Spring - St. Francis Historical Society

NOJOSHING'
`NOJOSHING'
The official Newsletter of the St. Francis Historical Society
Also serving Milwaukee's Old Town of Lake area
4235
4235 South
South Nicholson
Nicholson Avenue
St. Francis, Wisconsin
Wisconsin 53207
53207
(414) 481-2300
Spring 1991
1991
1992OFFICERS
OFFICERS
1991 --1992
Juneau farmyard
Juneau
farmyardinin1899
1899isisone
oneofof6868photos
photos
onon
a 15-panel
a 15-panel
display which is on
on exhibit
exhibit at
at the
theSt.
St.Francis
FrancisLibrary,
Library,4230
4230
South
NicholsonAvenue,
Avenue,and
andwill
willbe
bethe
thefocus
focus
our
South Nicholson
ofof
our
quarterly general
general meeting
meetingon
onWednesday,
Wednesday,April
April24th
24thatatthe
the
library at
at 6:00 p.m. The
library
The meeting
meetingwill
will take
take place
placein
inthe
the
library's basement
meetingroom,
room,where
wherecheese
cheese
and
crackers
basement meeting
and
crackers
willbe
will
be served
served along
along with
with punch.
punch. The
The entertainment
entertainmentwill
will be
be
will present
present
Ltd., who will
by Milwaukee Reflections,
Reflections, Ltd.,
provided by
their newest program entitled, "Portraits II:
II:Six
Sixof
ofOur
Our
Sex," aa peek
peekinto
intothe
thelives
livesofofMargaret
MargaretSchurz,
Schurz,Maria
MariaPabst,
Pabst,
Caroline Quarles,
GraceLusk,
Lusk, Gretchen
GretchenColnik
Colnik and
and
Quarles, Grace
Hildegarde, six
Hildegarde,
six Wisconsin
Wisconsinwomen
womenwho
whohad
hadsignificant
significantImimpact during
during their
their lifetimes.
lifetimes. This
This meeting
meetingwill
will not feature
featureour
our
usual
usual potluck
potluck supper.
supper.Please
Pleasetake
take
advantage
advantage
of of
thethe
fine
fine
Francis
your St. Francis
displays and programs
programs offered
offered by your
Historical Society -- see
seeyou
youthere!!
there!!
Tessmer
President .............................................................. Ron Tessmer
Johnston
Vice President
Vice
President ................................................ Diane Johnston
Millie Schimelfenyg
Schimelfenyg
Recording Secretary
Secretary ................................ Millie
Treasurer
Treasurer .............................................. Margaret Symkowski
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
483-4202
Carl
Carl Baehr
Baehr .................................................................. 483-4202
Chris Barney
Barney .............................................................. 461-5869
461-5869
Chris
Johnston .......................................................... 483-5883
483-5883
Diane Johnston
744-3167
Joanne Richards ........................................................ 744-3167
Millie
MillieSchimelfenyg
Schimelfenyg .................................................. 769-6575
769-6575
Margaret Symkowski
Symkowski ................................................ 483-0455
Margaret
483-0455
Ron &
& Marge
MargeTessmer
Tessmer .............................................. 744-0653
744-0653
Ed Wagner
Wagner .................................................................. 744-1619
744-1619
COMMITTEES
COMMITTEES
Joanne Richards
Richards- -744-3167
744-3167
Arts
Arts and
and Crafts
Crafts .......................... Joanne
Staats;481-9849
-481-9849
Cataloging .......................................... Laura Staats
Tessmer- -744-0653
744-0653
Displays
Displays ........................................ Marge Tessmer
Baehr -- 483-4202
483-4202
Historic
HistoricPreservation
Preservation .......................... Carl Baehr
Schwingle- -744-0873
744-0873
Membership
Membership .................................. Bob Schwingle
Barney--461-5869
461-5869
Newsletter
Newsletter .......................................... Chris Barney
Johnston- -483-5883
483-5883
Programs ...................................... Diane Johnston
Tessmer- -744-0653
744-0653
Tours &
& Trips
Trips .................................... Ron Tessmer
IRENE
IRENE GREBE:
GREBE: 1901-1991
1901-1991 - -
ST. FRANCIS
FRANCIS HISTORICAL
HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
SOCIETY:
WE ARE
"SERIOUS ABOUT NOJOSHING"
GENERAL
GENERAL MEETING
MEETING—
—APRIL
APRIL24TH
24TH
"WOMEN'S
"WOMEN'SWORK
WORKON
ONTHE
THEFARM"
FARM"
( Photo by Ralph Clark)
Irene Grebe,
Grebe, founder
founder of
of Milwaukee's
Milwaukee's largest
largestand
andbest
best
known family-owned bakery, died
died on
on January
January27,
27,1991
1991after
after
a brief
brief illness.
illness. She
Shewas
was89.
89.She
She
began
baking
of her
began
baking
outout
of her
Town of Lake home
home in
in 1939
1939and,
and,within
within20
20years,
years,
became
became
the premier
premier bakery
bakery chain
chainin
in the
thearea,
area,becoming
becomingthe
thefirst
first
basis,
a a
local bakery
bakery to
to seil
sell to
to supermarkets
supermarketsonona awholesale
wholesale
basis,
Grebe, who
who
- Grebe,
tradition carried on today
today by
by her
her son,
son,W.
W.James
James
survives her
her in
in addition
addition to
to aa daughter,
daughter,Jane
JaneRodebaugh,
Rodebaugh,
grandchildren and
both of Milwaukee, 8 grandchildren
and 11
11greatgreatgrandchildren.
Funeral services
serviceswere
wereheld
heldatatPrasserPrassergrandchildren. Funeral
Kleczka Funeral
Funeral Home
Homein
inBay
BayView,
View, and
andburial
burialwas
wasinin
Arlington Park
Arlington
Park Cemetery
Cemetery in
in Greenfield.
Greenfield. (A
(A 1988
1988interview
interview
with
is featured
featuredelsewhere
elsewhereininthis
thisnewsletter
newsletter- with Irene
Irene Grebe
Grebe is
Ed.)
(State
(State Historical
Historical Society
Societyof
ofWisconsin)
Wisconsin)
The above
above photograph
photographofofMartha
MarthaGoetsch
GoetschBuelke
Buelkeininher
her
-1-
he would probably have to give
give credit
credit to the latest form of
transportation,
transportation, the
the railroad.
railroad.In
In1855,
1855, the
the Chicago
Chicago and
Milwaukee Railway
Railway began
began operation,
operation, and
and its
its tracks
tracks interintersected
sected the
the road
road on
on Thompson's
Thompson's land
land (near Denton
Denton and
and
Nicholson). The
Nicholson).
The crossing
crossing became
became known
known as
as Thompson
Thompson Corners and the railroad
railroad station
station located there was
was called
called
Thompson Corners Station or Thompson Station.
THE STREETS OF ST. FRANCIS
KINNICKINNIC AND
AND THOMPSON
THOMPSON
By Carl Baehr
(Third of a series)
(Third
Thompson Avenue, Thompson School,
School, and
and Thompson
Thompson
Cemetery make Thompson the most
most used
used placename
placename in
inthe
the
city, aside from St. Francis itself. It was used even more in
past. Among
Among earlier
earlier names
names were
wereThompson
ThompsonCorners,
Corners,
times
ti mes past.
Thompson Station, Thompson Stables, Thompson
Thompson Road
Road
and the Thompson
Thompson Place.
Thompson Corners' importance was nipped in
in the
the bud
bud by
by
the construction of St. Francis Seminary,
Seminary, which opened
within a year of the railroad's
railroad's first
first traffic.
traffic. By
By 1867, the
clergy at St. Francis Seminary were able to lobby
lobby the
the
railroad
for aa station
station closer
closer to them, on St. Francis Avenue.
railroad for
Avenue.
That the Thompson Corners
Corners Station,
Station, less than a mile to the
south, would have to close
dose as a result was a foregone
foregone concluconclusion, since
since there
there was
was insufficient
insufficientpopulation
population clustered
clustered near
near
the crossing to sustain it.
Who was Thompson
Thompson and why were
were these
these places
placesnamed
named for
for
him?
Jared Thompson
Jared
Thompson was
was born
born in
in Connecticut
Connecticut about
about 1805. In
then in his early 20s, he and
1828, then
and his
his wife
wife moved to Vermont where several of their
their eleven
eleven children
children were
were born.
born. Nine
Nine
years later, in 1837, the family
family migrated
migrated to Milwaukee
Milwaukee durduring the city's infancy.
A quarter century later
later the station was gone
gone but
but the
the interintersection
section hadn't
hadn't been abandoned. Patrick Cudahy, using the
the
most direct route from Milwaukee,
Milwaukee, had
had to
to cross
cross the
the tracks
tracks at
at
this point in order to get to the site
site of
of his
hispacking
packingplant.
plant. In
In
his autobiography, Patrick Cudahy tells
teils us,
us, "Employed
"Employed at
at
the railroad
railroad crossing as flagman
flagman was
was an
an old
oldGerman."
German."
In 1840,
1840, Thompson
Thompson bought
bought aa quarter
quarter of a square mile of
of
land in the Town of Lake from the United States Government. This, coupled
coupled with
with other
other land purchases, made his
property
Avenues and
property extend from Pennsylvania to Barland Avenues
and
from Bolivar to north of Howard though, of course,
course, these
these
streets were not then in existence. His
His farm
farm came to be
known as the Thompson Place.
Cudahy's
residential area
area was
was laid
laid out
out east of the tracks
Cudahy's residential
toward Lake
Lake Michigan.
Michigan. As the population grew, the
and toward
need for a road east of the tracks did too. By the early 1900s,
1900s,
a fork in the road was created along
along the
the tracks
tracks and
and traffic
traffic
was diverted away
away from
from the
the crossing
crossing and
and into
into Cudahy.
Cudahy. In
In
spite of this,
this, in
in 1920,
1920,there
there was
wasstill
stillaawatchman
watchmanat
at the
the post,
post,
as described in testimony given
given during
during an inquest held on an
arcident ----between-a-frorse=drawn-buggy-and-a--60.mile=perbetween -a-horse-rdrawn -buggy - and - a-- 60=mile.per=-.1
hour locomotive.
hourlcmtive.
The only thoroughfare
thoroughfare on Thompson's property
property in
in 1840
1840
was
ran from
from the
the Chicago Road to
was an
an Indian
Indian trail that ran
to
Milwaukee. The Chicago
Chicago Road
Road had
had been opened
opened aa few
fewyears
years
earlier by the Federal Government to
to provide
provide aa route
route from
from
Chicago to
Chicago
to Green
Green Bay.
Bay.The
Thepart
partthat
that runs
runs through
through the city
city isis
now called
called Whitnall
Whitnall Avenue.
Avenue. The
The pathway
pathway began
began near
near what
is now
now the
the intersection
intersection of
of Barland
Barland and Whitnall Avenues in
to the
the Kinnickinnic
KinnickinnicRiver
Riveratatthe
thenorthnorthCudahy and extended to
ern edge of Bay
Bay View
View along
alongaaroute
route now
now covered
coveredby
by
Nicholson
Nicholson and
and Kinnickinnic Avenues.
Eventually, the need for a watchman was gone
gone and,
and, more
recently, the need for the crossing itself
itself was
was eliminated
eliminated
altogether as the result of
of changed
changed traffic
traffic patterns
patterns and
and aa
concern for safety. Traffic
Traffic is
is now
now routed
routed onto
onto Kinnickinnic
Kinnickinnic
from Nicholson via Denton.
The trail kept to the higher ground away from swampy
swampy
areas and
and where water
water from
from rain
rain or
or melting
melting snow
snow would
drain
drain off
off quickly. It
lt twisted and
and snaked
snaked while
while it followed
followed the
the
fairly direct
direct
higher contours of the land, but overall was aa fairly
route toward
toward Milwaukee.
Milwaukee. Since it was a diagonal, it was
was aa
much shorter route than
than our
our current
current pattern of
of north-south
north-south
and east-west streets would be.
be.
