Winterwinter 1991 (414)(414) 481-2300481-2300

`NOJOSHING'JOSHING' TheThe official NewsletterNewsletter of of the the St. St. Francis Francis Historical Historical Society Society

42354235 South Nicholson Avenue St.St. Francis, WisconsinWisconsin 5320753207 WinterWinter 1991 (414)(414) 481-2300481-2300

1990 - - 1991 1991 OFFICERS OFFICERS grandfather, JohnJohn Paulu, Paulu, a aSt. St. Francis Francis politician politician and and civic civic President ...... Ron TessmerTessmer leaderleader inin hishis own own right. right. AndyAndy operatedoperated the the greenhouses greenhouses for for Vice President ...... Diane JohnstonJohnston many yearsyears before before selling selling off off portions portions of of the the property property after after Recording Secretary ...... Millie SchimelfenygSchimelfenyg building a grocery storestore on on a a part part of of the the land, land, which which he he Treasurer ...... Margaret SymkowskiSymkowski rentedrented outout andand then then sold, sold, according according to to a along-time long-time family family friend. That building is now known as SupremeSupreme Meats. Meats. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andy lived in the Paulu househouse until until the the mid-1960s, mid-1960s, when when Ron & MargeMarge TessmerTessmer ...... 744-0653 he movedmoved near near the the airport airport on on Logan Logan Avenue. Avenue. The The house house was was Carl BaehrBaehr ...... 483-4202 bought inin 19701970 byby JerryJerry Kasprzyk, Kasprzyk, who who operates operates and and owns owns Joanne RichardsRichards ...... 744-3167 the MaytagMaytag storestore in in frontfront ofof thethe house.house. The The store store once once serv- serv- Diane Johnston ...... 483-5883 ed asas the the boiler boiler room room for for the the greenhouses, greenhouses, according according to ato a Chris Barney ...... 461-5869 1986 articlearticle byby MaryMary Becker.Becker. Millie Schimelfenyg Schimelfenyg ...... 769-6575 An avid motorcyclist, Andy also was a licensed, private Margaret Symkowski ...... 483-0455 An avid motorcyclist, Andy also was a licensed, private airplane pilotpilot who,who, forfor many years,years, owned owned a aIight light plane plane and and COMMITTEES kept it hangared onon Layton Layton Avenue.Avenue. Cataloging ...... Laura StaatsStaats - -481-9849481-9849 In addition to hishis involvementinvolvement with with ourour society, society, Andy Andy also also Displays ...... Marge TessmerTessmer - -744-0653 744-0653 worked as aa securitysecurity guard guard in in his his later later years. years. Harking Harking back back HistorieHistoric Preservation Preservation ...... Carl Baehr -- 483-4202483-4202 to his childhoodchildhood days,days, Andy Andy onceonce related related to to a afamily family friend friend Fewsletter ...... Chris Barney -- 461-5869461-5869 about seeing citycity founderfounder andand meatpackermeatpacker Patrick Patrick Cudahy Cudahy Arts andand CraftsCrafts ...... Joanne Richards Richards - -744-3167 744-3167 'hikingliiking down K.K.K.K. AvenueAvenue on his wayway toto work'work' oneone Membership ...... Bob Schwingle - -744-0873 744-0873 morning. (Cudahy dieddied in in 1919.)1919.) Programs ...... Diane JohnstonJohnston - -483-5883 483-5883 Andy, who never married,married, is is survived survived by by nieces, nieces, nephews, nephews, other relatives andand friends friends all all over over Bay Bay View, View, St. St. Francis, Francis, Cudahy andand southeast southeast Milwaukee. Milwaukee. He He will will be be long long remembered forfor hishis caringcaring andand concern concern for for his his family family and and ST. FRANCISFRANCIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY: SOCIETY: his community. WE ARE (See elsewhereelsewhere in in this this issue issue an an interview interview with with Andy Andy Koenig Koenig -- Ed.)Ed.) "SERIOUS ABOUTABOUT NOJOSHING"NOJOSHING" KATHRYN SCHWINGLE SCHWINGLE — — 1933-1990 1933-1990

ANDREWANDREW KOENIG:KOENIG: 1911-1990 1911-1990

