The Register, 1615 W

Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and Fire Museum

MILWAUKEE FIRE THEHISTORICAL REGISTER

1615 W.SOCIETY Oklahoma Ave. December 2019 - Christmas Milwaukee, WI 53215 414-286-5272 Information and news about the activities of the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and the Fire Museum.

Heading above from the M.F. D. Register, December, 1968.

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News from the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society

Milwaukee Professional Fire Local 215 Annual Retiree's Picnic - 100th Anniversary Johnson Control Pavilion - SummerFest

On Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the SummerFest grounds, Local 215 celebrated its Centennial Anniversary! In addition to the usual Polka music and cold beer, a presentation ceremony was held. The Milwaukee Fire Historical Society presented a beautiful Centennial Plaque honoring Local 215 for 100 years of service to community. Congratulations Local 215!

Doors Open Milwaukee On September 28th and 29th, 2019, the Fire Museum was open for Historic Milwaukee Incorporated “Doors Open Milwaukee”. Over 1,200 people came through the museum and enjoyed Milwaukee fire history and stories presented by our firefighter docents. Thank you to every one who came out to support the Fire Museum.

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Restoration of Car 3 - 1958 Edsel Fire apparatus have had a long and storied history on the Milwaukee Fire Department. This Edsel was Car 3, the Fire Fighting Deputy Chief's car. The car was in service for six years and was one of three Edsels owned by Milwaukee Fire Department. We recently acquired this old workhorse and hopefully this gem can be restored to its original luster, beauty and style.

Please consider helping restore this piece of Milwaukee firefighting history. Donations to the: Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and Fire Museum Car 3 Restoration Fund 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee WI 53215-4539 Questions? Contact Randy Leach,Treasurer, 414-630-5777 The Society is a non-profit 501-c-3 organization. Sponsorship is also available Cut Here……………………………………………………………

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Fire Museum Open House Dates

The Milwaukee Fire Museum will be closed for the Winter in January, February and March, 2020. The Fire Museum will reopen on the ﬁrst Sunday of each Month, beginning in April, 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M, except holidays. To schedule a private or group tour of the Fire Museum other than scheduled Open House dates, call 414-286-5272.

Fire Museum Updates and Improvements

During our winter closing, the Fire Museum will be making a number of updates and improvements. A large screen TV and sound bar will be installed for improved presentation capabilities, an improvement of the old projector and screen. In addition, we are evaluating a new lighting design for the dorm-presentation room. And lastly, a new display is planned for the north wall. We will keep it a surprise for now, but you will be impressed the next time you come to visit the Fire Museum in April.

Donations to assist in the many projects of the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and the Milwaukee Fire Museum are always appreciated. Contact any Board Member!

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The photo (above) was taken on 12-25-70 by the MFD Arson Squad.This 2nd Alarm ﬁre was at the Bullring tavern at 1532 E. Bellevue. The photo (below) was a 5th alarm in the 2300 block of W. Wells. Photos from the MFHS Photo Archives.

Christmas Greater Alarms The old adage “fire never takes a holiday” applies to Christmas day as well. Milwaukee firefighters have been called out for many a greater alarm over the years on Christmas day. Here is a rundown on each Christmas day greater alarm: 1885 Saturday December 25 Fire occurred in the Schlitz Brewery at 2nd & Galena. Two alarms 1892 Sunday December 25 Milwaukee firefighters were battling a fire on the corner of Water and Chicago when another more serious fire broke out in the Gem Hammock & Fly Net Factory located on Greenbush Street. Two alarms were sounded. The entire fire department worked at these two fires in negative 12-18 degree below zero weather. 1910 Sunday December 25 A fire at Water & Huron required a second alarm.

1911 Monday December 25 Pipeman Fred Glander of Engine 20 was electrocuted at 8th & St. Paul 1915 Saturday December 25 The three-story Wallace & Smith Harness factory located at 55 3rd Street was heavily damaged by a fire that broke out around 5 p.m. on Christmas day. A third alarm was called and damages amounted to more than $35,000. 1917 Tuesday December 25 Four firefighters were injured when a fire broke out in a three-story building at 213-17 2nd Street. Two alarms were sounded and there was a loss of $43,400.00.

