WAY IT WAS: Wettstein’s Television & Electric, c. 1962


Howard Wettstein founded Wettstein’s Television & Electric in 1951 out of his garage at 1410 Denton St. The location pictured here opened just a few years later at 1527 Losey Boulevard S., where the Village Shopping Center is today. At the time this image was taken, Wettstein’s services included residential, industrial and commercial electrical wiring; 50-foot antenna installation (like the one pictured); television sales, service and installation; and they were a dealer of General Electric products. However, Wettstein’s quickly outgrew this location and moved downtown not long after this photograph was taken in 1962. After Howard retired, his three sons, John, Dan and Ralph took over the family business. Wettstein’s officially closed in 2018.

The photographer of this image was Howard W. Colvin, a WWII veteran who had a 24-year career working for the La Crosse Tribune. He was an artist who took many black and white photographs of the La Crosse area in the 1960s, documenting local businesses and religious structures. Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at (608) 789-7136 or via email at [email protected].

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Anyone with more information about this photo or wishing to donate photos of the Coulee Region may contact the La Crosse Public Library Archives at 608-789-7136 or via email at [email protected].


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