In addition to having its course changed,
changed, the
the Thompson
Thompson
Road has gone through
series of
of name
name changes.
changes. Officially
through aa series
called the
the Thompson
Thompson Road
Road in
in the
theCivil
CivilWar
Warera,
era,the
theroute
route
was also
also known
known as
as the
the Chicago
Chicago Road.
Road. Since
Since Whitnall
Whitnall
Avenue was also
also called
called Chicago
Chicago Road,
Road, Thompson
Thompson was
sometimes called
called New
New Chicago
ChicagoRoad
Road and
and Whitnall
Whitnall was Old
Chicago Road.
In the
the spring
spring of
of 1843,
1843, the Supervisors
Supervisors of
of the
the Town
Town of
of
Lake officially
officially decided
decidedto
totake
take advantage
advantage of
ofthe
theIndian
Indian path
path
by laying
laying aa road
road over it.
it. It
lt had no formal name at that time.
The other early roads that radiated
radiated from
from Milwaukee
Milwaukee were
known by the places
places that
that they led
led to;
to; like
like Fond
Fond du
du Lac,
Lac,
Chicago, Green Bay, Janesville,
Janesville, Beloit,
Beloit,and
and Watertown.
Watertown.
This road, however, led to the Chicago Road,
Road, and
and the name
"Chicago Road"
Road" Road
Road would
would have been awkward to say the
the
least. Maps in the late 1850s
1850s and
and Town
Town of
ofLake
LakeSupervisors'
Supervisors'
minutes from
from 1856
1856 to 1876
1876 show
show that
that it came to be called
Thompson Road.
The part
part of
of the
the road
road in
in Milwaukee
Milwaukee and
and Bay
Bay View
View became
of the
the Kinnickinnic
Kinnickinnic River
River itit
known as Kinnickinnic because of
crossed. Kinnickinnic is an American Indian
term which
which
Indian term
means a vegetative
vegetative mixture
mixture used
used for
for smoking.
smoking. It
lt usually conconsisted of
of dried
dried leaves
leaves and
and bark
bark and sometimes
sometimes included
included
tobacco. This name for the road was accepted north
north of
of the
crossing by the Town of
of Lake
Lake in
in the
the 1920s.
1920s.The
Thepart
part of
of the
the
road
south of
of the
the crossing
crossing was changed to Nicholson
road south
Avenue in 1930.
The second Thompson Road, the one that shows on St.
St.
Francis maps
maps today,
today, and
andisis now
now called
called Thompson
Thompson Avenue,
Avenue, is
Francis
only a part
of its former
former self.
self. This old road,
road, which
which is
is on preprepart of
Thompson's land in an east-west
east-west
Civil War maps, crossed Thompson's
direction, on what is now Norwich Avenue and extended to
the Lake
lake on
onThompson-Howard
Thompson-Howard Avenue.
There were other land owners along the route
route like
like WentWentworth, Bennett, and
and Estes.
Estes. Why
Whywasn't
wasn't the
theroad
road named
named for
for
one of
of them?
them? What
What was
was unique
unique about
about Thompson
Thompson that
that would
would
cause his name to be given
given to
to the
the road?
road? For this distinction,
-22
-
This Norwich location defied
defied the
thecommon
commonpractice
practiceofofthe
the
time
was to
to put
putroads
roadson
onsection
section
lines.
When
it was
ti
me which was
lines.
When
it was
originally
Wisconsinwas
wasdivided
dividedinto
intoone
onesquare
square
originally surveyed,
surveyed, Wisconsin
mile sections
sections and
andthe
thepractice
practicewas
was
to to
allocate
allocate
Land
land
along
along
thethe
1)orders of
borders
of these
these sections
sectionsfor
forroads.
roads.
For
For
some
some
reason
reason
Thompson
Thompson did
didnot
notdevelop
developa aroad
roadonon
hishis
section
section
line,
line,
which
which
would have been
beenthe
thecurrent
currentHoward
HowardAvenue.
Avenue.Perhaps
Perhaps
thethe
ground in this area
areawas
wastoo
toosoggy
soggyfor
fora aroad.
road.Early
Earlymaps
maps
show that
that the
theheadlands
headlandsofofDeer
DeerCreek,
Creek,
then
then
a more
a more
signifisignificant stream,
stream,were
werelocated
locatedononthe
thesection
section
line
land
and
line
of of
hishis
land
and
may have
have made
madeconstruction
constructionofofaaroad
roadtoo
toodifficult
difficultor
ortoo
too
expensive.
Costestimates
estimates
show
going
to be
expensive
expensive. Cost
show
it'sit's
Boing
to be
expensive
to to
construct today
today as
aspart
partof
ofthe
theLake
LakeArterial
Arterial project.
project.
_
.•
•e r
nent in
in the
the local
local temperance
temperancemovement,
movement,serving
serving
asas
anan
officer
officer
of the Milwaukee Temperance
TemperanceSociety
Societyand
andthen
thenonon
thethe
ExExecutive
Committeeof
ofthe
theWisconsin
WisconsinTemperance
Temperance
Society,
ecutive Committee
Society,
an organization
organization that
thathe
hehelped
helpedorganize.
organize.
N
THomPSON
THOMPSON CORNERS
LATE leso's
1850S
-
e
%
_
•IMIn m1M mat.
4
s
L
s
V' • •
ROAO
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THOMPSON
ROAD
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4411, 101
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7V"
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///
T
A
THOMPSON
THOMPSON'S
' S LAND
LAND
.4.
THOMPSON
THOMPSON CEMETERY
CEMETERY
)(
THOMPSON SCHOOL
SCHOOL
THOMPSON
O
0
•
SECTION
SECTION LINE
LINE
0
Norwich Avenue,
Norwich
Avenue, shown
shown here
here in
in 1989,
1989, looking
looking eint
eastacross
across PennRoad.
sylvania Avenue, was originally
called Thompson
Thompson Road.
sylvankrAvenue,
originally called
(SFIIS
- Chris
ISHIS - Chris
Harney) Barnes')
Adjacent landowners
landowners did
did use
usethe
thesection
sectionline
linefor
forroads
roads
and
and because
becauseThompson
Thompson
did
did
not,
not,
a diagonal
a diagonal
road
road
was
was
necessary to
necessary
toconnect
connectthem.
them.The
Theroad
roadfrom
fromhis
hisproperty
propertytoto
the Lake
lake was
was called
called Thompson
ThompsonRoad
Roaduntil
until1930
1930
when
when
it was
it was
changed
toThompson
ThompsonAvenue.
Avenue.Now
Nowonly
onlythe
thequarter-mile
quarter-mile
changed to
diagnonal
potion which
which connects
connectsNorwich,
Norwich,atatthe
theThompThompdiagnonal potion
son School,
son
School,to
toHoward,
Howard,retains
retainshis
hisname.
name.
Histories of Milwaukee, census
census and
andland
landrecords,
records,and
and
newspaper
newspaper accounts
accountsteil
tellus
usthat
thatJared
JaredThompson
Thompson
had
had
a a
variety of skills. During
years that
thathe
helived
livedin
in
During the
the 53 years
Milwaukee County he was
Milwaukee
was aa hardware
hardwarestore
storeowner,
owner,
preacher, farmer,
preacher,
farmer, politician
politician and public servant in a number
of roles.
roles.
AREA
IN 1991
AREA IN
'S1307
7L
HOWARD AVE
AVE
HOWARD AVE
HOWARD
AVE
Thompson
wasaatrustee
trusteeofofthe
thefirst
firstMethodist
MethodistEpiscopal
Episcopal
Thompson was
church in Milwaukee. When there
there was
wasaaproblem
problemraising
raising
money to
to pay
pay for
for aaminister,
minister,he
heserved
servedasas
congregation's
thethe
congregation's
preacher
from 1837
1837toto1839.
1839.During
Duringthis
thistime
timehe
hewas
waspromipromipreacher from
-3-
›.
' 4£
DENTON AVE
DENTON
AVE
0
O
He is credited
credited with
with opening
openingone
oneofofthe
thefirst,
first,ififnot
notthe
the
first, hardware store
first,
store in
in Milwaukee
Milwaukee in the
the late
late 1830's.
1830's.On
Onthe
the
1850 census,
1850
census,hehewas
was
listed
listed
as as
a farmer
a farmer
on his
on Land
his land
in the
in the
Town of Lake and,
and, in
in 1860,
1860,he
hewas
wascommended
commended
forfor
a fine
a fine
Stables
and
in in
potato crop.
crop. He
He kept
kept horses
horsesatatthe
theThompson
Thompson
Stables
and
1861,
offered aa"$50
"$50reward
rewardfor
forrecovery
recoveryofofaaspan
spanofofhorses
horses
1861, offered
recently stolen
stolen from
from his
his farm."
farm."
soe
p sOT‘
vA0t.49
NORWICH
NORWICH AVE
AVE
r
c
rn
1.0
.0
0
1:,
,,,,
( le4
9
e -..
es-9
*
Politically he
Politically
he was aa Whig,
Whig, until
until the
the Republican
RepublicanParty
Partywas
was
formed, when
when he
he ran
ranon
onthat
thatparty's
party'sslate.
slate.InIn1842,
1842,
hehe
was
was
elected
asaasupervisor
supervisorfor
forthe
theTown
TownofofLake
Lakeand
and
then
elected as
then
to to
thethe
state
state assembly
assemblyaafew
fewmonths
monthslater.
later.InInthe
the
1850s,
1850s,
he he
served
served
as as
Chairman
Chairman of
of the
the Town
Town Board,
Board, and
andby
byvirtue
virtueof
of that
thatPosiposition, automatically became
became aaMilwaukee
Milwaukee County
County supervisor.
supervisor.
defeated in
in another
another bid
bid to
to serve
serve in
in
That same year, he was defeated
the state assembly.
that to call him able and honest would "provoke a smile
that
from Barnum's hippopotamus."
Jared Thompson
In 1855, Jared
Thompson was
was elected as Justice of the
which included
included the
the responsibilities
responsibilities of
of
Peace, a position which
Milwaukee Sentinel
Sentinelprinted
printed
coroner. That same year, the Milwaukee
bodies that
that had
reports that
that he
he filed as coroner regarding bodies
washed up on shore. There were at least four bodies
recovered that summer, three of them from the wreck of
of the
the
"S.S. Sebastopol." All
All were
wereburied
buried in
inthe
theLake
LakeProtestant
Protestant
Cemetery, the incorporated name of the Thompson
which was
was on
on land
land that
that he
he had
had donated.
Cemetery which
proceedingswere
werebrought
broughtagainst
againstJared
JaredJr.
Jr.
Impeachment
I mpeachment proceedings
while he was
was aa court
court commissioner, a post he resigned.
school commissioner
commissioner he
he accused,
accused, and
and then denied accusing;
accusing,
City Treasurer
Treasurer of corruption and
the Milwaukee City
and stealing.
stealing.
He must have had supporters, though. In addition to being
elected District
District Attorney,
Attorney, he
he was
was elected
electedaaMilwaukee
Milwaukeealderalderman, even
even though
though he
he was
wastermed
termed"the
"the most
mostunpopular
unpopular man
man
on the Democratic ticket." He resigned this position, too.
Jared Jr.
Unlike his
his father
father in
in
Jared
Jr.died
died near
nearSt.
St. Francis
Francis in
in 1914.
1914. Unlike
so many ways,
ways, Jared
Jared Jr.
Jr. was
was laid to rest in Forest Home
while his
his father
father was
was buried
buried in
in Thompson
Thompson
Cemetery, while
Cemetery.
During the Civil War, several years after his wife
wife Frances
Frances
died, he sold most
most of
of his
hisland
land to
to Charles
Charles Tesch.
Tesch. From
From there,
there,
directories, he
he lived
lived in
in the
the
according to Milwaukee City
city directories,
Walker's Point area
life did
did not
not
Walker's
area of
of the city. Apparently city life
agree with him, because within a short time he moved
moved to
to the
the
Oak Creek where he was elected
elected Justice
Justice of
of the
the
Town of Oak
Peace. When he died in Oak Creek in
in 1890, he was described
as being
being "a
"a thoroughly honest
honest upright
upright man, and
and was
was greatly
greatly
who knew
knewhim."
him."
respected by all who
Others in the
Others
the Thompson
Thompson family
family were not so newsworthy.