1929 Wednesday December 25 Two alarms were sounded for a fire in a two-story rag and junk shop which also threatened an adjacent home at 343 Mineral Street. A mother and her three children were rescued from the home but the rag shop was destroyed. 1941 December 25 A basement fire in the Auer Court apartments at 1018-28 N. 15th Street drove a score of tenants from the building and caused $8,000 damage in a two-alarm fire. The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine)

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1952 Thursday December 25 A third alarm fire hit the Rural Transformer & Equipment Company located at 632 N. 8th St. Battalion Chief Karl Schuh estimated the damage to be $75,000. 1970 Thursday December 25 Firefighters were called to the Bull Ring, a tavern at 1532 E. Belleview at 1:17 a.m. Two alarms were called in what was called an “obvious arson fire”. Damage amounted to more than $35,000. 1993 Saturday December 25 An early Christmas morning five-alarm fire swept through a business apartment complex at 2325-35 W. Wells St. At least eight people were rescued by ladders. Deputy Chief John Coffey said five alarms were called because it was unknown how many people were inside.

1995 Monday December 25 Family members were alerted by their dogs when a ﬁre broke out in their home at 1820 N. 24th Pl. The four family members escaped with only the clothes they were wearing in the two-alarm blaze that left their home a total loss. 2016 December 25 3248-50 N. 35th St. Two alarms

THE NEWHALL HOUSE FIRE – MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

WHAT: Hotel fire WHEN: January 10, 1883 WHERE: Milwaukee, Wisconsin FATALITIES: At least 74, maybe as many as 90 Chicago Daily Tribune – January 11, 1883

The Newhall House was built by a group led buy Daniel Newhall. It was opened to the public on August 26th, 1857. The building was made of Milwaukee Brick and occupied the corner Broadway and Michigan Streets in downtown Milwaukee. The largest and finest hotel in the West had already narrowly escaped disaster. On February 14, 1863, a blaze broke out in a room occupied by a newly-married couple, and before it was extinguished nine apartments were lost. On the morning of January 10, 1883 disaster struck. At around 4am fire was discovered and in less than 30 minutes the entire building was destroyed by fire. The fire started in the elevator shaft and spread very quickly through the wooden and brick building. The Newhall House as it looked The Newhall House had long been considered a hazard by the in the late 1860s. Photo courtesy Milwaukee Fire Department due to its poor management, construction, of Jeff Beutner. ventilation and lack of exits. Unfortunately for those that perished, the were no laws/ordinances to force the Newhall to make the changes that may have spared lives. Further Particulars of the Terrible Calamity The scene on the morning of January 10th was pure chaos and pandemonium. The Reno Evening Gazette from later that day describes the scene with colorful details common to newspapers at the time.

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The burning of the Newhall House at Milwaukee this morning…is another terrible illustration of not providing efficient means of exit to public building. Over 60 human being were roasted alive in that death box, and many of the victims, too, in full view of the vast multitude standing in the street below, unable to succor the perishing mortals. The thought is too horrifying to realize. The reports received refer to the building as a “death trap,” and it seems public attention had been called to the unsafe conditioning of the building in case hast exit should ever become necessary, still nothing was done to remedy the fault. Cannot some law be passed compelling the owners of public buildings to properly protect those who must visit them?

The fire spread with such fearful rapidity that it was not in the power of man to save the building, and it is a marvel that the skill and bravery of the firemen were able to confine that sea of flame within the blackened walls of the hotel. The valuable buildings and the wealth of merchandise now in the block of that ill-fated house are indebted for their preservation to the well-directed and fearless work of the Fire Department. The Police were equally prompt in responding to the first call, and they braved every danger in the discharge of their duty. The fire killed at least 74 and as many as 90. 48 victims remained unidentified. Several hundred people were hurt. The registry for the hotel was destroyed in the fire so the number varies on how many guests were in the hotel that night. Estimates put it at around 800. The dead were memorialized with a monument in Forest Home Cemetery. Some Guests Saved General Tom Thumb, of P.T. Barnum circus fame, and his wife were guests of the Newhall House that fateful night. They were ultimately rescued from the sixth floor by a firefighter named O’Brien. O’Brien managed to get a fire ladder up to their floor and held the tiny couple under one arm while holding his swaying ladder with the other. Tom Thumb would pass away 6 months later. His death was not related to the fire. Approximately 12 to 15 other people were saved. The Inquest On January 23rd. an inquest of the dead began in the Municipal Court of Milwaukee City Hall. Details were discussed in length and interviews were conducted with witnesses. Thirteen days after the trial began, the jury, consisting of: a builder, 2 contractors, a clergyman, a railroad employee, and a merchant came back with these findings:

