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Mormon Coulee Road & Losey Blvd, 1970 Intersection Losey Boulevard South and Mormon Coulee Road looking south, 1970

This photo shows how the south side of the city looked in July 1970. It was a three-way intersection with no traffic lights. Major urban developments had not occurred, and the land was used for farming. Losey Boulevard was a four-lane street. Holy Cross Seminary, completed in 1951 at 3710 East Ave. South, was visible in the background.
Mormon Coulee Road & Losey Blvd, 2003 Intersection Losey Boulevard South and Mormon Coulee Road looking south, 2003

This present day photograph of the Mormon Coulee Road and Losey Boulevard intersection is a rectified four-way intersection with fully functional four-way traffic lights and left-turn lanes at all stops. Tremendous development has occurred in the south side of the city including grocery stores, retail and industry. The Riverview Shopping Center, built in 1979-1980 at Mormon Coulee Road and Losey Boulevard, was home to the National Food Store for one year. It is now part of the Quillin’s IGA grocery chain. The Seminary, no longer in view, is home to the Holy Cross Diocesan Center.
Mormon Coulee Road & Losey Blvd, 1970 Mormon Coulee Road and Losey Boulevard South looking northwest, 1970

Losey Boulevard and Mormon Coulee Road marked the southeastern most edge of the city and little development had occurred by 1970. Note the “La Crosse Welcomes You” sign. Just behind this was a barely visible Elm Grove School. This brick two-room school with full basement served the town of Shelby District #4. It was constructed in 1938 and used as a school until 1967, and then by a day care center until 1975.
Mormon Coulee Road & Losey Blvd, 2003 Mormon Coulee Road and Losey Boulevard South looking northwest, 2003

The 2003 photo of the intersection of Mormon Coulee Road and Losey Boulevard shows the concrete median dividing Mormon Coulee Road, as well as traffic signals. Left-and right-turn lanes have been added to improve traffic flow. The former Elm Grove School building was torn down in 1975 to make way for the Sirloin Stockade Restaurant which operated at this site until 1988. Washboard Blues Laundry & Dry Cleaning business is now the occupant of this building.
Mormon Coulee Road & Losey Blvd, 1970 Mormon Coulee Road and Losey Boulevard South looking southeast, 1970

This 1970 photograph shows the undeveloped area to the west of Mormon Coulee Road which was outside the city limits then. This was and still is the road from La Crosse to Mormon Coulee in the town of Shelby. Some of the earliest farming pioneers first settled near the Mormon Creek, including a band of families of the Mormon faith in the early 1840s.

Mormon Coulee Road & Losey Blvd, 2003

 

Mormon Coulee Road and Losey Boulevard South looking southeast, 2003

This picture also illustrates the use of left and right turn lanes at the traffic lights. Notice the increase in urban development along Mormon Coulee Road.

© 2003 La Crosse Public Library & City of La Crosse Planning Department

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