Ten years after Jared Jr.'s
Jr.'stroubles
troublesas
as aa school
school teacher, his
niece, Ophelia
niece,
Ophelia Thompson, taught at the Thompson School,
which was also
also aa donation
donation of
of Thompson
Thompson Sr.
Sr. She
She was
was the
the
Hayden Thompson,
Thompson,Jared
Jared Jr.'s
Jr.'s older
older brother,
brother, a
daughter of Hayden
horticulturist in
horticulturist
in St.
St. Francis.
Francis. Another
Another brother,
brother,William,
William, was
was
a Civil War veteran
veteran who
who died
died in
in 1912
1912 in the Town of Lake.
The same could not
not be
be said
said for
for his
his son
son and
and namesake,
namesake,
Jared III,
Jared Jr.
Jr. (actually
(actually Jared
III, the
the father
father was
was a Junior).
Jared Thompson
Jared
Thompson provides
provides several
several examples
examples of how men
come to have
have places
places named
named after
after them. Thompson School
School
and Thompson Cemetery are
are named
named because
because of
of his philanlike many
many streets
streets in
in the
the area,
area,
thropy. Thompson Avenue, like
was named after the man who owned
owned land
land that
that an
an early road
road
aceither ran
ran through
through or
or was
was adjacent
adjacent to.
to. Ownership also acand Thompson,
counts for the names of the Thompson Place and
Stabtes:
Stables:
Jared Thompson Jr., in the index to
to the
the
The name, Jared
Milwaukee Sentinel,
Sentinel, located
located at
at the
the Milwaukee
MilwaukeePublic
Public
page stories
storiesduring
during February
February and
and
Library, leads to front page
March of
March
of 1858.
1858.
Jared Jr.,
Jared
Jr.,then
thenaa21-year-old
21-year-old teacher at the schoolhouse
schoolhouse
of the
the current
current Thompson
on the site of
Thompson School, was accused of
flogging one
onestudent
student and
and knocking
knocking out
out another
another student's
student's
flogging
He didn't
didn't deny either charge but responded that he
teeth. He
hadn't knocked
his
hadn't
knocked out the student's
student's teeth
teeth by stomping on his
face as alleged.
alleged. He
Healso
alsodenied
deniedclaims
claimsthat
thathe
hehad
hadleft
leftindenindenface from
from the
the nails
nails on
on the
the heel
heel of
of
tations on Daniel Razey's face
his boots.
Thompson Corners, Thompson Station, and Thompson
were probably
probably the result of
Road (Kinnickinnic) were
Thompson's serendipity.
serendipity. While he did select land that
that was
accessible (via
(viathe
theIndian
Indian trail)
trail) there
there was
was no
no way
waythat
that he
he
accessible
have known
known that
that aa railroad
railroad line
line would
would intersect
intersectthe
the
could have
road on his land. If St.
St. Francis
Francis Seminary
Seminary hadn't
hadn't been
been
located where it was, it is quite possible that we would still
be using these terms
terms today and that
that we
we could, in fact, be
the City
City of
of Thompson
ThompsonCorners.
Corners.
residents of the
***
Thanks to Ellen Baehr for research
research assistance
assistance for this
series of articles.
He proclaimed that Norman Razey deserved
deserved the
the beating
beating
for making a hole
hole in
in his
his desk
deskand
and that
that Norman's
Norman's brother,
brother,
Daniel, shouldn't
shouldn't have interfered. Jared
Jared Jr.
Daniel,
Jr.was
was compelled
compelled
to remove Daniel from the school by physical means and
of Daniel's
Daniel's teeth
teeth were
were lost
lost in
in the
the process.
process.Jared
Jared Jr.,
several of
in a wordiness that may have been an indication of
of his
his
future
future in
in law and
and politics,
politics, said, "By what process of
teeth were
were made
made to
to disappear,
disappear, II am
am entirely
entirely
elimination his teeth
unadvised."
RE-CAP OF JANUARY 28TH
ANNUAL MEETING
Jury, apparently believers in corporal punishment,
The jury,
of "intent
"intent to maim."
maim." They
They
acquitted Jared Jr.
Jr. of
of the charge of
may have
have felt
feltthat
that Jared
Jared Jr. was adequately
adequately punished
punished the
the
was beaten
beaten by
by friends
friends and
and
day after the incident, when he was
relatives of the
the Razeys
Razeys before
before they
theyran
ran off
offinto
intothe
the tamarack
tamarack
school.
swamp outside of the school.
witnessed aa
One of the largest crowds in recent memory witnessed
marvelous "Christmas
"Christmas in January"
January" Program
marvelous
Program given
given by
Milwaukee Reflections,
Reflections, Ltd.,
Ltd., tracing the history of
Milwaukee
of Santa
Santa
of the
the program
program told the story of
of aa local
local
Claus. The final act of
favorite, Billie the
Christmas favorite,
the Brownie,
Brownie, whose
whose radio
radio antics
every Christmas
Christmas season
season
enthralled Milwaukee youngsters every
from 1931
1931 to
to 1955.
1955.Prior
Priorto
tothe
theprogram,
program, the
the usual
usual potluck
potluck
supper was enjoyed, followed
followed by
by the
the election
electionof
ofnew
newboard
board
supper
member Ed
member
Wagner to a two-year
Ed Wagner
two-year term
term created by a vacancy,
vacancy,
re-election of
of Ron Tessmer,
Tessmer, Diane
Diane Johnston
Johnston and
and the re-election
Chris
Chris Barney
Barney to full three-year terms. Many items were
discussed, including cataloging, displays, and
and genealogy.
genealogy.
Other news stories show
show that
that Jared Jr.
Other
Jr. was
was involved
involved in
controversy throughout his life as
as aa lawyer,
lawyer, aa politician
politicianand
and
appointee. As
As an
an attorney
attorney during
during the Civil
as a political appointee.
ofWar, Jared
Jared Jr.
Jr. was
was described as a "shyster" by military ofwho also
alsosaid
saidthat
that statements
statementsthat
that he
he made
madewere
were
ficers who
"utterly false."
"utterly
false." As a district attorney he was
was called
called"utterly
"utterly
incompetent" by
incompetent"
by the
the Milwaukee Sentinel. The police
police departdepartment expressed similar
similar opinions.
opinions. The
The Sentinel
Sentinelfurther
further said
said
-4-
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE REPORTS
REPORTS
TRIPS —
— RON
RON TESSMER
TESSMER
• TOURS AND TRIPS
A combination
tour
and
trip
is being
planned
for Saturcombination tour
and
trip
is being
planned
for Saturday, May
May 11 1th,
1 th,which
which
would
include
a morning
day,
would
include
a morning
tour tour
of of
the Frank
FrankLupo
Lupoand
and
John's
caretaker
homes
the
St.St.
John's
caretaker
homes
in St.in St.
Francis,followed
Francis,
followed
byby
anan
on-your-own
on-your-own
lunch,
lunch,
and conand concluding
withan
anafternoon
afternoon
trip
Waukesha
to tour
cluding with
trip
to to
Waukesha
to tour
that that
county'shistorical
historical
museum.
purpose
the
county's
museum.
TheThe
purpose
of theof
trip
is trip
to is to
observe
the
Waukesha
Society
has utilized
their their
observehow
how
the
Waukesha
Society
has utilized
facility. Our
facility.
Ourboard
boardhas
has
decided
decided
to extend
to extend
the trip
the Invitatrip invitation to
tion
tothe
thegeneral
general
membership
membership
in order
in order
to encourage
to encourage
volunteerismdue
due
increased
responsibility
incurred
volunteerism
toto
thethe
increased
responsibility
incurred
by having
havingaapermanent
permanent
facility.
If you
or anyone
by
facility.
If you
or anyone
you you
know
isinterested
interested
this
special
please
call Ron
know is
in in
this
special
trip, trip,
please
call Ron
Tessmer
Tessmer atat744-0653.
744-0653.
Walter
Walter Grebe
Grebe(right)
(right)showing
showing
offoff
Grebe
Grebe
Bakeries'
Bakeries'
first first
revolving
revolving
MARGE TESSMER
• DISPLAYS — MARGE
oven
oven in
in 1941.
1941.
Our Society
Our
Societyisisinterested
interested
in acquiring
in acquiring
artifacts
artifacts
— —
uniforms, tools,
photographs
and related
items items
—
uniforms,
tools,letters,
letters,
photographs
and related
—
from
employees
families
of employees
from employees
or or
thethe
families
of employees
who who
which
formerly
workedat
atthe
theLakeside
Lakeside
Power
Plant,
which
formerly worked
Power
Plant,
closed
30,30,
1983,
andand
has has
beenbeen
in thein
process
of
closedSeptember
September
1983,
the process
of
demolitionsince
demolition
since
1986.
1986.
The
The
purpose
purpose
of acquiring
of acquiring
the artithe artifacts
facts isistotosetset
upup
a public
a public
display
display
of theofitems,
the items,
possibly
possibly
at
at
the St.
St. Francis
FrancisLibrary.
Library.The
The
display
display
willwill
alsoalso
include
include
photos
the
memorable
demolition
of Lakeside's
photos ofofthe
memorable
demolition
of Lakeside's
land- landmark
smokestacks
in July
1988.
If you
or someone
mark smokestacks
in July
1988.
If you
or someone
you you
know
wouldlike
liketotoloan
loan
donate
artifacts
for this
know would
oror
donate
artifacts
for this
Arrangedisplay,please
please
call
Marge
Tessmer
at 744-0653.
Arrangedisplay,
call
Marge
Tessmer
at 744-0653.
•
r^ssael• mentscan
canbebe
made
to pick
up display
- let Marge
ments
made
to pick
up display
itemsitems
- let Marge
Bakery
on on
East
Bolivar
Avenue,
The original
originalGrebe's
Grebe's"Cottage"
"Cottage"
Bakery
East
Bolivar
Avenue,
know when
whenyou
youcall
call
- and
your
cooperation
and interest The
know
- and
your
cooperation
and interest
shown here
herein
inthe
the1950s.
1950s.
are encouraged
are
encouraged
and
and
appreciated.
appreciated.
Suggestions
Suggestions
for future
for futureshown
(Roth photos counes1
courtesy Grehe's
(,rebe's Bakeries)
Hakenes)
displays
displays are
are
always
always
encouraged!
encouraged!
In the
described
her her
original
idea,idea,
whichwhich
the pamphlet,
pamphlet,Irene
Irene
described
original
was "TO
"TO BAKE
BAKE LIKE
LIKE THE HOUSEWIFE,"
thevery
very
was
HOUSEWIFE," using
using the
best
bestingredients
ingredients
and
and
methods
methods
to give
to give
the customer
the customer
a
a
deliciousvariety
delicious
variety
of of
baked
baked
goods.
goods.
She also
Shegave
alsocredit
gave to
credit to
"The Goodness
"The
Goodness
ofof
God"
God"
forfor
herher
success.
success.
Reading
Reading
the pamthe pamphlet
fascinated
me
so
much
so
that
I
wanted
to
meet
this
phlet
fascinated
me
so
much
so
that
I
wanted
to
meet
this
OUR FAMILY
FAMILY TIES:
TIES:
wonderful
wonderful woman.
woman.lt It
just
just
happened
happened
one one
nightnight
soon soon
after the
after the
meetingwith
meeting
withBill
Billthe
the
Barber,
Barber,
in fall
in fall
1987,
1987,
I was
I was
renting
renting
a
a
An
Grebe,
founder
of the
Grebe
An interview
interviewwith
withIrene
Irene
Grebe,
founder
of the
Grebe
movie
at
Bucky's
Super
Video,
next
to
the
Bay
View/St.
movie
at
Bucky's
Super
Video,
next
to
the
Bay
View/St.