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• The Newhall was set on fire by a person or persons unknown. • There was only one-night watchman at the time and he was unable to attend to his proper duties, as there should have been at least 2 or 3 watchmen. • The watchman and the night clerk, obeying previous instructions by the proprietors, lost valuable time trying to put out the fire and neglects to wake up the patrons of the hotel. • When they finally did try to awaken people the halls were filled with so much smoke that they decided to save themselves. • The Newhall was devoid of proper exits. There were escape ladders on the northeast and southeast corners, and a bridge near the southwest corner leading across the alley, an inside servants’ stairway from the fifth story to the Reno Evening Gazette - basement, and two large open stairways January 10, 1883 in the front corridors leading from the office floor to the sixth floor, with an open ladder to the roof. That was not nearly enough for a hotel that size. • The owners were incredibly negligent – knowing that fires had taken place in the hotel – by not having more exits. • The Fire Department did their duty as well as could be expected, but could have done much more had the ladder trucks and Fire Museum been fully manned and equipped with the best extension ladders and the men well drilled to handle them.

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• Telegraph poles and wires caused serious obstruction to the Fire Department by preventing them from using their ladders in a speedy and efficient manner. Special thanks to archive.org for digitizing “Burning of the Newhall house,” which provided those great details.

The Trial A man named George Scheller was charged with setting the fire. The trial was held in April of 1883 and Schiller was acquitted on all charges. An editorial in Green Bay Weekly Gazette blamed Schiller’s charge on living “fast.” The Newhall fire started getting cities to realize that having low hanging telegraph wires was a danger and putting them underground may spare precious minutes in an incident such as this. It also would to help ease the blight of burgeoning down towns. The Detroit Free-Press ran a brief editorial on December 31, 1884 that called for their removal in the upcoming year. Milwaukee and other major cities would remove those poles over the next few years.

Ruins of the Newhall House a few hours later – January 10, 1883. Note the telegraph poles. Image courtesy of Jeff Beutner.

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Detroit Free-Press, December 31, 1994

Green Bay Weekly Gazette, April 21, 1883

No one was ever convicted of starting the Newell House fire!

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Congratulation to my daughter Anna Leach. She qualified and competed in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Nice, France in September. Anna works for UW-Madison Athletic Department Office in Madison. Congratulations to Retired Deputy Chief Mark Randy Leach, Editor, The Register. Owen. His son, Peter Owen, was recently promoted to Major in the Army National Guard. Congratulations to Peter and his family. Peter serves at the Adjutant Generals Office in Madison.

and Fire Museum

All In The Family is your place to do a little bragging about your family and friends. Please send information and/or photo(s) to [email protected]

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Hat Trivia The Kromer Cap - The Milwaukee Connection

In 1903 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, George "Stormy" Kromer, an engineer for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and former semi-pro baseball player, decided that there wasn't a single cap of quality materials and manufacture, which suited the needs of railroad men. So he made one. Kromer drew up the design and speciﬁcations. His wife, Ida, did the cutting and sewing. The cap had to be one-hundred percent cloth with a soft ﬂexible visor. It had to cling to the head despite strong gusts of wind that plagued rail hands everywhere. Ida Kromer added her own touches: a sweatband of absorbent cloth; and an outside band which could be pulled down over the ears. The Kromer cap was born.

The Milwaukee Connection? Due to increasing demands, the Stormy Kromer Cap Company moved to Milwaukee in 1919 on N. Broadway St. and later 7th St.

They remained here until 2001. The company moved to Ironwood, Michigan and increased production. They now produce 50,000 caps per year. The caps have a three-year "insurance policy" for loss, a lifetime warranty against defects and are Made in the USA!

For many years Milwaukee Fire Department members wore them. They were popular with drivers while tending to the pump panel. Some members still wear them, including retired BC Gregg Wenzel. If anyone has photo of the Kromer, please forward.

Ad is from the Milwaukee Fire Fighter magazine, Summer 1966

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While the fire at the left is not a Christmas fire it is a winter fire. Two firefighters were injured on this morning fire that gutted a duplex in the 2500 block of N. 14th St.

If you where there or can identify the firefighters at this fire please contact the Editor, Randy Leach at [email protected].

Check your smoke detector monthly!

The Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and Fire Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history, heritage and traditions of the Milwaukee Fire Department. Our Fire Museum enables us to be accessible to the public, display our collection of memorabilia and vintage ﬁre apparatus and to conduct educational and historical research activities. The Society is a non-proﬁt 501-c-3 organization.

and Fire Museum

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