Electronics replace old-fashioned maps

TOWN OF MENASHA - Whether you're going to Miami, Montevideo, or Manitowoc you're never lost, if you have a map.

"Well you know, a map just tells you that the world is much bigger than you are," said Alice Woelffer of the US/Canadian Map Co.

Woelffer has been helping travelers find their way around the globe for 30 years by selling thousands of maps from her Town of Menasha business.

"We sell of course your major city maps, state maps, national ocean charts, topographical maps, foreign maps, fishing maps, plat books and atlases," said Woelffer. "We have customers who come in with great stories, telling us when they've been lost and come in for a map the next day."

But the stories, and customers, are drying up.

"We had maybe 25 years that were really good," said Woelffer.

The last five years she says have been really slow because of GPS devices.

"It's really great. It tells you turn by turn and also speaks street names," said Dusty Liebhaber of Muntz Audio-Video in Appleton.

At Muntz Audio Video in Appleton the last five years salesmen say, GPS systems have been hot items.

"Because you can take it from one place to another without buying so many maps," said Liebhaber "We sell quite a bit of them especially during the holiday season."

It's kind of the same story at Alice's store, except for reasons other than their intended navigational purposes. So she says it's time to roll over and accept the fact electronic devices are taking over the cartographic trade.

"Well you know it is sad, but I guess the world just moves on," said Woelffer.

But in her retirement Alice plans on sticking with what she knows best, the old fashion paper variety.

Alice says her store, will most likely close around Mid-July, or when she's able to liquidate most of her maps.