Bakeries,
Offices,
5132-5202
West
Bakeries, at
atthe
theGrebe
GrebeCorporate
Corporate
Offices,
5132-5202
West
FrancisPost
Francis
Post
Office
Office
onon
East
East
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Avenue,
Avenue,
near near
my my
Lincoln
Lincoln Avenue,
Avenue,West
WestAllis,
Alks,
onon
Monday,
Monday,
March
March
7, 1988
7, 1988
to to
thethe
cashier
about
the old
Town
home, and
andI Iwas
wastalking
talking
cashier
about
the
old Town
home,
Lake. lt
It turned
turnedout
outthat
that
"Bucky's"
wife
Irene's
of Lake.
"Bucky's"
wife
waswas
Irene's
by Chris
ChrisBarney
Barney
granddaughter.
After
getting
(the
granddaughter's)
granddaughter.
After
getting
herher
(the
granddaughter's)
The idea
ideaof
ofan
aninterview
interviewwith
with
"Irene,"
which
I grew
I grew
to to
"Irene,"
which
phonenumber,
number,I called
I called
and
explained
my intention
of doing
and
explained
my intention
of doing
phone
call
herduring
duringour
our
three-year
friendship,
came
call her
three-year
friendship,
came
aboutabout
as a as a
an
I was
able
to speak
to Irene,
who who
an interview.
interview.Eventually
Eventually
I was
able
to speak
to Irene,
I tookIatook
couple
result
ofan
anoutdoor
outdoor
photo
session
in which
a couple
result of
photo
session
in which
was unable
unabletoto
arrange
a meeting
me until
the new
was
arrange
a meeting
withwith
me until
after after
the new
first
Grebe
store
at 215
Bolivar
of pictures
picturesofofthe
the
first
Grebe
store
at East
215 East
Bolivar
year because
because
a hip
problem
her holiday
activities
at
year
ofof
a hip
problem
and and
her holiday
activities
at
Avenue,
Avenue, and
andthen
then
stopped
stopped
in to
inchat
to chat
withwith
the current
the current
pro- proSan Camillo,
San
Camillo,aasenior
senior
living
living
center
center
nearnear
the Milwaukee
the Milwaukee
prietor,
Bill Martin,
Martin,who
whohas
hasoperated
operated
a barber
in the
prietor, Bill
a barber
shopshop
in the
CountyZoo.
Zoo.
County
cottagesince
since
1971.
an pamphlet
old pamphlet
from
the 1950s
cottage
1971.
HeHe
hadhad
an old
from the
1950s
Finally aa meeting
meetingwas
was
arranged.
arranged.
Irene's
Irene's
grandson,
grandson,
Jim Jim
called"The
called
"TheGrebe
Grebe
Story,"
Story,"
which
which
he graciously
he graciously
allowed
allowed
me me Finally
Jr., picked
pickedher
herup,
up,
and
at Grebe
the Grebe
offices
in West
and
wewe
metmet
at the
offices
in West
to copy.
copy.In
Inthe
thetext,
text,
Irene
talked
about
bakery's
humble Jr.,
to
Irene
talked
about
the the
bakery's
humble
Allis. With
With me
mewas
wasa alongtime
longtime
friend
friend
andand
co-worker,
co-worker,
RalphRalph
beginnings
the
kitchen
of her
home
at 4525
beginnings inin
the
kitchen
of her
home
at 4525
SouthSouth
AustinAustinAllis.
Clark, who
whotook
tooksome
some
wonderful
photographs
during
wonderful
photographs
during
the the
Street,Town
Street,
TownofofLake,
Lake,
inin
1940,
1940,
which
which
soon
soon
expanded
expanded
to their
to theirClark,
thethe
bakery
retail
store
to her
interview.As
Aswe
wewalked
walkedfrom
from
bakery
retail
store
to her
front
finally
into
Edward
Kapitzke's
beer beer interview.
front bedroom
bedroomand
and
finally
into
Edward
Kapitzke's
office,
sheshe
clutched
my arm
about about
son,Jim
JimSr.'s,
Sr.'s,
office,
clutched
my and
armtalked
and talked
depot
depot on
onBolivar
Bolivar
when
when
he he
moved
moved
to new
to new
quarters
quarters
at 3969
at 3969son,
"I don't
from
a fractured
hip;hip;
the difficulty
difficultyof
ofrecovering
recovering
from
a fractured
"I don't
South
- still
in in
business
therethere
today,today,
under underthe
SouthHowell
HowellAvenue
Avenue
- still
business
I canI can
still walk
- and - and
get around
aroundasasquick
quick
I used
still walk
get
asas
I used
to, to,
but but
different
different management.
management.
- 55--
them to bake bread in, but the problem was
was that
that bread was
was
supposed to be baked in one-pound loaves
loaves at
at that time, and
with the tins I was
was using,
using, my
mybread
bread came
came out
out to
tobe
beaapound
pound
and a quarter.
quarter. The
The funny
funny thing
thing was,
was, the health inspectors
never gave
gave me
me aa hard
hard time about it. I was
was very
very thankful
thankful for
for
that, and
and as
as soon as I got into the cottage
cottage the
the first
first thing
thing II
started buying was
was regular
regular bread
bread pans!"
pans!"
that's
that's important."
important."Once
Onceinside
insidethe
the office,
office, Irene got down to
business - but in a lighthearted way that
that left
left you waiting for
the next story.
Irene Ingram,
Ingram, as
as she
she was known before her
her marriage to
Walter Grebe
Grebe -- famous in his own right as a musician with
the Journal and
and with "Heinie's Grenadiers"
Grenadiers" in
in the
the 1920s
1920s
and 30s - was born April 24, 1901 and
and grew up in Lebanon,
Lebanon,
Nebraska, where her father ran
ran aa grocery
grocery store.
store. She
She related
related
that she learned a lot about business practices and how to
deal with people
people from
from that
that early experience.
experience. After
After high
high
school, Irene
in aa one-room
one-room schoolhouse
schoolhouse before joinIrene taught
taught in
ing an all-girl band and touring
touring the
the country,
country, playing
playing saxophone and piano. While on
on the
the road,
road, she
she met
met "Wally"
"Wally" -also
touring with a different band. Irene fondly remembers,
remembers,
"Wally played with the Duncan Sisters show
show and
and the
the Joe
Joe
Thomas sextet at the Rialto in New
New York
York City.
City. II guess
guessII was
was
really taken with him after he played, "What'll
"What'll II Do
Do When
You're Gone Away" for me. After we
we were
were married
married in
Greenwich, Connecticut, we
we continued
continued touring
touring for a while
and then came back and moved into a furnished apartment
apartment
in Wauwatosa, but
but Wally
Wally liked
liked Town
Town of Lake, so we moved
moved
there and
and built
built our
ourhome
home on
on Austin
Austin Street
Street (in
(in 1934).
1934). A few
few
years later, Wally got a terrible strep infection which afaffected his
his nervous
nervous system,
system,and
and he
hewasn't
wasn't able
able to
toperform
perform
after that. That
That really
really bothered him, because he
he was
was an
an exexcellent musician -- II was
was proud
proud of him."
him."
Irene also spoke of the very first day of business in the
cottage, in
cottage,
in early
early 1941:
1941:"I
"I had
had aa 'Bob
'Bob Evans'
Evans' uniform
uniform to
wear on that first
first day
day -- I was scared to death. II was so scared
that I said the Lord's Prayer
Prayer all
all the way to work; I said,
said, Not
Not
it. II was
was
meant it.
my will
will but
but Thine be done,
done, and
and II really meant
downstairs cooking and
and baking from 4 a.m. until early
afternoon, then II got cleaned up and
and into
into my
my uniform
uniform -- we
we
were only
only open
open from
from 22 to
to 66 p.m.
p.m.that
that first
first day.
day. II came
came
upstairs and
and looked
looked out and saw people
people lined
lined up
up for
for aa block
block
on Bolivar Avenue, all the way
way to
to Austin.
Austin. II thought, oh my
God, there's been an accident on my opening
opening day!
day! That's
That's
when I looked a little closer
closer and
and realized
realized they
they were
were all
all lined
lined
up at my front
front steps.
steps. We totally sold out that day - I was so
surprised and happy!"
Another obstacle to overcome
overcome was
was the
the onset
onset of
ofWorld
World
War II
II within nine months of
of the
the bakery's
bakery's opening.
opening. Irene
Irene
talked about a big problem: "One of the
the hardest
hardest items
items to
to get
get
was sugar. Not
Not knowing
knowing about
about how
howto
toorder
order rations,
rations, II didn't
didn't
order enough at first, and then I had to plead with
with the
the ration
ration
board
to get enough to keep up with business demand. I got
board to
a lot of help from
from different people and
and business acquaintances at first. Quite a few small businesses
businesses went
went under
under in
in
the-ones-who-sta-yed-did-a
t he-ones-who- stayed-did- a
:-he-earl-y
-he-early-mont-hs-of-the—war-,but,-m on ths-ol-the---war-,butwar
lot of
of business.
business.Mr.
Mr. Meurer
Meurer started
started his bakery
bakery business
business
about the same time as mine, and he was able to survive,
survive, too
too
- we
we helped
helped each
eachother
other out."
out."
After that, Irene wanted to do something to
to provide
provide extra
extra
income for the household. In 1939, she
she started
started baking
baking goods
for the Burdick School
School PTA.
PTA.Her
Herbread,
bread, butter
butter horns
horns and
other-bakery-were-so-popularot her-baker-y,-were-so-popularthat,fr4ends-and-neighbars.
at,friends-and-neighbozs- ooff
fered to pay her to bake them. This was the unofficial beginbeginning of her
her long
long and
and successful
successfulbaking
bakingcareer.
career.In
Inaddition
addition to
to
her baking, she also assisted
assisted and
and coordinated
coordinated the annual
Burdick School Carnival. She recalled, "I was good friends
with Tony Erickson, who
who led
led the
the Burdick
Burdick Grade
Grade School
School
Band, and I would help organize the fund raisers
raisers -- we had a
fortune teller one
one year,
year, and
and another
another year
year an
an auction;
auction; he
he had
had
prizes donated from Cudahy Packing
Packing Company
Company and
and Lou
Lou
Fritzel's. I remember the first year a man named Mr. Hemke
Hemke
said to me, 'You
`You come
comefrom
fromaa small
smalltown,
town,don't
don't you?'
you?' I
said, Yes,
Yes, and
and I'm glad I did. He said, 'Well, we do things
differently in the city.'
city.' II said,
said, Well
Well this
this is
is Town
Town of Lake,
isn't it?
it? He still insisted our ideas for the carnival would
would
never go over. Well,
years - the
Well, II ran
ran the carnival for three years
first year we raised $500; by
by the
the third
third year we raised almost
$1000.
$1000. We
We were
wereable
ableto
tobuy
buyaa speaker
speaker system
systemand
and band
band
uniforms for the school
school out
out of
of that
that money.
money.After
Afterthat
that third
third
year, we had a meeting of
of local
local PTA
PTA Presidents.
Presidents. The
The mornmorning after that
that the
the Sentinel
Sentinel lauded
lauded me
me as `. . . one PTA
PTA PresiPresident who has a different problem than all the rest - how to
to
spend
spend money!' They write a
a very
very nice
nice article
article about
about me."
me."
Not long
long after
after the war ended, in March 1947, the
Transport Company
Company ended
ended streetcar
streetcar service
service to Bolivar
Transport
Avenue,
Avenue, cutting
cutting back to Howard Avenue. The
The bus
bus service
service
which replaced it whisked
whisked by
by Irene's
Irene's bakery.
bakery. "I lost a lot of
of
business
business when
whenthat
that happened,"
happened," explained
explainedIrene.
Irene."I
"I had
had to
to
think of something to get my
think
my customers
customers back,
back, so
so II thought
thought
putting something attractive in my front bay windows
windows
would attract attention. Sure enough, shortly after that a
bus pulled up and the driver came in and said, 'We
`We were
were taktaking bets about what was in
in your
your window.'
window.' II said,
said, why
whythat's
that's
pfefferneuse - here, have a bag. Anyone else
else in
in the
the bus
bus want
want
some? I1 ended
ended up
up selling
selling aa lot
lot of
ofpfefferneuse
pfefferneusethat
that way,
way, but
but
it still wasn't enough to offset
offset the
the business
business loss,
loss,and
andII ended
ended
up renting the store on Howard and
and Howell"
Howell" (at 116 West
West
Howard
Howard Avenue).
