PRESERVATION NEWSLETTER RACINE, INC. WINTER 2006

Christmas Memories

Christmas lights, whether in our homes or in public places recall fond memories of the Christmas season. My favorite memories are right here in Racine. Downtown a crown of Christmas lights stretched from Sixth to State sfreets and west on Sixth Sfreet to Grand Avenue. In the 1930s my family rode the street car from West Racine to downtown to watch the lighting of those arches that sfretched from curb to curb and for blocks and blocks! It was like riding through a fairy tunnel.

Visits to the decorated stores like Zahn's, the Racine Dry Goods, Penney's, Eitel's and Thrifty Mac were an important part of the holiday season. We kids enjoyed the Neisner Bros and the Kresge "Ten Cent to One Dollar" stores. We would visit our Aunt Lillian at the "Dollar" store where she was a special manager at Christmas time. If we were downtown with Mother or Dad we dared not ask for a treat, but when Grandma Friedrich took us down to enjoy the season we would beg to go to Georly's or Pawling's. We might go fiirther north to the fancy soda fountain at Pokomy's. Of course, the Ace Grill was out of bounds for anyone who did not play pool or secretly place illegal bets on the sporting events ofthe day.

Downtown stores were open on Friday night until nine o'clock all year, but during the Christmas season they were open every night. We might visit one of the five movie theaters...the Main Sfreet, the Rex, the State, the Venetian or the Rialto. Before six o'clock admission was 15 or 20 cents, at six the price became 40 cents, too much to pay for a movie.

There were special events during the Christmas season. Santa Claus wandered the streets. Bands played on Monument Square in the early evening. Tex Reynolds, a local columnist, had special "Man on the Street" programs under the clock on the northeast comer of Main and Fifth sfreets. You might have the opportunity to talk on the radio if you knew the answers to his leading questions. Buildings were decorated in unique ways to atfract attention. Zahn's was wrapped with a wide ribbon to make the whole building look like a big Christmas gift box.

I am not sure of when the crown of lights was eliminated from downtown. The photo that accompanies this article, courtesy of Gerry Karwowski, was probably taken sometime in the mid-1950s. The two movies that are billed on the Rialto's marquee, Task Force with Gary Cooper and The Fighting Kentuckian were issued in 1949, but they were obviously being given a second run since several ofthe cars in the photos were 1950s vintage.

Christmas lighting and decorations became more and more popular in individual homes. The most memorable of the home lighting displays was that of George and Jesse Wheary. In a 1983 Journal Times article, Mr Wheary said that they would tum on the lights at their home on North Vincennes Circle on December 22, his birthday, and tum them off on the Saturday closest to their wedding anniversary on January 2. The first lights at their house had been part ofthe Whearys' 25th Wedding Anniversary Party decorations at the Racine Country Club in 1962. Each year more hghts were added developing into a major display that attracted hundreds of visitors. As the numbers increased the Village of North Bay made special traffic accommodations for the viewers. The Village eventually was overwhelmed. Neighbors sent their dogs to kennels during the display and lawns and gardens were frampled by eager photographers. Our son-in-law took the opportunity to use his new video camera to record the lights. The frafficlin e often extended south to the Zoo. The wait might be an hour. The Village Board notified Mr. Wheary that something had to be done to alleviate the situation.

In 1982 the Whearys donated the lights to the City of Racine. The lights were strung on trees in Monument Square that year. Although the gift was greatly appreciated, the effect was disappointing. With all the peripheral light from sfreet lights and store front illumination, the Wheary lights were barely visible. The Zoo, with its dark background, was chosen to be the next site for the lights. The expense and volunteer labor involved in the installation each year at the Zoo have been bome by the Kiwanis Clubs in Racine. Fund raising events have been held and help has come from businesses that have expertise in and deal with materials needed for the lighting project. Through the years many changes have been made to the display and Racine drives by the Zoo as a Christmas tradition continues.