(Courtesy oj Kalks. South) TheThe SFHS Family was saddenedsaddened to to learn learn of of the the sudden sudden passingFassing of charter membermember Andrew Andrew J. J. Koenig, Koenig, descendant descendant KathyKathy Schwingle,Schwingle, President ofof thethe St. St. Francis Francis Historical Historical ofof aa pioneer St.St. FrancisFrancis family, family, on on November November 13, 13, 1990. 1990. SocietySociety in 1979, 19871987 and and again again in in 1988, 1988, died died December December 18th 18th atat the age of of 57. 57. AndyAndy grewgrew upup onon thethe family farmfarm onon PackardPackard and Howard,Howard, andand later bought the homehome andand greenhouses greenhouses of of his his KathyKathy waswas aa staunch supportersupporter of of the the St. St. Francis Francis —— 11 —— HistoricalHistorical Society,Society, and and was was involved involved and and very very instrumental instrumental COMMITTEECOMMITTEE REPORTSREPORTS inin itsits originaloriginal formationformation inin 1976.1976. SheShe was was an an elected elected Director Director •• ARTSARTS ANDAND CRAFTSCRAFTS —— JOANNEJOANNE RICHARDSRICHARDS currentlycurrently serving inin herher fifth consecutiveconsecutive three-year three-year term.term. TheThe ArtsArts andand Crafts Fair, held November 18th, was aa SheShe maintainedmaintained a strong guiding voice withinwithin thethe SocietySociety hugehuge success.success. TheThe SocietySociety netted netted $935.30$935.30 from from the the event.event. and was a very active Fund raiser for the Society. and was a very active fund raiser for the Society. ThanksThanks areare extended toto allall whowho attendedattended andand participatedparticipatecl MostMost recently,recently, Kathy Kathy was was chairman chairman of of the the trips trips and and tours tours inin thethe event.event. committeecommittee andand setset upup severalseveral veryvery interestinginteresting andand well at-at- •• TOURSTOURS ANDAND TRIPS tendedtended tours.tours. The most recent of whichwhich waswas aa tourtour ofof RonRon TessmerTessmer reported reported thethe tourtour ofof the the Pabst Pabst Mansion Mansion in in Manitowoc's Maritime Museum and Christmas at the Pabst Manitowoc's Maritime Museum and Christmas at the Pabst DecemberDecember waswas well well attended attended and and worthwhile. worthwhile. Twenty- Twenty- Mansion.Mansion. SheShe waswas someonesomeone whowho could could always always be be depended depended fivefive adultsadults andand sixsix childrenchildren inin attendanceattendance allall enjoyedenjoyed the the uponupon to bebe availableavailable whenwhen helphelp waswas neededneeded regardlessregardless ofof the the event.event. naturenature of thatthat help. Her avid interest and knowledge inin regardsregards to collectibles and antiques was invaluable to the Society andand she readilyreadily sharedshared this knowledge withwith thethe Society.Society. Kathy was currentlycurrently servingserving asas thethe MetropolitanMetropolitan RegionRegion Representative on the Administrative Committee of thethe THE STREETS OF ST. FRANCIS By Carl Baehr Wisconsin CouncilCouncil forfor Local History,History, an office toto whichwhich sheshe By Carl Baehr was electedelected duringduring thethe MetropolitanMetropolitan RegionalRegional ConventionConvention (Second(Second ofof aa series)series) hosted by the Wisconsin SlovakSlovak HistoricalHistorical SocietySociety onon Portions of whatwhat is nownow St.St. Francis Francis werewere originally originally meant meant September 15, 1990. to be partpart ofof the Village ofof Cudahy.Cudahy. InIn 1892,1892, PatrickPatrick Kathy was bornborn in southern Illinois in 1933 andand hashas beenbeen aa Cudahy announced his plans for the founding of an in- resident of St. FrancisFrancis since 1953.1953. SheShe married married RobertRobert "Pee- dustrial town with his meatpackingmeatpacking plantplant as itsits base.base. TheThe Wee" Schwingle, aa life-longlife-long resident resident ofof St. St. Francis, Francis, andand itsits prosperity of the times was in evidence throughoutthroughout the county. fire chiefchief untiluntil hishis retirementretirement lastlast JanuaryJanuary 4th. Huge buildings likelike thethe CityCity HallHall and and thethe PabstPabst buildingbuilding were being builtbuilt in downtown Milwaukee.Milwaukee. SouthSouth MilwaukeeMilwaukee In addition to her husband, Robert,Robert, KathyKathy isis survivedsurvived byby was being developed by inventors. Bay View was expanding sons: RaymondRaymond D.D. (Shelly)(Shelly) and and Robert Robert Jr.; Jr.; grandchildren:grandchildren: southward and parts ofof St. Francis were being subdivided.subdivided. Nola, Mary,Mary, KathrynKathryn