The next generation to enter the baking field was
was son
son
Jim. Having family experience
experience in
in the
the baking
baking field,
field, he
he ended
ended
up in charge of all
all baking
baking and
and mess
mess duties
duties at
at the
the Maine
Maine airairbase where he was
was stationed
stationed while
while in
in the
the service
servicein
inthe
theearly
early
1950s.
1950s. By
Bythe
thetime
timehe
hereturned
returned from
from active
activeduty
dutythere
therewere
were
several Grebe outlet stores
stores and
and a number of additions to the
the
Bolivar Avenue
Avenue store,
store, warehouse
warehouse and
and bakery, as well as
wholesale
wholesale bakery
bakery sales
salesto
tosupermarkets.
supermarkets. It
lt was
was during
during this
period that
that young
young Jim
Jim Look
took over
over as
as General
General Manager
Manager of
Production. Jim would recall in
in later
later years,
years, "Mom
"Mom went
went
from being a baker to being a business
business owner."
owner."
While baking out of
of her
her home
home that
that first
first year, Irene recallrecalled how she
she had
had to improvise while
while baking:
baking: "I was good
friends with Gene Warnimont,
Warnimont, who was County Supervisor
for Town of
of Lake,
Lake, and
and I used to deliver
deliver bakery
bakery to the
restaurant
restaurant at
at the
the County
County Airport
Airport (on
(on East
East Layton Avenue).
Avenue).
When I first started
started baking,
baking, II would
would buy
buy the
the used
used jellied
jellied beef
and veal tins for two cents each
each from
from the small grocery
grocery on
on
Bolivar near Burdick
Burdick School.
School. I would clean them and use
-66
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• .
Irene 'Sson,
Irene's
son, Jim, shown
shownin
infront
front of
of the
thefamily
familyhome
homeinin1940,
1940,
is is
now
now
Grebe Bakery
Bakerv president
presidentand
andCEO.
CEO.
Grebe
(Courlesy. Grebe
GreheBakeries)
Bakenev
(Courlest
Still, Irene
Still,
Irene could
couldnot
notresist
resistbeing
being
involved
involved
in in
thethe
people
people
she
spoke
happy worker,"'
spoke
Dart
gart of the
the business:
business:"I"1
was
was - aa happy
'worker,"she
.ii
ncerely. "I
"I really
reallyloved
lovedmy
my
work;
I remember
standing
3incerely.
work;
I remember
standing
in in
the bakery
bakerylate
lateatatnight
night
and
saying,
God,
I thank
the
and
saying,
God,
I thank
you,you,
for for
selling
such
loyal
employees.
selling my
mybakery
bakeryout,
out,ororfor
forhaving
having
such
loyal
employees.
Many of
of them
themworked
workedsix
sixororseven
seven
days
a week
Many
days
a week
forfor
meme
andand
never
complained,and
andquite
quite
few
worked
until
never complained,
a afew
worked
forfor
meme
until
theythey
died. II used
died.
usedto
togive
givehigh
high
school
school
students
students
their
their
firstfirst
job.job.
I I
would tell
getting
toptop
wages
butbut
you're
get-getwould
teilthem,
them,you're
you'renot
not
getting
wages
you're
ting something
somethingmore
morevaluable
valuable
than
that
- work
experience
ting
than
that
- work
experience
which
will help
helpyou
youto
tobe
beaagood
goodworker
worker
wherever
you
which will
wherever
you
go.go.
And II would
And
wouldreassure
reassuretheir
their
parents
parents
thatthat
Grebe's
Grebe's
waswas
a good
a good
place
towork,
work,with
withclean
clean
surroundings
no swearing."
place to
surroundings
andand
no swearing."
about1950,
1950,
when
photo
was at
taken
at thebakery,
cottage bakery,
By about
when
this this
photo
was taken
the cottage
Jimand
andhishis
mother
(at left)
worked
together
closely
in daily bakery
Jim
mother
(at left)
worked
together
closely in
daily bakery
operations.
operations.
11 hinies
hlW.
Wolleeturn of
Grebel
(Collection
James Grebel
original
cottagestore
storeon
onBolivar
Bolivar
Avenue
1957
and
original cottage
Avenue
in in
1957
and
in in
November
Novemberof
ofthat
thatyear
yearthe
the
corporate
corporate
headquarters
headquarters
waswas
movmoved to
to its
its present
presentlocation
locationininWest
West
Allis.
Closing
cottage
Allis.
Closing
thethe
cottage
was
was an
an emotional
emotionalexperience
experience
forfor
Irene:
Irene:
"I remember
"I remember
the the
first
first time
timeIIwent
wentback
back
after
after
it closed
it closed
- I -just
I just
cried
cried
and and
cried.
cried.
The walls
wallsjust
justechoed
echoedwith
with
the
footsteps
memories
of all
The
the
footsteps
andand
memories
of all
the people
peopleIIworked
workedwith
with
there.
Our
work
paid
every
the
there.
Our
work
paid
for for
every
nail nail
and board
boardin
inthat
thatplace."
place."
The
cottage
adjoining
and
The
cottage
andand
adjoining
warehouse
aretotothis
thisday
day
owned
Grebe
family,
warehouse are
owned
byby
thethe
Grebe
family,
withwith
the warehouse
warehousestill
stillused
usedfor
for
storage
storage
byby
thethe
bakery.
bakery.
Irene
Irene always
alwaystried
triedtotoguide
guide
her
her
employees
employees
by by
example
example
-even when
whenshe
shewasn't
wasn'tprepared
prepared
She
recalled,
-even
to.to.
She
recalled,
"I "1
remember
rememberwhen
whenwe
weopened
opened
upup
ourour
South
South
13th
13th
Street
Street
store.
store.
I I
was dressed
was
dressedin
inaasuit
suitfrom
from
Lou
Lou
Fritzel's,
Fritzel's,
andand
I was
I was
wearing
wearing
a a
corsage.
Therewas
wasaalong
longline
lineofof
people
waiting,
they
corsage. There
people
waiting,
andand
they
streamedin
inwhen
whenwe
weopened.
opened.
We
had
bathrooms
in the
streamed
We
had
bathrooms
in the
backback
that
wereused
usedby
byworkers
workers
and
business
people,
that were
and
business
people,
andand
I I
wanted them
themto
tobe
beclean
cleanfor
for
the
customers.
1 asked
wanted
the
customers.
I asked
oneone
of of
my new
new girls
girlsto
togo
goclean
cleanthem
them
up.
up.
She
She
said,
said,
'Mrs.
`Mrs.
Grebe,
Grebe,
you
hiredme
meto
todo
dosales
sales
work
I don't
clean
bathrooms.'
you hired
work
- I-don't
clean
bathrooms.'
I I
took
took off
offmy
mymatching
matchingblack
black
apron
apron
andand
handed
handed
it toitthe
to girl
the girl
and
said,Here's
Here'smy
myapron
apron
- now,
you
greet
and II said,
- now,
you
go go
outout
andand
greet
and and
serve
mycustomers,
customers,and
anddodo
the
doing,
serve my
the
jobjob
I'mI'm
doing,
andand
youyou
bet-betdoit,
ter do
it,dammit!
dammfit!
clean
bathrooms!
I did.
Well,
ter
I'llI'II
clean
thethe
bathrooms!
AndAnd
I did.
Well,
all the
the other
othergirls
girlsinin
the
store
saw
what
happened,
I
all
the
store
saw
what
happened,
and and
I
never had
had to
toclean
cleanthose
thosebathrooms
bathrooms
again!
That
little
never
again!
That
little
newnew
girl didn't
didn'tlast
lastlong
long
there,
either."
girl
there,
either."
Followinghis
hisillness
illnessand
and
retirement
from
performing,
Following
retirement
from
performing,
Walter
Grebetook
tookanan
active
part
in the
bakery,
assisted
Walter Grebe
active
part
in the
bakery,
and and
assisted
in areas
areas such
suchas
asbuilding
building
and
and
designing
designing
in in
addition
addition
to to
negotiating
onnew
newstore
store
rentals
and
purchases.
Irene
recallnegotiating on
rentals
and
purchases.
Irene
recalled her
her husband's
husband'sdifficulty
difficulty
adjusting
adjusting
to atosecondary
a secondary
position
position
family finances:
finances:"Wally
"Wallymissed
missed
his
music
much
in family
his
music
so so
much
- I- I
tried to
to get
gethim
himhis
hisown
ownmusic
musicstore
store
Howell
Avenue
tried
onon
Howell
Avenue
to to
teach
butbut
it didn't
work
out.out.
It was
a biga big
teach the
theyoung
youngstudents,
students,
it didn't
work
lt was
disappointment not
disappointment
nottotobe
beplaying
playing
anymore.
anymore.
HeHe
played
played
solos
solos
Finally,
Finally, dwindling
dwindlingbusiness
businessnecessitated
necessitated
closing
closing
thethe
- 7.7.
nowCompany
Company
Vice
President,
Balistreri,
and isisnow
Vice
President,
and and
RosieRosie
Balistreri,
for the
theStreetcar
StreetcarCompany
Company
Band
nine
years
straight,
Band
forfor
nine
years
straight,
and and and
who,
who, since
sincebeginning
beginning
herher
Grebe
Grebe
employ
employ
in 1974,
in 1974,
has risen
hastorisen to
was with
withthe
theJournal
Journal
Company
years."
was
Company
14 14
years."
the
the responsible
responsible
position
position
of Manager
of Manager
of Personnel
of Personnel
and Purand PurAfter being
beingtogether
together
years,
husband's
unexpected
4141
years,
herher
husband's
unexpected
chasing
addition
duties
as Chief
Secretary.
chasing ininaddition
to to
herher
duties
as Chief
Secretary.
Both Both
passing
passing hit
hitIrene
Ireneparticularly
particularly
hard.
hard.
He He
waswas
actually
actually
pro- prosay
say that
thatIrene
Irenestill
still
comes
comes
by to
byvisit
to visit
and and
checkcheck
up onup
bakery
on bakery
nounced
dead
to the
hospital
on Christmas
nounced dead
onon
thethe
wayway
to the
hospital
on Christmas
Eve, Eve,
operations
from
time
time.
In addition,
she keeps
operations from
time
to to
time.
In addition,
she keeps
a closea close
1966, and
andthen
thenrevived.
revived.
"The
first
thing
he after
did after
he came
"The
first
thing
he did
he came
eye
onher
herdaughter,
daughter,
Jane's,
"Country
Maid"
salad
eye on
Jane's,
"Country
Maid"
salad
to
wasask
askfor
fora acigarette,"
cigarette,"
recalled
Irene.
"Then
he had
to was
recalled
Irene.
"Then
he had
business,
which
was
spun
off from
the Grebe
delicatessen
business, which
was
spun
off from
the Grebe
delicatessen
another
spelland
and
they
brought
again.
had been
another speil
they
brought
himhim
backback
again.
I had Ibeen
branch
branch several
several
years
years
ago.
ago.
SheShe
remains
remains
Chairman
Chairman
of the of the
busy
busy trying
tryingtotomake
make
Christmas
Christmas
dinner
dinner
and and
had to
had
stop
towhat
stop what
Board of
Board
ofGrebe's
Grebe's
Bakery,
Bakery,
Inc.,
Inc.,
a position
a position
she has
sheheld
hassince
held since
I1was
calledfor
forhelp
help
with
dinner
after
was doing.
doing. IIcalled
with
dinner
after
that.that.
The The
next next
1967,
butin
inthe
thehearts
hearts
countless
number
of
1967, but
of of
thethe
countless
number
of
day,
thefamily
familywas
was
over
again,
Wally
allowed
to
day, the
over
again,
andand
Wally
was was
allowed
to
customers, friends,
business
associates,
co-workers
and her and her
customers,
friends,
business
associates,
co-workers
come
home.I Iremember
remember
Jim
carrying
the house.