Bob Johnson

From the President

You realize that the holiday season is fast approaching when the store windows at various businesses are frillo f bright lights, the tall Christmas tree on the square is covered with red and gold balls, planters along the sidewalk downtown are fiiU of baubles and evergreen boughs and the Kiwanis lights at the Racine Zoo are a reason for an after dinner ride. This is also the season when we remember all of the people who enrich our lives in so many ways with a thank you and gifts. A few years ago, when Tom and Vanessa Reynolds owned the beautifiil, pink Queen Anne home located at 1520 College Avenue, they hired specially frained cmpenters who knew how to steam and bend replacement boards for the disintegrating boards on the front turret of their home. Tom and Vanessa also restored the commodious front porch and painted the entire home. Someone pointed out that when the time came to sell their home they would never receive enough money to cover their expenses and initial investment. Tom's reply was, "This is my gift to the city." Tom and Vanessa have since retired to Ausfralia, leaving Racine with a beautiftilly restored treasure, which is lovingly cared for by its new owners.

So many Racine citizens have gifted Racine with the care and restoration of our historic buildings. First comes to mind the S. C. Johnson Properties located in downtown Racine. The Classic Revival building known as the Harborview Professional Building, formerly The Elks Club located at 601 Lake Avenue stands occupied and fiilly restored. The Italianate McClurg Building (Nelson Hotel - Main Place Building) has stood on the comer of Second and Main sfreets since 1857. This building has served as the headquarters for: the Racine, Janesville and Mississippi Railroad, the First Bohemian Bank, the first pubhc library in Racine County, the first municipal court in the county, the first vaudeville theater, the first movie theater and the first Turldsh bath. Not only is this beautiftil building still standing, the Johnson people made it shine. The storefront building located at 402 Main Sfreet (now Avenue Frame Shop) was purchased, renovated and sold by Johnson Properties. This put a fiilly restored building on the market. The Richardsonian Romanesque Dr. Shoop Family Medicine building on the comer of State and Main sfreets is listed as an "A" building according to the Johnson, Johnson and Roy 1974 Architectural Survey of Racine's historic buildings. This building is another successfiil project of the Johnson Properties. It is the north anchor for what is happening downtown.

Other examples of careftil restoration by our Racine neighbors can be found all over our city. The Eli Cooley House located at 1135 Main Sfreet is considered one of the finest examples of the Greek Revival style in Wisconsin. The owners have transformed this home into a jewel. The Chauncey Hall House (John Knight House) located at 1235 Main Street is the only surviving mid-19* century Gothic Revival house in Racine. The fresh paint and lilac free allee leading to the front door make you think of an enchanting fairy tale place. The carefiil restoration of the C. Kannenberg Block on the comer of High Street and Douglas Avenue, the restored fafade ofthe bed and breakfast located on the comer of 15* and Main sfreets, the fire station on State Sfreet, now the home of Fair Winds Canvas and the fire station on Lincoln and Barker sfreets all come to mind as buildings for which our community should be gratefiil. The south side community, as a group, has helped to save its neighborhood and provide an example of what can happen when people work together. Several years ago, when the Mitchell Cm* Club visited Racine, many of their members drove to College Avenue to photograph their cars on that lovely brick sfreet before they left the city. Our neighbors who have replaced deteriorated porches with spindles and decking that honors the original design have done all of us a favor. Building owners that have spent money and time to paint the boards on their frame homes to make them look majestic again have given us a present. The people who have planted and maintained knot gardens and gardens that honor their homes have given us all a gift... a beautiftil place to live.

Thank you everyone.

Vivian Merlo Christmas Premiums

Christmas in the first half of the twentieth century was probably less frenzied, but it long has been the most important time ofthe year for retailers, who bend over backward to draw a customer in to spend his or her holiday budget. Lavishly decorated store windows, parades with Santa heading up the pack, and wonderful holiday light displays are fraditional ways to drum up yuletide spirit. Another promotional sfrategem was to give a favorite pafron a present.. .something useful or pretty with the store's name on it.

Who would think that a bean pot given by a local hardware store to a loyal customer at Christmastime in the 1920s would still be around to tell its story? The holiday premium items or giveaways that Racine merchants gave out during the Christmas season tum up from time to time at estate sales or antique malls, and they are snatched up by local collectors as fast as they appear. A few of these premiums appear here in our newsletter: a North Side Hardware bean pot, a stoneware casserole from Schliesmann Bros., a mini jug from Chris Heck's saloon on Sixth Sfreet, a Racine Dry Goods brass bell, and a chromolithograph metal tray from C. Kannenberg.

