Related Records

1. Letter and envelope to William Sell Sr., Winchester, from J. Connley, friend of Al Capone. 4/19/1929 - Connley is writing on Chicago Teamsters & Chauffeurs Union stationery. He is asking Bill's opinion, as a local realtor and acquaintance, of properties in northern Wisconsin by Pardee Lake that the union is considering purchasing. In the late 1920s, Al Capone and his Chicago Outfit had control over some of the city unions.

   4/19/1929

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. Letter (handwritten) from Alphonse "Al" Capone to William F. (Bill) Sell of Winchester, WI. 6/14/1924 - Capone is writing to ask Bill to locate the bootlegger that previously sold him wine and whiskey as he would like to take another delivery in Cicero, IL. Note that the letter is signed by "Al Brown", a common alias used by Capone. Also, Capone tells Sell to communicate with his associate Fred Pope at 2242 Cicero Ave in Chicago if he (Capone) is not available. Capone and Sell became acquainted while Capone was vacationing in northern WI and staying at Sell's Resort in Winchester. They became good friends and kept in touch over the years.

   6/14/1924

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. Letter written by Al Capone to Bill Sell (Winchester) letting him know he is doing well. 1/14/1925 - This letter is postmarked two days after the assassination attempt on Capone in Chicago by the North Side gang members. Capone and the Sell family were quite close as evidenced by Capone's inquiry about Sell's wife Lowrene and son Bill, aka "Little Slugger".

   1/14/1925

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. Letter written by Bill Sell Sr. in response to Al Capone's 12/13/1929 inquiry about property for sale. 12/18/1929 - Sell informs Capone that the Trostel property he was interested in was not for sale. Sell suggested a different large, private tract by Oak and Forest Lakes near Mercer. (This would be near today's Iron County Highway G). Bill and wife, Lowrene, owned Sell Improvement Company, a realty and insurance company. Sell had previously worked for Albert Trostel & Sons, a Milwaukee tannery; he was a timber and lands manager. Capone and Sell were close friends.

   12/18/1929

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. Letter written to Bill Sell (Winchester, WI) by Al Capone while incarcerated in Pennsylvania. 12/13/1929 - Capone is inquiring about property to purchase in northern Wisconsin, specifically the island house owned by the Trostel family on George Lake. Bill and wife, Lowrene, owned Sell Improvement Company, a realty and insurance company. Sell had previously worked for Albert Trostel & Sons, a Milwaukee tannery; he was a timber and lands manager. Capone and Sell were close friends. Capone was incarcerated for carrying a concealed weapon on 5/17/1929 and sentenced to one year in prison. He was released on 3/17/1930 for good behavior.

   12/13/1929

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. Local television station Channel 12 NBC Rhinelander interviews MWHS board member Jim Bokern about an Al Capone collection of items MWHS recently received. 3/7/2023 - Copy and Paste this link into a browser or go to the MWHS YouTube channel to see this interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKaYSNGfivU Click on "Show Related Records" to see the documents discussed in this interview.

   3/7/2023

   Record Type: Archive

   
7. Note written by Al Capone listing his addresses and phone numbers in Chicago. ca 1920s - The note was part of the William Sell Sr. papers. It lists Capone's home address on Prairie Ave and business address for the Chicago Outfit, under the alias of Al Brown, on S, Wabash Ave. Phone numbers at that time where 3 letters and 4 numbers. Vincennes area would be VIN 9360; Victory area would be VIC 8160.

   ca 1920s

   Record Type: Archive

   
8. Obituaries for William "Bill" F. Sell Sr. 1962 - Also included is a news clipping referencing the resort being in existence in 1925, although the obituary list 1927 and 1937. Sell was the first appointed forest ranger in WI.

   8/1/1962

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. Sales brochure for "Former Trostel Estate" located in Winchester, WI (in the northwest corner of Vilas County). ca 1940s-1950s - Document is from the William (Bill) F. Sell, Sr. collection of papers. He worked for the Albert Trostel & Sons Company, a Milwaukee tanner, from 1914-1927. His title was timber and lands manager of the Trostel land in northern WI. After leaving their employment he established Sell Improvement Company, selling real estate and insurance, as well as a resort on South Turtle Lake. The color shaded area on the map was done by Bill. Red shaded areas are owned by him and wife Lowrene. Blue shaded areas owned by the Sell in partnership with Edward and Cora Scotten of Chicago. It appears "Halliburton" is written across George Lake. Joan Halliburton was the Sell's daughter.

   Record Type: Archive

   
10. Various newspaper clippings of real estate transactions by William F. Sell, Sr., realtor with Sell Improvement Company. 1931-1950 - Sell was purchasing property in MW (Township 42) as early as 1931. He and Edward & Cora Scotten purchased and sold many properties in the Winchester area (Township 44). Sell was also part of a 1938 federal ruling about purchasing lake islands in WI.

    Record Type: Archive