I
come home.
Jim
carrying
himhim
into into
the house.
I
family,
shewill
willnot
notbebe
thought
of primarily
for business.
her business.
family, she
thought
of primarily
for her
don't
thinkhe
hewas
was
home
hour
when
he another
had another
don't think
home
an an
hour
when
he had
at- atRather,
shewill
willbebe
lovingly
acknowledged
a strong,
Rather, she
lovingly
acknowledged
as a as
strong,
yet yet
tack.
He died
diedfor
forreal
realthat
that
time.
I knew
in the
ambulance.
tack. He
time.
I knew
it init the
ambulance.
compassionate,
Christian
woman
the Town
of Lake,
compassionate, Christian
woman
fromfrom
the Town
of Lake,
I remember
thatlater
later
everyone
sitting
at home
remember that
everyone
waswas
justjust
sitting
at home
who
alwaysgave
gave
thanks
to the
in whom
she steadfastly
who always
thanks
to the
LordLord
in whom
she steadfastly
when 1I called
when
calledfrom
fromthe
thehospital,
hospital,
andand
I told
I told
my Jim
my Jim
to lettothe
let the
placed
herfaith,
faith,and
and
who,
turn,
to share
placed her
who,
in in
turn,
diddid
her her
bestbest
to share
that that
grandchildren open
grandchildren
open
their
their
Christmas
Christmas
presents,
presents,
because
because
that's that's
God-given
goodness
all those
whose
lives
she touched
God-given goodness
withwith
all those
whose
lives she
touched
the way
the
wayGrandpa
Grandpa(Walter)
(Walter)would
would
have
have
wanted
wanted
it." it."
-a special
specialgoodness
goodness
which
has typified
the Grebe
which
has typified
the Grebe
baking baking
tradition for
fornearly
nearlya ahalf
half
century.
century.
After that,
that,Irene
Irenesaid
said
she
she
gotgot
sicksick
for afor
while
a while
herself,
herself,
and and tradition
didn't
feelquite
quitethe
the
same
after
husband's
didn't feel
same
after
herher
husband's
death.death.
She She
recalled,
recalled, "The
"Thefollowing
following
year,
year,
we we
were
were
going
going
to have
to have
Christmas
myhouse
house
always
did,atbut
the last
Christmas atatmy
justjust
likelike
we we
always
did, but
theatlast
PROJECTS IN
IN PROGRESS
PROGRESS
minute
Jimcalled
called
me
and
said,
'Mom,
I just
minute Jim
me
and
said,
`Mom,
I just
can'tcan't
do itdo
thisit this PROJECTS
year.',
year.', so
soI Iwas
wasleft
left
with
with
allall
thethe
Christmas
Christmas
decorations
decorations
to
to
boardhas
hasbeen
been
thoughtfully
weighing
the responthoughtfully
weighing
the respon• Our board
look
look at."
at."The
Theold
old
house
house
on on
Austin
Austin
was was
sold to
sold
a family
to a family
sibilities
possibly
having
to operate
and/or
maintain
sibilities ofofpossibly
having
to operate
and/or
maintain
friend,
friend, Jack
JackBrownell,
Brownell,
a few
a few
years
years
later
later
andand
a year
a year
or two
or two
two separate
facilities
forfor
storage,
display
and meetings
two
separate
facilities
storage,
display
and meetings
after
that(about
(about1972),
1972),
she
finally
retired
from
after that
she
finally
retired
from
whatwhat
was was
St. John's
John'sSchool
School
forfor
thethe
Lupo home
home and
andthe
theSt.
-the Frank Lupo
supposed
have
been
a short-term
way
to make
supposed toto
have
been
a short-term
way to
make
moneymoney
caretaker's home.
home.
Any
Any
Input
input
from
from
thethe
general
general
Deaf
Deaf caretaker's
-after
32years
yearsofof
being
of the
successful
bakeries
-after 32
being
oneone
of the
mostmost
successful
bakeries
_member
. member
nembe_r_s_hip
is we1comed
call any
call any_
board
nembe.rship is welcomed
—
. board
th-emo
ih -- th—e— Milviläuk
mo-St
§t
afea -, and easily besing thz
interested.
interested.
recognizable
face
Milwaukee
baking
history.
recognizable face
in in
Milwaukee
baking
history.
IreneIrene
andremoval
removal
asbestos
at Lakeside
Lakeside
the
related, "I"Ikind
related,
kindofofretired
retired
grudgingly,
grudgingly,
butbut
I guess
I guess
it was
it was • Demolition
Demolition and
ofof
asbestos
at the
Plant site
wasexpected
expected
to resume
sometime
in
Power Plant
site was
to resume
sometime
in
about
time,and
and
my
son
really
a better
business
about time,
my
son
really
has has
a better
business
sense sense Power
April, according
accordingtoto
a news
a news
release.
release.
An Oak
An Oak
Creek
Creek
en- enthan
do."
than II do."
vironmental firm,
Schauer and
andAssociates,
Associates,
has gotten
has
gottenapapvironmental
firm,Schauer
goahead
aheadwith
with
plan
proval
from the
the DNR
DNR to go
proval from
itsits
plan
forfor
= mag es: r 4.. 2;11rig
e
asbestos
asbestos abatement
abatement
at the
at site.
the site.
Demolition
Demolition
of theof
Power
the power
fs , e 111 1
plant, which
plant,
whichbegan
began
in in
1986,
1986,
waswas
halted
halted
in 1989
in 1989
whenwhen
mar.
- ,•=
2:asbestos was
first
discovered.
MostMost
of theofhazardous
asbestos
was
first
discovered.
the hazardous
e4
material
believed
in five
large
boilers
andcoal
two coal
material isisbelieved
to to
be be
in five
large
boilers
and two
bins,
andremaining
remaining
abatement
costs
are expected
bins, and
abatement
costs
are expected
to be to be
more than
more
than$300,000
$300,000according
according
to the
to the
article.
article.
-
<
•
e
^*
,
:s
-
-ft e
et
St.
St. Francis
Francis
Societyreceived
received
letter
from
• Our Society
aa
letter
from
thethe
asking
forassistance
assistance
Veterans
Veterans Memorial
MemorialCommittee,
Committee,
asking for
in in
locating names
St.St.
Francis'
warwar
dead
in order
to place
locating
namesofof
Francis'
dead
in order
to place
them
onaamemorial
memorial
built
in the
them on
to to
be be
built
in the
city.city.
The The
groupgroup
was was
formed last
formed
lastsummer
summer
forfor
thethe
express
express
purpose
purpose
of building
of building
such
such aamemorial.
memorial.
If If
any
any
of of
youyou
cancan
contribute
contribute
names
names
or
or
Richard
know
know where
whereto
tolook
lookfor
for
names,
names,
please
please
callcall
Richard
Paradowski
at 483-6257
483-6257 or
or Frank Rourke at
at 481-3051;
481-3051;
Paradowski at
your
helpisisappreciated.
appreciated.
your help
,
111111111t
Three
the
Grebe
bakery
business
(from
left), left),
son, son,
Three generations
generationsinin
the
Grebe
bakery
business
(from
Jim Sr.;
Jim
Sr.;mother,
mother,Irene;
Irene;
grandson,
grandson,
JimJim
Jr. Jr.
at the
at the
Grebe
Grebe
corporate
corporate
offices
offices in
in1988.
1988.
(Pil)w
y Ralph
(Photobby
Ralph Clark
Clarlo
Since
Since retirement,
retirement,
Irene
Irene
hashas
remained
remained
active
active
in several
in several
areas, and
bakery
business
has thrived
under under
the
areas,
andthe
theGrebe
Grebe
bakery
business
has thrived
theBOARD MINUTES
MINUTES
firm leadership
leadershipofofher
her
son,
son,
Jim,
Jim,
Company
Company
President,
President,
and and
The possibility
possibilityofof
selling
selling
adsads
or obtaining
or obtaining
• February - The
his son,
his
son,Jim
Jim
Jr.,
Jr.,
Vice
Vice
President
President
of Sales
of Sales
and Marketing.
and Marketing.
sponsors
defray
of printing
our newsletter
sponsors toto
defray
thethe
costcost
of printing
our newsletter
was was
Employee
Employee loyalty
loyaltyremains
remains
high,
high,
as evidenced
as evidenced
by 37-year
by 37-year
discussed.
discussed.
employee
Thomas
Pelkowski,
began
his Grebe
in
employee Thomas
Pelkowski,
whowho
began
his Grebe
careercareer
in
The 1990-91
1990-91slate
slate
ofof
Society
Society
officers
officers
was was
renominated
renominated
August 1951
August
1951asas
a 15-year-old,
a 15-year-old,
part-time
part-time
highhigh
school
school
student
student The
- 8-
-
Early Street Railway History
and unanimously
unanimously re-elected.
re-elected.They
Theyare:
are: Ron Tessmer,
President; Diane Johnston, Vice President;
President; Millie
Millie
Schimelfenyg, Secretary; Margaret Symkowski,
Treasurer
Prior to 1860, the transportation
transportation needs
needs of
of early
early
Milwaukee were served primarily by omnibuses - horsedrawn vehicles which ran specific routes
routes much
much the
the same
same as
as
today's motor buses and catered
catered to
to passengers
passengers alighting
alighting
from ships and the early steam railroads that served the
city. By 1859, however, news of
of the
the success
success of
of aa new
new
transportation mode - the street railway - filtered
filtered in
in from
from the
the
larger cities in the eastern
eastern United
United States.
States. It
lt was
was becoming
becoming
clear that Milwaukee, a burgeoning
burgeoning city
city of
of nearly
nearly 50,000,
50,000,
was in need of a larger and more convenient
convenient form
form of
of public
public
transit. On September
September 24th
24th of
of that
that year,
year, south
southside
sidepioneer
pioneer
George H. Walker, in partnership
partnership with
with three
three other
other civic
civic
leaders, formed the River and Lakeshore
Lakeshore City
City Railway
Railway
Company, Milwaukee's first street
street railway.
railway. The
The company
company
began with a capital stock
stock of
of $50,000
$50,000 from
from which
which two
two
horsecars were ordered from a Philadelphia car
car builder.
builder. SerService began on May 30, 1860, with a five-cent
five-cent fare
fare being
being set
set
(revenue that day amounted to $38.00)
$38.00) with
with the
the first
first two
two
cars operating north from Walker's Point (near S. Water St.
and the confluence
confluence of
of the
the Menomonee
Menomonee and
and Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Rivers) approximately halfway to its intended original
original terterminus of Division (E. Juneau)
Juneau) Street.
Street. The
The enthusiastic
enthusiastic
to comment the
Sentinel to
response prompted
prompted the
the Milwaukee Sentinel
following day that "The
"The horse
horse railway
railway is
is bound
bound to
to be
be aa
popular institution." In time, street railways served most
areas of the city, and omnibus operations
operations eventually
eventually died
died
out. Other routes which served the city were the Milwaukee
City Railway Company, on the
the west
west side
side and,
and, later,
later, aa porportion of the near south side; the West
West Side
Side Street
Street Railway
Railway
Company,
Con-ipany, which extended on its Wells Street line to what
was then the western city limits, at
at 34th
34th Street;
Street; and
and the
the
Cream City Railroad Company which, in addition to
to covercovering many of the same east side and near south side streets
streets as
as
the old River and Lakeshore line, also later served the
Village of Bay View, extending its tracks along
along Kinnickinnic
Kinnickinnic
and Russell Avenues to serve the plant of the North Chicago
Rolling Mills - later known as the Illinois Steel Company.
At a special planning meeting, the board discussed the
Society's purpose, mission, goals, collection policy, and
involvement of the general membership regarding these
goals.
sale, originally
originally
• April
April-- The fund-raising rummage sale,
scheduled for May, was postponed until late summer or
early fall due
due to
to the
the possibility
possibility of
ofaaMay
May111th
1 th tour
tour and
and
trip. (See
(See Committee Reports).
"ST.
