By Nathan Vine
Brad Casselberry was determined to solve a mystery.
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point archivist found two canisters with about 2,400 feet of 16mm film labeled only “Stevens Point” among a stack of VHS tapes and DVDs in a box in UWSP's library. It was undated — 16mm film was introduced in 1923, and became widely used following World War II for everything from promotional and educational films, documentaries, home movies and television news footage. It could have been anything.
Casselberry, the records manager and assistant archivistat the Nelis R. Kampenga University Archives and Area Research Center, wanted an answer, but knew it wasn't going to be as easy as popping a DVD into a player. He didn't have a projector handy, and when he finally tracked one down it wasn't in working condition. After replacing some parts and light bulbs, Casselberry finally flipped the switch, and realized he had something special: A promotional hour-long film shot in 1954 called “This is Our Town: Stevens Point, WI.”
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