andand Andrew;Andrew; sisters: sisters: Audrie Audrie Greaning_ Greaning of Danville, IL,IL, andand Edythe Jergens of Michigan City, IN; Land speculators and real estate developers, somesome o)I(A and Brother:brother: Lloyd (Frances) Miller of Mission, TX. whom were PatrickPatrick Cudahy's friends and business associates, beganbegan buyingbuying landland inin thethe areaarea aroundaround the site of Kathy's insight,insight, energyenergy andand directnessdirectness will will bebe sadlysadly missedmissed his plant. The namesnames ofof some of their subdivisions reflected by our Society as we carrycarry on the many things she began. their intentions and their optimism. Among them were Cudahy Heights (now partpart of Mitchell International Airport),Airport), CudahyCudahy StationStation (West(West of the Northern Rail Car Company), and Cudahy Park. The area now being developed westwest of of Layton Layton Mart Mart waswas platted platted inin RE-CAP OF OCTOBER 29TH October of 1892 and was called "Sivyer"Sivyer and Betz Addition to the Townsite of Cudahy." TheThe developmentdevelopment companiescompanies GENERAL MEETING followedfollowed aa similarsimilar patternpattern with names like Cudahy Central The meeting, originally scheduled to be held in the Frank Land Company,Company, CudahyCudahy BeltlineBeltline Realty Company, and Lupo house, was instead held at St. Francis Community Cudahy Improvement Company. Center duedue toto aa powerpower outageoutage at thethe home.home. At the center, Developers, inin anan efforteffort toto integrate integrate withwith Patrick's Patrick's President RonRon TessmerTessmer discusseddiscussed suggestionssuggestions on what Cudahy, followedfollowed his street naming scheme in their plans. historical periodperiod inin whichwhich to decorate the house once ourour Avenues with names of meatpackersmeatpackers like Cudahy, Armour, societysociety is allowed toto useuse thethe structure.structure. SuggestionsSuggestions included Layton, and PlankintonPlankinton beganbegan toto showshow up onon plat mapsmaps ofof thethe 19101910 period, when the house was built, or the 19511951 subdivisions.subdivisions. period,period, whenwhen thethe Citycity waswas incorporated.incorporated. Other topicstopics in- cludedcluded security in and around thethe house,house, climateclimate control for TheThe panicpanic ofof 1893 put an end to many ofof these planned storagestorage ofof artifacts, andand thethe carecare of of thethe facility.facility. RonRon alsoalso developments.developments. While Patrick Cudahy was able to continue discusseddiscussed the Society's purpose in preserving history. GuestGuest withwith hishis plans, the growthgrowth ofof the area waswas notnot asas vigorousvigorous as ScottScott EnkEnk discusseddiscussed preserving thethe NorwichNorwich St. bridge overover hoped.hoped. InIn 1894,1894, the mechanism for incorporating thethe VillageVillage thethe C&NW.C&NW. TheThe meetingmeeting was well attended.attended. ofof Cudahy waswas started.started. A A censuscensus ofof thethe proposedproposed villagevillage was,was taken.taken. NoticesNotices were posted throughoutthroughout the area. TheThe proposedproposed northern borderborder was was whatwhat isis now Water- fordford Avenue.Avenue. TheThe westernwestern edgeedge waswas to be Pennsylvania Avenue.Avenue. However, the landowners to the north ofof LunhamLunham —2——2- AvenueAvenue filedfiled an an objectionobjection toto thethe plan.plan. TheyThey diddid notnot wantwant toto alsoalso ownedowned CudahyCudahy PackingPacking ofof Louisville,Louisville, Kentucky. Kentucky. be part of the village. They could not afford to operate their be part of the village. They could not afford to operate their OtherOther streets namednamed byby PatrickPatrick CudahyCudahy thatthat extend farms and pay village tax rates. They said their land was too farms and pay village tax rates. They said their land was too westwardwestward intointo St.St. FrancisFrancis areare VanVan Norman,Norman, Allerton,Allerton, Botts-Botts- sparselysparsely populatedpopulated toto bebe consideredconsidered partpart of thethe village.village. ford,ford, andand Whittaker.Whittaker. GeorgeGeorge BosworthBosworth Van Van Norman Norman owned owned here were only 11 houses in this section. Farmers in the rhere were only 11 houses in this section. Farmers