Abbotsford’s history is
mostly unwritten
The public archives hold just one old photo of Abbotsford. The rest are in attics, shoeboxes and the historical society. Help start the collection.
The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗In 1872, the Wisconsin Central Railroad cleared its right of way through the forest which would become Abbotsford, heading north for Ashland. Rails were built through the town site in 1874. In 1879 the directors of the Wisconsin Central decided to build west from Colby to Chippewa Falls, to connect there with the Chippewa Falls & Western and ultimately St. Paul. However, they found that Colby Hill was not a good site for a junction and rail yard, so they instead planned the east–west line 2.5 miles north of Colby. The place was called Colby Junction from 1879 to 1880, then renamed for Edwin H. Abbott of the Wisconsin Central.
Abbotsford incorporated as a village in 1894. The village incorporated as a city in 1965.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Timeline
built from the dates on the items belowStart Abbotsford’s collection
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Abbotsford’s history is told.
1 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewAbbottsford High School assembly …, 1909: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10Famous people from Abbotsford
See all 1 →Abbotsford, decade by decade
1990s
CommonsAbbotsford, Wisconsin2024
CommonsKramer's County Market2012
CommonsAbbotsford Wisconsin Welcome Sign2012
CommonsAbbotsford Wisconsin Sign WIS132012
CommonsAbbotsford Wisconsin Downtown Looking South WIS132012
CommonsAbbotsford Tower2012
CommonsATC High-Voltage Transmission Line - panoramio (1)2012
Commons2009-0620-Abbotsford-FDPD2009
Commons2009-0620-Abbotsford-CH2009
Commons2009-0620-Abbotsford-1st2009
CommonsAbbots2007Then & now
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as Abbottsford High School assembly room, Abbottsford, Wisconsin (1909) and it appears here side by side.
🔁 Retake this view · +15Stories next door
nearby towns’ historyFrom Wikimedia Commons (11) and the Library of Congress (1). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.