Title: Interstate Alternative Association Records
Inclusive Dates: 1971-1978

Creator:

• Interstate Alternative Association

Call Number: Green Bay Mss 84

Quantity: 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box)

Repository:

Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Archives and Area Research Center; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Green Bay Cofrin Library / Green Bay Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Records of a group of farmers and environmentalists that unsuccessfully opposed construction of Interstate Highway 43 (I-43) between Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wis. When final approval for construction was given in 1976, the association turned to related issues such as eminent domain and condemnation. The collection contains records of the IAA and variously named predecessors, including articles of incorporation, a constitution and by-laws, correspondence, financial receipts, membership cards, minutes, clippings, petitions, and research material.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-gb0084

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

The Interstate Alternative Association (IAA) was formally organized at a meeting held February 14, 1973 at Cleveland, Town of Centerville, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, as the Stop I-57 or Stop-141 Committee. The group was composed of farmers and environmentalists united in opposition to the construction of an interstate highway between Milwaukee and Green Bay. Among its early leaders were Edward Klessig and Norbert Orth. On 26 February 1973, the new group and members of the original Stop I-57 Environmental Alliance merged under the name of the Alliance. On April 5, 1974, the Department of Transportation officially designated I-43 as the name of the Milwaukee to Green Bay Interstate Highway to be built along the Highway 141 corridor. Opposition efforts continued in and out of court, and on February 1, 1975, the name of the opposition group was changed to the Interstate Alternative Association. At the time, members of the board of directors included Nancy Salm, Louise Koerber, Edward Klessig, and others.

In 1975, the IAA membership numbered 100 to 120 individuals. The group organized a protest walk from Sheboygan to Green Bay, March 21-24, 1975, a beef and cheese sale in Sheboygan, and several public polls; it also lobbied legislators regarding the highway. As part of the protest, farmers brought several dairy cattle to the lawn of the State Capitol in Madison in April 1976. Despite these efforts, however, Governor Patrick Lucey gave final approval for construction of I-43 to begin in May 1976. Although the IAA was not able to stop construction of the highway, its opposition to I-43 continued, and the group also turned its attention to the related topics of the State's eminent domain laws, and condemnation procedures for private land.

The collection contains the records of the IAA, as created and collected by Nancy Salm, president, and Louise Koerber, secretary and treasurer. Official activities of the group are documented by files containing the articles of incorporation, constitution and by-laws, correspondence regarding IAA actions, financial receipts recording dues payments and contributions, membership cards, and minutes of meetings and attendance lists. Several folders of petitions signed by those opposing construction of the interstate highway attest to widespread local protest, as do the newspaper clippings, which record the activities of the IAA and its predecessors and contain copies of letters to the editor as well as news articles. Located within another folder is material relating to the ownership of property condemned for construction purposes; these papers include tax receipts and bills, and lists of owners. Statements created by the IAA and its officers may be found in a folder with notes, address lists, and other material.

Other related collections of interest are the Francis J. Bouda papers (Bouda was the attorney for the IAA), and a manuscript by Edward Klessig entitled “The Struggle to Stop I-43: A Campaign for Alternative Development.” All three collections are located at the Area Research Center at Green Bay.

Acquisition Information

Presented by the Interstate Alternative Association, via Nancy Salm, 1979. Accession Number: M79-402

Processing Information

Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt and Jim Giblin, June 1980.

Box   1 Folder   1	Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and By-Laws, Resolution
Box   1 Folder   2	Assembly Bills 969, 1076 and 1077, 1977
Box   1 Folder   3	Correspondence and Papers on IAA Activities, July 1975-September 1978
Box   1 Folder   4	Correspondence re: I-43; , April 1974-December 1978
Box   1 Folder   5	Financial Receipts, April 1975-December 1976
Box   1 Folder   6	Membership Cards, 1975-1976
Box   1 Folder   7	Minutes of Meetings and Attendance Lists, February 1975-February 1978
Box   1 Folder   8	Newspaper Clippings, August 1971-December 1977
Box   1 Folder   9	Notes, Statements, Address Lists and Other Materials, 1972-1975
Box   1 Folder   10	Owners of Property in the Path of I-43-Tax Receipts and Lists of Owners, 1974-1975
Box   1 Folder   11-14	Petitions, circa 1975
Box   1 Folder   15	Special Committee on Eminent Domain, Hearings and Correspondence, April 1977-February 1978
Box   1 Folder   16	Statements of Various Environmental Organizations, 1974-1976