The earliest premium, the mini jug which reads "Compliments of the Season, Chris Heck, 303 Sixth Street, Racine, Wis.," could have been created by any one of several stoneware companies in the Midwest. Christian A. Heck ran a saloon at the Sixth Street address from 1883 to about 1904. A large family, the Hecks emigrated from Germany in the 1840s and 50s and several were brewers and saloonkeepers by trade. Chris died July 9, 1914. His widow, Anna, lived above the former saloon for several years after.

The fray reads: "Christmas Greeting" on the top, and on the bottom: "C. Kannenberg, Racine, Wis." It is oval shaped, with a colorful picture of a Victorian lady in the center, and was give to some lucky customer sometime around the tum of the century or a little later. Charles Kannenberg opened a grocery store and saloon in 1894 at 1680 Douglas Avenue. By 1898 he had built and moved into 1673-75 Douglas. We know the building as the C. Kannenberg Block, an elegant cream brick stmcture ofthe "flatiron" type with the entry on the comer in a circular bay having an open balcony atop the second story where the Kannenberg family lived. The last city directory entry showing the grocery is in 1912. In succeeding years, from 1914 through the 20s, the Kannenbergs are officers in the Belle City Basket Company.

The bean pot and casserole were commissioned by store owners from the Red Wing Stoneware Company in Red Wing, Minnesota. The advertising on both pieces reads: "Christmas Greetings From" and then gives the store's name and address. Red Wing had been making advertising pieces since the late 1890s when they switched from salt glaze stoneware to zinc, or white, production. Stenciling an advertising message beneath the glaze on a bowl, pitcher, beater jar or other utilitarian item became a popular and inexpensive way to promote your business, and what busy housewife wouldn't be pleased to have such an item free!

North Side Hardware at 1927 Charles Sfreet was in business just a few years, from 1925 to 1931. Ignatz Masik and Victor T. Pier opened the store and, by 1929, just Pier was listed as proprietor. This writer knows of at least three bean pots in private collections in Racine as well as one stoneware pitcher. Perhaps Mr. Pier gave away too many premiums! More likely, he fell victim to the Great Depression.

Schliesmann Bros, opened a grocery store at 1301 Douglas Avenue in 1914. Theodore J. and George J Schliesmann ran a business there and, in the 1920s, Theodore was joined by John M. Schliesmann. In 1929 they opened a second business at 1018 La Salle Street. Theirs was a long-lived business which disappeared from Douglas in 1939 and from La Salle in 1941. We know of two existing casseroles with the Christmas message shown. Many, many other Racine merchants used Red Wing stoneware to promote their stores but we have found only these two with Christmas advertising.

Two Racine Dry Goods brass bells have shown up in local collections. There are probably more out there since the department store in question existed downtown for many years in the 400 block of Main Street. It opened in 1929 and was listed as an Interstate Department Store with the main office in New York City. Its address then was 410-12 Main and telephone number, Jackson 645. By 1952 there was listed a beauty shop within the store. In 1955 the address was 435 Main where it continued until 1963. In addition to it name and address, the back of the bell reads: "Christmas Headquarters for Gifts & Toys at Underselling Prices."

Christmas has always been a time for giving, gathering, and reminiscing. A little of the holiday spirit has come down to us from Racine merchants of long ago through these small, ordinary premiums... each with a story to tell. If our readers know of other "gifts," we should like to hear from you. Merry Christmas!

Mary Whitman Tour 2006

A colossal thank you to Peg Greiveldinger and Ellie Smith for co-chairing this year's Tour of Historic Places. They did a superb job. Peg has served as tour co-chairman for three years and Ellie for four years. Some income from the tour is still trickling in. To date, our gross income is $12,377.00. Expenses are $3849.89, leaving a net income of $8527.11. We are grateful for the wonderful weather, generous home owners who allowed us a glimpse into their handsome spaces, the florists who made our day even more beautiful and to all of the people who volunteered so generously with their time and talents. We could not have done it without you!!!

