Menomonie, Wisconsin History/lnell97

The Mabel Tainter Theater is an eye catching North Western landmark in Wisconsin. This incredible building is jam packed with loads of history and stories that make it such a geological pleasure. This theater means so much to the community because it brings happiness and historical personality to the town of Menomonie.

Captain Andrew Tainter

Work Life

Andrew Tainter was a strong, young man with lots of ambition and success to come. For much of Andrew Tainter’s adult life he was known as the “The Queen of Piney” because of the massive impact he had on the land of Menomonie, Wisconsin. Andrew was a partner, then vice president of the Knapp-Stout Company, which had become one of the largest lumber companies in the world. Later, the firm bought their first steamboat and named it the Chippewa Falls. After taking over the ship he was later named Captain Tainter.

Family Life

In his love life Andrew Tainter originally married and Ojibwa women, Mary Poskins Goose, who he had 5 children with, but the wife moved to the reservation. The difference between the two different cultures and lifestyles they both had grew into the separation of their relationship 9 years later. Shortly after in 1859 he hired a woman, Bertha Lucas Lesure, to tutor his Indian children whom he eventually married in 1861. He then again had 5 more children with her, Louis, Ruth, Mabel, Irene, and Fanny. Irene died as a baby, Ruth died at the age 8, and Mabel died at 19. Among the three that died, Mabel Tainter was one who clearly impacted the lives in this community.

Mabel Tainter and Past Life

Her Life

During her short lived life, Mabel Tainter had been romantically involved with one of the ship’s crewmen while Captain Tainter was working on it. The couple wanted to pursue the relationship and get married, but according to their different social statuses they weren’t allowed to. Once Mabel had become pregnant with her love child, her parents had made a realization that marriage could be possible until her man left. Her parents then convinced her to have an abortion, but because of bad medical methods in 1800s there was 30% death rate when going through the surgical procedure of an abortion. Unfortunately, Mabel didn’t make the 70% percentile of living. In the 1870’s very interesting strategies had begun trending to end pregnancies such as a violent fall down the stairs, getting very drunk, or possibly seeing a veterinarian. Her medical records stated that she died because of ‘cancer of the side’ although was a cover up for her parents not losing their reputation in society her father felt very guilty and liable for her death.

Past Life

Mabel Tainter loved the arts and theater so, Andrew Tainter wanted to build a memorial for his daughter’s passing in 1886. After being a desirable destination for many years’ tour guides, staff, and visitors of the theater still feel her presence and possibly note that she lurks on the balcony of the second floor of the theater. Witnesses say the can see a woman cloaked in white walking around, sometimes lights mysteriously turning on and off, and footsteps walking around when the room in clearly empty. Considered citizens in the community call the police because while walking by the memorial they will notice people inside through windows after the building has been closed up for the night.

Theater Background

Proceeding Mable’s death Captain Tainter wanting to pursue honoring his lovely daughter. The family had always followed the Unitarian faith, when she passed Captain Tainter had asked his priest for guidance on a building type for a forever lasting memorial in her honor. Originally it was used as Unitarian church while services were held by Henry Doty Maxson who was the first minister at the Menomonie Unitarian Tainter memorial. Later, the family invited a different priest from Whitewater, Wisconsin to be in charge of the new Unitarian Society of Menomonie. He wanted to build a commemoratory the preserved that value that she had for theater and the arts. It was finally pronounced that after many years of discussion or thought that the building would be a church, theater, and library for the community.

The Piano

The biggest disappointment to Captain Andrew Tainter and his wife was the failure to complete the incredible grand piano that cost the family over $5000. After being the lumber business and being a vice president for a major logging company Captain Andrew Tainter and his family were able to pay such a large amount of money for the massive and delightful instrument which would have been one of the biggest attractions in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Even though the grand piano couldn’t be ordered and delivered from Kimball Piano Company in time the family and staff of the church temporally replaced into with a much a smaller piano constructed by S.G. Dean, but it got the job done.

Architecture

Captain Andrew Tainter and his wife wanted to build a commemoratory the preserved that value that she had for theater and the arts. It was finally pronounced that after many years of discussion or thought that the building would be a church, theater, and library for the community. The biggest disappointment to Captain Andrew Tainter and his wife was the failure to complete the incredible grand piano that costed the family over $5000. After being the lumber business and being a vice president for a major logging company Captain Andrew Tainter and his family were able to pay such a large amount of money for the massive and delightful instrument which would have been one of the biggest attractions in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Even though the grand piano couldn’t be ordered and delivered from Kimball Piano Company in time the family and staff of the church temporally replaced into with a much a smaller piano constructed by S.G. Dean, but it got the job done.

References

https://uwstout.courses.wisconsin.edu/d2l/le/content/3090366/viewContent/18776274/View

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?dsNav=N:4294963828-4294963788&dsRecordDetails=R:BA8744

External Links

Mabel Tainter Memorial Article

Mabel Tainter Memorial Home Page

Mabel Tainter Afterlife