"ST. FRANCIS/
FRANCIS/ OLD
OLD TOWN
TOWNOF
OF LAKE
LAKE
AREA TRAILS"
TRAILS"
by Chris Barney
"MILWAUKEE'S ELECT-ROMANCE
WITH THE RAILS"
(Second of a series)
In today's world of automobiles, buses
buses and
and airplanes,
airplanes, it
it is
is
surprising to recall that
that it
it has
has been
been less
less than
than thirty
thirty years
years
since the last electric
electric train,
train, two-car
two-car consist
consist 751-760
751-760of
ofthe
the
Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad (the
(the "North
"North
Shore Line"), rolled into the
the Milwaukee
Milwaukee terminal
terminal at
at 6th
6th and
and
Michigan Streets at 2:52 a.m. on Monday, January 21,
1 11963.
That final
final "end
"end of the line" call signaled'the
963. That
signaled the end
end of
of 73
73
years of electric railroad revenue passenger service in
Milwaukee. In the 28 years hence, the
the absence
absence of
of this
this form
form
of transportation has caused such a multi-faceted
multi-faceted dilemma
dilemma
that a serious effort
effort is
is currently
currently taking
taking place
place to
to return
return elecelectric rail transportation
transportation to
to southeastern
southeastern Wisconsin.
Wisconsin. Here,
Here,
then, is a brief look at the history of the sophisticated network of electric railroad lines which served
served greater
greater
Milwaukee so efficiently for
for so
so many
many years.
years.
electricity as
as aa viable
viable power
power
With the introduction of electricity
source following Thomas Edison's incandescent lamp invention in 1879, it proved only a matter of a short time before
the new discovery would be utilized in other
other forms
forms -- one
one of
of
which would include the electrification of street
street railways.
railways. As
As
was expected, electric streetcars
streetcars were
were tested
tested and
and proved
proved
reliable enough out east before the system was considered
considered
here.
The Steam Dummy Lines
In the decade and a
a half
half prior
prior to
to electrification,
electrification, steam
steam
propulsion was used to reach outlying areas of the
the city
city and
and
some suburban areas. The first of these was the Forest
Forest
Home Railroad Company - from
from aa connection
connection with
with aa Bay
Bay
View horsecar
View
horsecar at
at Clinton
Clinton (S.
(S. 1st)
Ist) and
and Mitchell
Mitchell Streets,
Streets, the
the
steam 'dummies'
steam
`dummies' pulled
pulled trailing
trailing cars
cars west
west on
on Mitchell
Mitchell and
and
then southwest on
on Janesville
Janesville Road
Road to
to Forest
Forest Home
Home
Cemetery at Lincoln Avenue, then the city's border with the
Town of Lake. The dummy line operated
operated from
from 1875
1875 until
until
purchased the
the line
line and
and converted
converted itit
1879, when Cream City purchased
to horse-drawn cars. Two other dummy lines served the
suburbs of Whitefish Bay and Wauwatosa. The best known
shown at its 50th
The newly
newlyrestored
restored "Electroliner,"
"Electroliner," shown
50th anniversary
anniversary
The
re-dedication at
at the
the Illinois
Illinois Railway
Railway Museum
Museumon
onFebruary
Februare9,9,1991,
1991,
re-dedication
was
was aa part
part of
of the
the North
North Shore
Shore Line's
Line's fleet
Fleetofofelectric
electricpassenger
passenger
trains which were
were the
the last
lastsuch
suchtrains
trainstotoserve
serve
Milwaukee,
Milwaukee,
ending
ending
passenger
passengerservice
serviceinin1963.
1963.
ht. Chris Barney)
Burnet.)
(mow
(Photo hy
--99-
-which made the first successful
successful electrified
electrifiedstreetcar
streetcar run
run on
1890,traversing
traversing the
the route
route between
betweenthe
theChicago
Chicagoand
and
April 3, 1890,
North Western
Western Depot
Depot at
at the
the foot
foot of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Street
Street (E.
(E.
Wisconsin Avenue)
Avenue) and
and the city limits at 34th and Wells.
Within two years, six
six city
city railway
railway companies
companiesoperated
operatedaa
total of 16
16 routes,
routes, many of
of them
them electrified,
electrified, within
within the
the city
city
and a few suburbs. Meanwhile, North American, trying
trying to
to
protect its Milwaukee
Milwaukee interests,
interests, set
setabout
about absorbing
absorbing the
the
competing railway companies while selling
selling off
off its
its interests
interests
elsewhere in an attempt
attempt to
to remain
remainsolvent.
solvent. By
By 1894, with the
acquisition of the Milwaukee
Milwaukee Electric
Electric Street
Street Railway
Railway ComComcity streetcar
streetcar routes were under the ownership of
pany, all city
North American's traction
traction subsidiary.
subsidiary. Electrification
Electrification of the
entire city streetcar system also
also occurred
occurred that
that year.
these was
was the
the Milwaukee
Milwaukee and
and Whitefish
Whitefish Bay
Bay Railway
Railway
of these
Company. The line began
began at
at Farwell
Farwell and
and North Avenues,
Avenues,
where it connected with a Cream City line, and proceeded
north on Farwell and Downer Avenues
Avenues to
to aa private
private right-ofright-ofway which
which proceeded
proceeded northwest
northwest to
to the
the then
then popular
popular
Whitefish Bay Resort. The line operated
operated from
from 1887
1887 to 1894
when it was merged into the Milwaukee Street Railway
Company, and still later into The Milwaukee Electric
Railway &
& Light
Light Company
Company (TMER&L
(TMER&L Co.).
Co.).The
Thenorthern
northern
portion of this line eventually became
became the
the Route
Route 15
15Oakland
Oakland
Avenue
Avenue streetcar
streetcar line. The
The Milwaukee
Milwaukee and
and Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa
Motor Railway Company operated its steam dummy for
five years
years (1892
(1892 --1897),
1897),but
butleft
leftits
itsmark
mark on
on urban
urban
only five
Wells Street
Street
streetcar operations by constructing the famous Wells
viaduct across the Menomonee River and Miller Valley in
in
1892, with
with steam
steam service
service(three
(three dummies
dummies and
and six
sixtrailers)
trailers)
1892,
beginning
beginning on
on September
September1st
Ist of
ofthat
thatyear.
year.From
Fromaacarbarn
carbarn
built at 36th and
and Wells,
Wells, the line proceeded west
west across
across the
the
viaduct and
and continued
continued on
on Wells to 60th (now
(now 68th)
68th) Street,
Street,
before turnturnthen turned north
north for
for approximately
approximately a half mile before
ing west
west and
and running
running parallel to the Milwaukee
Milwaukee Road
Road tracks
tracks
before reaching
reaching its
its western
western terminus
terminus near
near the
the present
present day
day
intersection of State
State Street
Street and Harwood Avenue.
Avenue. The
The
following
following year,
year, 1893,
1893,saw
sawthe
theMotor
Motor Railway
Railway branch
branch south
52nd) and
and Wells
Wells to
to Calvary
Calvary Cemetery,
Cemetery, then
then
from 44th (now 52nd)
west to
to the
the new
new State
State Fair
Fair Grounds
Grounds in North Greenfield
(now part
part of the City of West Allis).
Allis). Following
Followingthe
the financial
financial
collapse of
of the
the railway
railway in December 1897,
1897, itit was
was absorbed
absorbed
Milwaukee Light,
Light, Heat
Heat and
and Traction
Traction Company
Company
by the Milwaukee
(MLH&T),
elec( MLH&T), TMER&L's suburban operation, and was elec- —
h-e
1atëfViñ an—a-ddititina1-60-years-as
60 years—a-s - the
TfifiFd—
tiifi d —a
a ancidititinal
Route 10 Wells -- Wauwatosa
and
Wells
West
Allis
Car
Wauwatosa
Allis Car
Lines -- the
the last
last city
city streetcar
streetcar route
route in
in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee.
The Birth
Birth of
of an Electrified Empire
The blow
blow that
that finally
finally scuttled
scuttled North
North American
American and
and forced
forced
its reorganization was double-barreled. First, streetcars obtained from the various smaller streetcar companies which
had been absorbed were manufactured by no less
less than
than
twelve
twelve different
different streetcar
streetcar builders.
builders. This
This made
made maintenance
maintenance
extremely expensive
expensive and
and eventually
eventually made
made many
many of
ofthe
thecars
cars
inoperable. The subsequent need to buy new
new equipment
equipment
created the second major financial problem, that of having
to borrow a substantial amount
amount of capital to make the
streetcar purchases, which
which resulted
resulted in
in aa tremendous
tremendous amount
amount
being paid out in interest. Other
Other losses
losses included a $135,000
$135,000
fire at the Kinnickinnic car
car barns
barnson
on December
December 28,
28, 1892, in
in
which several
several streetcars
streetcars were
were lost
lost and,
and, perhaps,
perhaps, the final
final
straw being the large damage claims resulting from the accident on February
February 4,
4, 1895
1895 in which Car 145 plunged into the
inattentive bridge
bridge
Kinnickinnic River after an apparently inattentive
•_
pass. TfireThreee- deaths
-deaths
tender opened the bridg
tender
bridge
e to let a veisel
ve ssel. pass.
and five injuries resulted, after which North American attempted to market
market some
some of its street railway bonds, which
resulted in a return
return of
of only 40 cents
cents on
on the
the dollar.
dollar. Their
Their tractrac-
The story of TMER&L begins with the creation by
German-born
German-born immigrant
immigrant Henry
Henry Villard,
Villard, in
in 1890,
1890, of a public
utility holding company called
called North
North American.
American. Villard
Villard
who, with
with Thomas
Thomas Edison,
Edison, had
had two
two years
years earlier
earlier conconof Edison's
Edison's manufacturing
manufacturing companies
solidated all of
companies into the
giant Edison General Electric Company (part
(part of
of which
evolved into
evolved
into the
the present-day
present-day General Electric), in 1889
1889
created and organized the Edison Illuminating Company of
Milwaukee. His goal was to consolidate the competing electric companies in the city -- and
and also
also to
to buy
buy out
out and
and merge the
city's horsecar lines, and subsequently electrify them. To do
this, he solicited
solicited the
the help
help of
of some
someprominent
prominent Milwaukee
Milwaukee
citizens, one
one of
of which
which was
was Henry
Henry Clay
Clay Payne,
Payne, who
who would
would
figure prominently in the initial formation of TMER&L.
His faith in the feasibility
feasibility of
of interurban
interurban travel
travel paved
paved the
the way
way
for future developments of
of the
the "Milwaukee
"Milwaukee Electric
Electric Lines"
Lines"
which eventually criss-crossed
criss-crossed southeastern
southeastern Wisconsin.
Wisconsin.
Ultimately, Henry
Henry Villard's
Villard's plan
plan to
to turn
turn North American
Ultimately,
into a utility giant would
would be
be short-circuited
short-circuited by
by the
the financial
financial
panic that
gripped the
the country
country in
in the
the early
early to
to mid-1890s.
mid-1890s.
that gripped
that would be retained was the electric power
power
Ultimately, all that
assisted with
with
and streetcar
streetcar system
system in Milwaukee. Payne assisted
combining the
the various
various street
street railways
railways that
that became
became the
the
Milwaukee Street Railway Company in 1890.
1890. However,
However,itit
was a streetcar line not controlled by North American - the
Wells-Wisconsin line of
of the
the West Side Railway
Railway Company
An example
of of
thethe
many
different
kinds kinds
of rolling
stock TMER&L
An
example
many
different
of rolling
stock TMER&L
inherited from
itsits
predecessor
company,
MSRy. MSRy.
Co., Brownellinherited
from
predecessor
company,
Co., Brownellbuilt car
car#20,
1120,
in 1893,
is shown
in Waukesha
stub service
built
builtbuilt
in 1893,
is shown
here inhere
Waukesha
stub service
about
The
carcar
waswas
scrapped
in 1911.
about1900.
1900.