Please welcome our new tour co-chairmen. Holly Hess and Jacki McKemson. Celebrate Local Authors

Two of Preservation Racine's members have published books this year.

Margo Drammond's interest in local history began when she became involved in Preservation Racine and the Racine Historical Society - Racine Heritage Museum. Along with Mary Schuchmann, Margo co-authored a booklet for Preservation Racine, titled Renewing Our Roots, which described historically significant sites on Racine's south side. Her second written work for Preservation Racine was a walking tour guidebook for Historic Mound Cemetery, which included information on the Horlick Mausoleum. The Horlick story piqued her imagination and set her on a quest to leam more. In June of 2006, her book on the Horlick family and the Horlick Malted Milk Company, Here's To Your Health, was published, just in time for the 100* anniversary celebration ofthe Horlick Company in England. A great deal ofthe research for the book was done in the United Kingdom, where Horlick's Malted Milk is still manufactured and where many Horlick descendents reside. Many people in Racine contributed to this endeavor as well, including Preservation Racine and the Racine Heritage Museum. Margo's first book. Blessings of Being Mortal - How a Mature Understanding of Death Can Free Us to Live Wisely and Well was published in 2001, an outcome of a course she developed and taught called while teaching at Washington Park High School, Death and Dying: Issues of Living Life. Margo also taught a course on Racine history, which led to the topic for her master's thesis. The Road to Little Moscow - Communism in Racine in the 1920's andSO's along with a brief biography of Mr. M. M. Secor.

At Preservation Racine's November 6, membership meeting, Mark Hertzberg gifted Preservation Racine with an insightful and entertaining program at the Wingspread Conference Center. He talked about the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Hardy House built in 1906 and located on the lake bluff on Main Sfreet in Racine.

Mark is an award-winning Journal Times photojoumalist who reported that soon after he arrived in Racine, the Hardy House caught his attention. Mark stated in the Journal Times that "my attraction to Wright's work was initially a visual attraction. As a photographer, there was something in his buildings that intrigued me." Mark's first book, Wright in Racine: The Architect's Vision for One American City, preceded the Hardy book which was pubHshed and available in September of 2006.

Both Here's To Your Health and Frank Lloyd Wright's Hardy House would make wonderfiil Christmas gifts to either yourself or someone special in your life. Kudos to Margo and Mark for a job well done.

Preservation Racine Newsletter Published quarterly by Preservation Racine, Inc. P.O. Box 383 Roberta Fiene, Bob Johnson, Vivian Merlo, Barbara Racine, Wisconsin 53401 Walter, Mary Whitman

President Vivian Merlo Office - Blake House Vice President Mary Ann Staupe 936 S. Main Sfreet Secretly Pippin MichelH Racine, WI 53403 Treasurer CIiarlesRice (262) 634-5748

Web site: www.preservatioiiracine.org Wright Conservancy Needs You!

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's annual, national meeting will be held in Northbrook, Illinois in October of 2007. Part of this event will include a day in Racine on Friday, October 12. The Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy grew out of a conference hosted by the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread Conference Center about 17 years ago. The Conservancy is composed of Frank Lloyd Wright building owners, those connected with publicly owned Wright buildings, architects interested in Wright's work, and just plain Wright buffs {Preservation Racine Newsletter, Winter 1995). This organization is dedicated to the preservation of Wright's work. Volunteers will be needed to help make the day a success for four busloads of visitors from across the country. If you are able to help this organization with your time and talents for this special event, please e-mail Vivian Merlo @ VivianG@AOL. Com or call her at 262-634-0734. Volunteer names will be forwarded to Mark Hertzberg. In Memoriam

We have received memorials to two long-time members: Jo Roseler and John Batikis. Jo served on Preservation Racine's board of directors and was particularly interested in the welfare ofthe Blake House, serving as a member of the board there. John was a member in the early days, often organizing Boy Scout froop members to volunteer during our annual historic tours or other fiinctions. Alpha Delta Kappa Tau provided a memorial in honor of Jo Roseler. Michael and Inese Franzke and Lou and Mary Whitman provided memorials in honor of John Batikis.

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