in the aa MilwaukeeMilwaukee livestocklivestock commissioncommission businessbusiness whichwhich purchas-purchas- lKwestern section, between Barland Avenue (then known as western section, between Barland Avenue (then known as eded livestock,livestock, mostly mostly pigs, pigs, from from stockgrowers stockgrowers and and farmers farmers Axtell Avenue) and Pennsylvania Avenue, protested for the Axtell Avenue) and Pennsylvania Avenue, protested for the andand then sold thethe animalsanimals toto meatpackers.meatpackers. Van Norman was same reasons. There were only 18 houses in their area which same reasons. There were only 18 houses in their area which instrumentalinstrumental in the "booming" ofof SouthSouth Milwaukee.Milwaukee. He extended south to Grange Avenue. extended south to Grange Avenue. waswas amongamong aa groupgroup ofof landland speculatorsspeculators whowho hopedhoped toto draw draw TheThe judgejudge agreedagreed withwith them them and and they they retained retained their their rural rural potentialpotential home buyersbuyers to thethe areaarea to work for the factories statusstatus (although part of the western section wouldwould laterlater thethe groupgroup plannedplanned to enticeentice there.there. VanVan NormanNorman waswas presi-presi- becomebecome partpart of CudahyCudahy throughthrough annexation). Decades laterlater dentdent of the Eagle Horse Shoe Company which was located theirtheir lands became urbanized,urbanized, and many of thethe streetsstreets whichwhich inin SouthSouth Milwaukee.Milwaukee. WithWith thisthis experience, hehe assistedassisted came toto criss-crosscriss-cross their their fieldsfields brought brought namesnames with with them them Patrick Cudahy in developing thethe CudahyCudahy area.area. showing their earlier connection with Cudahy. showing their earlier connection with Cudahy. Allerton AvenueAvenue is is named named for for Samuel Samuel Waters Waters Allerton Allerton The series ofof east-westeast-west streets streets betweenbetween Pennsylvania Pennsylvania andand (1828-1914)(1828-1914) who waswas inin thethe meatmeat businessbusiness andand waswas based based in in Nicholson AvenuesAvenues whichwhich carrycarry names from the genealogy Chicago wherewhere hehe ranran for mayor at the timetime he was having a of thethe CudahyCudahy BrothersBrothers meatpacking business areare examples. street named forfor himhim inin thethe CudahyCudahy area.area. HeHe started started hishis career as a cattle buyer in his native state of New York.York. HeHe Layton, Plankinton,Plankinton, Armour and Cudahy were all, atat one became a cattle grower in Illinois in the 1850s. JustJust before time or another, partners in a firm that traces its roots to time or another, partners in a firm that traces its roots to the Civil War, he moved to Chicago as a livestock commis- Milwaukee's infancy. JohnJohn Plankinton began his meat sioner andand later, after the war, he started a packing firm in business in Milwaukee in the mid-1840s. Frederick Layton business in Milwaukee in the mid-1840s. Frederick Layton Chicago. HeHe hadhad interestsinterests throughoutthroughout thethe MidwestMidwest andand merged his own businessbusiness withwith Plankinton's Plankinton's inin 18521852 under under when hehe dieddied "owned"owned moremore actualactual farmingfarming landland thanthan the name "Layton"Layton and Plankinton." AtAt the dawn of thethe perhaps any man in America." Civil War,War, the pair split up. Then inin 1863,1863, Philip Danforth Armour joined Plankinton and formed the Plankinton and With Henry Botsford (who(who spelledspelled Botsford Botsford with with one one 't', 't', Armour Meatpacking Company, a relationship that lasted unlike Bottsford Avenue), AllertonAllerton formed the Chicago until 1884. FromFrom 18841884 toto 1888,1888, Patrick Patrick Cudahy Cudahy waswas a a partpart- National Stockyards Company, the largest of its kindkind in the periner ofof Plankinton Plankinton and and Company.Company. ThenThen PlankintonPlankinton retiredretired world. Botsford was bornborn in Ann Arbor, Michigan and trac- 'and PatrickPatrick andand JohnJohn CudahyCudahy tooktook overover andand thethe companycompany ed his ancestry to colonial America. He died in Chicago in name was changedchanged toto CudahyCudahy BrothersBrothers (later(later changedchanged againagain 