The
scrapped
in 1911.
front the
'ietzket•colle(tion,
courtesy
of Dave
Stanley.)
photo .from
theU'tetzk
(olleefron,
courtesv
of DU
LT Stanlevf
(TmER&I,
ITMER&I. photo
-
- 10
10 -
-
tion properties
propertiesfailed
failedto
toprovide
provideenough
enoughrevenue
revenueto
topay
payeven
even
tion
the interest
interest on
on their
their outstanding
outstanding debts,
debts, so
so North
North American
American
the
was finally
finally forced into receivership. The internal
internal reorganizareorganizawas
tion produced
produced The
The Milwaukee
Milwaukee Electric
Electric Railway
Railway and
and Light
Light
tion
Company.
On January
January29,
29,1896,
1896, the
the Milwaukee
Milwaukee Street Railway
On
(MSRy)
was
foreclosed
upon,
TMER&L
( MSRy)
foreclosed upon, TMER&L was
was incorporated
incorporated
the
same
day,
North
American
became
solely a utility
utility
the same day, North American became solely
holding
company
and
on
February
1,
1986,
deeded
the
holding
and on February 1, 1986,
Milwaukee
electric
and
railway
properties
to
TMER&L.
Milwaukee
Henry Payne,
Payne, in
in concert
concert with
with John
John1.
I. Beggs,
Beggs, who had
Henry
helped to organize the first electrified
streetcar
electrified streetcar line
line in
in ApAppleton through
through his
his Wisconsin Traction, Light, Heat &
Power Company,
Company, planned
planned to
to develop
develop Milwaukee's
Milwaukee's extensive
extensive
interurbannetwork
networkwhen
when they
they formed
formed the
the Milwaukee Light,
interurban
Heat and
and Traction
TractionCompany,
Company,aawholly-owned
wholly-owned subsidiary
subsidiary of
Heat
TMER&L. This
This gave TM the authority
build and
and hold
hold
TMER&L.
authority to build
traction properties
properties which
which were located outside the
title to traction
the
City of Milwaukee. The first few years of
of the
the new
new company
company
were to be fraught with difficulties
difficultiesthat
that threatened
threatened the
the very
very
existence of
of TMER&L,
TMER&L, and will be discussed,
discussed, along
along with
with the
the
rise of the North Shore Line, in the next installment of this
series on Milwaukee's
Milwaukee'sstreetcar
streetcar and
and interurban
interurban era.
(The information in this article was
was taken
taken from
from CERA
CERA
Bulletin 112,
entitled
"TM
The
Milwaukee
112, entitled "TM - The MilwaukeeElectric
Electric
Railway and Light Company,"
Company," by
by Joseph
Joseph M.
M. Canfield.
Canfield. This
book is available at
the
Milwaukee
Public
Library
at
Milwaukee Public Library - Ed.)
Many
Many people
people fear
fear volunteerism
volunteerism because they think they'll
be
become aa "regular"
"regular" -- not
be locked
locked into it or expected to become
not so.
so.
As
As little time as an hour
hour aa month,
month, or
oraahalf-day
half-day every
every few
few
months
months would
would be
be an
an enormous
enormous benefit
benefit to us. Even being an
"on-call"
"on-call"volunteer
volunteerwould
would assist
assist in
in aa huge
huge way
way - all that
means
means is
is we
we could call if a project
project came
came up,
up, and
andifif you've
you've got
got
me that's
titime
that'sgreat
great--ifif not,
not, thanks
thanksanyway
anyway and
andmaybe
maybe next
next
me. Just
titime.
Just to
to have
have aa roster
rosterof
of potential
potential members
membersto
to call
call
would
would improve our
our position
position in a dramatic
dramatic way.
way. Projects
Projects like
like
filing
filing historic photos and papers;
papers; tagging
tagging and
and cataloging
cataloging
historic
displays or
or runrunhistoric artifacts;
artifacts; serving
serving food,
food, setting up displays
ning
ning aa booth at
at the
the annual
annual craft
craft fair
fair or
orSt.
St. Francis
FrancisDays.
Days. It
It
can be great fun, and it's
neighbors
it's aa great
great way
way to meet your neighbors
and
and other
other Society
Society members.
Don't
take
Don't be
be afraid
afraid of
of volunteerism - it doesn't have to take
up
much
of
your
time
and
you
stand
a
real
chance
of
having
up much of your time and you stand a real chance of having
aa good time. Do be afraid
afraid of
of complacency, however, it
might
might mean
mean the
the difference
difference between
between our
our Society
Society doing well
and
and our
our undoing.
undoing.
SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT . . .
If you teach your child how to love, you have taught him
how to live.
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
Volunteerism -- what
what aa concept.
concept. When
Whenpeople
peoplestep
stepforward
forward
and set aside several
several hours
hours each month to accomplish
accomplish goals
goals
for a worthy cause,
cause, their
their efforts
efforts arefpublicly
arefpublicly applauded
applauded as
as
well
well they
they should
should be.
be. Many
Many people
people benefit
benefit from
from the
the work
work of
of
these devoted
devoted volunteers.
volunteers. However,
However,v!hen
ehen goals change
change and
and
responsibilities
responsibilities increase,
increase, the
the burden
burden placed
placed upon
upon the
the
volunteers can often
often diminish
diminish their
their desire
desire to
to continue
continue in
in
such
such aa capacity,
capacity, creating
creating an
an even
evengreater
greater burden
burden on
on the
the reremaining volunteers, reducing the chance of
of achieving
achieving the
the
desired goals of
of the
the worthy
worthy cause.
cause.
This scenario
scenario could
could apply
apply to
to any
any number
number of
of not-fornot-for- and
and
non-profit educational organizations but
but 1I am, of
of course,
course,
referring to our own St.
St. Francis
Francis Historical
Historical Society.
Society.Our
Our
Society
Societyisisat
ataacrossroads
crossroadsright
right now,
now,with
withthe
theopportunity
opportunity to
to
potentially
potentially utilize
utilize two
two display,
display, storage
storage and
and meeting
meeting facilities
facilities
in
in the
the very
very near
near future.
future. Coupled
Coupled with
with that
that opportunity,
opportunity,
however,
however, is
is an
an ongoing
ongoing problem
problem - lack of volunteers.
volunteers.
It
lt is obvious
obvious that
that the use
use of
of either
either or
or both
both of
of the
the facilities
facilities
for
for which
which our
our Society
Societyisisnegotiating
negotiatingrequire
requirecontractural
contractural
obligations
obligationson
onour
ourpart
part for
for the
the use
use and
and care
care of
ofthese
these
facilities.
But,
with
the
ongoing
duties
and
responsibilities
facilities. But, with the ongoing duties and responsibilities
already
already being
beingshouldered
shoulderedby
bythe
the"inner
"innercircle"
circle"of
ofboard
boardand
and
eneral
members,
Society
directors
are
realistically
looking
eneral members, Society directors are
looking
at
at just
just how
how much
much additional
additional responsibility
responsibilitythis
this"inner
"inner
circle"
circle" can
can stand.
stand. The possibility
possibility of
ofwithdrawing
withdrawingour
our rerequest
quest to
to utilize
utilize one
one of
ofthe
thefacilities
facilitiesisisseriously
seriouslybeing
beingconconsidered
sidered --and
and that's
that's aa shame.
shame.
US
HISTORY AROUND US
will be
be presenting
presenting aa
The Hawks
Hawks Inn
Inn Historical
HistoricalSociety
Society will
• The
7th and
and 8th
8th at the St.
St. John's
John's Military
Quilt Show on June 7th
Academy Field House in Delafield, from 10 a.m. to 4
and the show will
p.m. each day. Admission is $2.50, and
old and
and new
new quilts
quilts in addition to the sale
feature over 200 old
of quilting
quilting and
and crafting supplies. There will also be
be aa
of
Academy Dining
Dining Hall.
Hall.
luncheon buffet served in the old Academy
is free,
free, and
and further
further information
information and
and directions
directions
Parking is
Hawk's Inn,
Inn, P.O.
P.O. Box
Box
can be
be obtained
obtained by
bywriting
writingthe
the Hawk's
can
or
by
calling
(414)
646-2140.
104, Delafield,
Delafield, WI
WI53018,
53018, or
104,
646-2140.
Hawks Inn,
Inn, built in 1846,
1846, is
isaa county,
county,state
stateand
and national
national
Hawks
landmark
and
is
open
for
public
tours
on
Sundays
from 11
landmark
public tours on Sundays from
4
p.m.
between
May
and
October.
Tours
are
$2.00
for
- 4 p.m. between May and October. Tours are $2.00 for
50 cents
cents for
for children
children under
under 12.
12.
adults and 50
The annual
annual statewide
statewide Historic
Historie Preservation
Preservation Conference
Conference
• The
willbe
beheld
heldon
onFriday
Fridayand
andSaturday,
Saturday, May
May 33--44 at
at the
the
will
The Conference
Conference
Radisson Hotel
HotelLa
LaCrosse
Crossein
in La
La Crosse.
Crosse. The
Radisson
"Preservation 91:
91: Celebrating
Celebrating Preservation,"
Preservation,"
isentitled
entitled "Preservation
is
and will
will include
include three
three workshop
workshop series,
series, several
several guest
guest
and
speakers, an
an award
award presentation,
presentation, meetings,
meetings,bus
bustours,
tours,
speakers,
and a boat cruise on the Mississippi
Mississippi River.
River. The
The conconand
ferenceisisopen
opento
toall
allthose
thoseinterested,
interested,and
andinformation
informationisis
ference
(608) 262-4771.
262-4771.
availableby
bycalling
callingLarry
LarryReed
Reedatat (608)
available
1991
1991 DATES
DATES TO REMEMBER
REMEMBER
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
APPLICATION
SFHS MEMBERSHIP
Meeting
April
April 24th
24th ................................... General Membership Meeting
Name
Name
4
Address
Address
Telephone
Telephone
ptay
active
rote
developingthe
theSt.
St.Francis
FranckHistorical
Historical
q I wish
1 wish
H
to to
play
anan
active
role
inin
developing
Society.
Society.
L.1 II would
Society.
[_.1
would like
like to donate material to the Society.
r.[ .1
6:00
6:00 p.m.,
p.m., St.
St. Francis
Francis Community
Community Center
Center
4230
4230 S.
S. Nicholson
Nicholson Avenue,
Avenue
Exhibit:
Exhibit: "Women's
"Women's Work
Work on
on the
the Farm"1
Farm";;
Program,
Program, Milwaukee Reflections,
Reflections,
"Portraits
II: Six
Six of Our
"Portraits II:
Our Sex"
Meetings
May
May 5,
5, June
June 22 .................................................. Board Meetings
2:00
2:00 p.m.,
p.m., Thompson
Thompson School
School
July
July 33 ................................................................ Board Meeting
6:30
6:30 p.m.,
p.m., Thompson
Thompson School
School
(Board meetings
meetings are
are open to the
the
general membership.)
Meeting
July 29 .......................................... General Membership Meeting
and Potluck Supper, time
time and
and place
place
to be announced.
announced.
Program: "Speedrail - Milwaukee's
Milwaukee's
Last
Last Rapid
Rapid Transit?"
Transit?" by
by Larry
Larry Sakar,
Sakar,
The Milwaukee Electric Railway &
Transport
Historical Society.
Society.
Transport Historical
would like
like to
to serve
serve on
on the
the Board
Board of
of Directors
Directors and/or
and/or committee
committee
II would
chairman.
chairman.
ANNUAL DUES
............................. S100.00
• Individual
Individual
Li
S 4.00
4.00
$
q
Life
q
Family
Family
5.00
Corporate
Corporate
ri
ri
q
El
Sustaining
Sustaining
............. 100.00
................ 15.00
to: Ronald
Ronald Tessmer,
Tessmer, 2517
2517 E.
E. Norwich
Norwich Avenue,
Avenue, St.
St. Francis,
Francis, WI
WI 53207.
53207.
Return to:
Newsletter
St. Francis
Francis Historical
Historical Society
Society
Nicholson Avenue
4235
S. Nicholson
4235 S.
St. Francis, WI
WI 53207
,11 p..i.1
kU i f
P
MAY 3
'i
g
1991 *
PM i ".".
5 32
.
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