helen Kimberly Stuart presented Neenah with a deed for lots 7 and 8 in blocks "C" and "D" in April, 1929, because she wanted the land and Lakeshore Drive to remain public for the citizens to enjoy. The city approved of her deed on June 18th, 1929. Stuart also provided $200 per year for five years for maintenance of Kimberly Point Park. In 1932, she paid for twenty elm trees and crabapple trees to be planted in the park.
Nearly a decade later, in 1944, J.C. Kimberly wanted to help boaters stay safe on the water, so he decided a lighthouse with a comfort station should be built at the entrance to the river. The lighthouse cost $7,500 to build, which Kimberly paid for. Fluor Brothers Construction Company of Oshkosh built the lighthouse out of brick and Haydite block, and it stood forty feet tall. It was later raised to forty-nine feet in 1954 and topped with a weathervane in the shape of a sailboat. The park itself was further renovated in 1948 when Helen Kimberly Stuart gave $3,000 to widen the driveway, increase parking, construct four fireplaces, and supply eight picnic tables and some playground equipment. In 1991, a handicapped-accessible fishing dock was finished, costing $34,000, which was paid for mostly by the Scenic and Urban Waterways Program from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
In 2020, a project to improve the Lakeshore Avenue was approved. This included improving both the road and adding an off street trail. Before the trail could be constructed, an archeological investigation occurred with individuals from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. The following link includes a program from the Neenah Historical Society on the findings of this investigation:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dXIyl_N2Cg
The off street trail was completed in spring 2021.
Information complimentary of Neenah City Hall
Construction information complimentary of Lighthousefriends.com
Current News
- Added to the Neenah Landmarks Commission in 2009
- Placed on the Wisconsin State Register of Historical Places in 2012
- Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 2013
Kimberly Point park and Kimberly Point Lighthouse are still an integral part of Neenah, allowing a beautiful view of Lake Winnebago .
Helen Kimberly Stuart presented Neenah with a deed for lots 7 and 8 in blocks "C" and "D" in April, 1929, because she wanted the land and Lakeshore Drive to remain public for the citizens to enjoy. The city approved of her deed on June 18th, 1929. Stuart also provided $200 per year for five years for maintenance of Kimberly Point Park. In 1932, she paid for twenty elm trees and crabapple trees to be planted in the park.
Nearly a decade later, in 1944, J.C. Kimberly wanted to help boaters stay safe on the water, so he decided a lighthouse with a comfort station should be built at the entrance to the river. The lighthouse cost $7,500 to build, which Kimberly paid for. Fluor Brothers Construction Company of Oshkosh built the lighthouse out of brick and Haydite block, and it stood forty feet tall. It was later raised to forty-nine feet in 1954 and topped with a weathervane in the shape of a sailboat. The park itself was further renovated in 1948 when Helen Kimberly Stuart gave $3,000 to widen the driveway, increase parking, construct four fireplaces, and supply eight picnic tables and some playground equipment. In 1991, a handicapped-accessible fishing dock was finished, costing $34,000, which was paid for mostly by the Scenic and Urban Waterways Program from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
In 2020, a project to improve the Lakeshore Avenue was approved. This included improving both the road and adding an off street trail. Before the trail could be constructed, an archeological investigation occurred with individuals from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. The following link includes a program from the Neenah Historical Society on the findings of this investigation:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dXIyl_N2Cg
The off street trail was completed in spring 2021.
Information complimentary of Neenah City Hall
Construction information complimentary of Lighthousefriends.com
Current News
- Added to the Neenah Landmarks Commission in 2009
- Placed on the Wisconsin State Register of Historical Places in 2012
- Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 2013
Kimberly Point park and Kimberly Point Lighthouse are still an integral part of Neenah, allowing a beautiful view of Lake Winnebago .