1919, aa fewfew months months prior prior toto PatrickPatrick Cudahy'sCudahy's deathdeath in to Patrick Cudahy Company). Milwaukee. Francis Whittaker,Whittaker, a a St. St. LouisLouis meatpacker,meatpacker, was,was, like The first of thethe line,line, John John Plankinton Plankinton (1820-1891), (1820-1891), born born Patrick Cudahy, born in Ireland. He learned the meatpack- in Delaware, lost thethe distinction of havinghaving aa St.St. FrancisFrancis ing trade inin CountyCounty SligoSligo atat a time whenwhen IrelandIreland was thethe street named forfor himhim whenwhen PlankintonPlankinton AvenueAvenue waswas changedchanged world's major meatpackingmeatpacking center, a distinction eventually to Price Avenue in the 1930 TownTown ofof LakeLake streetstreet renamingrenaming lost to thethe United States.States. project. Besides the Plankinton Avenue in Cudahy, he has a project. Besides the Plankinton Avenue in Cudahy, he has a The Northern border betweenbetween St. Francis and Cudahy second street named inin hishis honor,honor, thisthis oneone westwest of the was named for Robert Thomas Lunham,Lunham, aa ChicagoChicago porkpork Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee. Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee. packer who was born in County Cork, Ireland. English-born FrederickFrederick LaytonLayton (1827-1919)(1827-1919) also has a A number of north-south street namesnames which continue Milwaukee street named for him in addition to Layton intointo St. Francis from Cudahy were also namednamed forfor thosethose inin Avenue. Layton Boulevard (27th Street between Lincoln Avenue. Layton Boulevard (27th Street between Lincoln thethe packing industry. Avenue and the viaduct) was named as a tribute to the man who contributed so much to Milwaukee's artart heritage. Thomas Lipton, an Irishman born inin Scotland,Scotland, waswas more famous for his tea business than hishis Chicago and Omaha Philip Danforth ArmourArmour (1832-1901) camecame fromfrom thethe state packing interests.interests. HeHe waswas also well known during the firstfirst of New York to Milwaukee before the Civil War and left the of New York to Milwaukee before the Civil War and left the thirdthird ofof thisthis centurycentury forfor hishis fivefive challengeschallenges for yachting's City for Chicago around 1875. In Chicago, he became one of city for Chicago around 1875. In Chicago, he became one of revered AmericaAmerica Cup.Cup. InIn spitespite ofof namingnaming allall ofof his yachts America's wealthiestwealthiest men as president of the world's largest "Shamrock," he he never never had had good good enoughenough luckluck toto win. meatpacking company. Thomas and Samuel KinganKingan were alsoalso IrishIrish packers who Patrick CudahyCudahy (1849-1919),(1849-1919), aa native of Ireland, waswas setset up operationsoperations inin the United States. In addition to their fromfrom aa MilwaukeeMilwaukee familyfamily ofof fivefive brothers whowho werewere suc-suc- BelfastBelfast business, thethe companycompany hadhad plantsplants in Cincinnati, FessfulFessful in the meat business. Among themthem theythey foundedfounded atat Indianapolis,Indianapolis, andand KansasKansas City.City. leastleast three meatpackingmeatpacking companies.companies. InIn addition to Patrick andand John'sJohn's CudahyCudahy company,company, brothers MichaelMichael and Edward WilliamWilliam Kirkwood waswas aa commissioncommission agent in Chicago ownedowned the Cudahy PackingPacking Company, with plants allall overover andand helpedhelped support FrederickFrederick Layton'sLayton's art gallerygallery in thethe country,country, itit waswas oneone of the "Big Five" of Chicago. JohnJohn Milwaukee.Milwaukee. —3——3- Gustavus Franklin Franklin Swi117t1 Swn, 9 bornborn inin Massachusetts,Massachusetts, built a else;else; it had the old hook and arm wherewhere thethe mailmail waswas drop- largelarge nationalnational meatpackingmeatpacking businessbusiness headquartered inin ped offoff and picked up -- sometimes it (the mail) ended up on Chicago. His company was second inin sizesize toto onlyonly Armour's. Armour's. thethe ground.ground. ThatThat mailmail was,was, I think, forfor thethe boxesboxes at the St. Francis postpost office;office; most of the homes inin thatthat area were Hately Avenue was namednamed forfor two EnglishEnglish brothers,brothers, John servedserved by Station 'D''EY in in iViilwaukee." Milwaukee." (Station 'D' isis now and Walter Walter ft-11,., FrEaCeEy,-).1eig, who who came came toto AmericaAmerica inin 1873.1873. They 9 known as Bay View/St. FrancisFrancis Station). established a packing househouse inin Chicago.Chicago. The conversation then turned toto Andy'sAndy's memoriesmemories ofof While these St. FrancisFrancis streets did not become partpart of political families fromfrom St.St. Francis:Francis: "I lived near the families Cudahy, their namesnames do reflect their place in early Cudahy of Paul WeibesWelbes and Connie Schneider - they originally both history. livedlived onan the Lake Road (now South Lake Drive); theirtheir (This(This series will continue in future issues - Ed.) families farmed there. Later theythey (Paul and Connie)Connie) both moved over on K.K. Avenue,Avenue, nearnear SacredSacred Heart.Heart. Paul WeibesWelbes ran a tavern just southsouth of St. John's School for the Deaf, on thethe easteast sideside ofof the the street.street. HeHe had had aa 'horse'horse shed'shed' in back of the tavern -- it was kind of a lean-to with a wall to the north, wherewhere thethe prevailingprevailing windswinds usually came from. You GIJROUR YAREI,1'AKilY nri!:ES just parked bothboth thethe horsehorse andand buggybuggy in there when you An interview with AndyAndy KoenigKoenig atat hishis home, went to church - that also gave people anan excuseexcuse to to 'stop `stop in' in' 4561 South LoganLogan Avenue,Avenue, Milwaukee,Milwaukee, May 16, 1988 the tavern afterafter Mass,"Mass," recalledrecalled Andy,Andy, chuckling.chuckling. by Chris Barney I asked Andy about his originaloriginal homestead,homestead, onan thethe north-north- (The following articlearticle contains excerpts from the Koenig west cornercorner of PackardPackard andand Howard:Howard: "The"The Community interview) Center stands on part ofof our 80-acre parcel of landland -- thethe house is stillstill there;there; it'sit's well overover aa hundredhundred yearsyears old.old. It'sIt's interviewed Andy on this Monday afternoon intending I interviewed Andy on this Monday afternoon intending been remodeled overover thethe years."years." WhenWhen askedasked aboutabout hishis to get information on his grandfather, John Paulu, an in- to get information on his grandfather, John Paulu, an in- father, AndyAndy couldn't volunteervolunteer much:much: "I"I was was onlyonly 1010 or 1212 fluential Town of Lake architect and civic leader between fluential Town of Lake architect and civic Leader between when he died; I was told he was aa salesmansalesman -- thenthen hehe workedworked the 1880s and about 1920. I got much more than I asked for. the 1880s and about 1920. I got much more than 1 asked for. at Federal Rubber CompanyCompany inin Cudahy.Cudahy. ItIt seemsseems like just He first reflected on his recollection of his 'Grandpa John': He first reflected an his recollection of his `Crandpa .lohn': about everybody worked there that 1I knew. After LakesideLakeside "He built two houses on K.K. Avenue; the first one, which "He built two houses on K.K. Avenue; the first one, which Power Plant was built,built, aa storestore waswas builtbuilt inin frontfront ofof ourour burned, was built about 1890 - the one he built to replace - burned, was built about 1890 - the one he .built to replace house,houSe, and my" my fatherfa-ther sortsort •"of of tb töök-Ok ca catere of that, aSas - 1(1( that one was built about 1914 - that's still standing." Andy that one was built about 1914 - that's still standing." Andy remember." also spoke of thethe greenhousesgreenhouses adjacentadjacent to the house which, for many years, werewere operatedoperated byby Paulu'sPaulu's sons.sons. "When"When theythey quit running them, I took over," recalled Andy. He alsoalso spoke ofof thethe manymany areaarea churcheschurches JohnJohn PauluPaulu designed andand helped toto build.build. "Other"Other than them (the churches), I1 don't don't recall him building anything elseelse (of significance),"significance)," recalledrecalled Andy. "He built a few (local) tavernstaverns andand would runrun them until he found a buyer for them - they werewere onon thethe southsouth side, asas I1 recallrecall beingbeing told.told. I1 also also remember remember seeingseeing somesome blueprints onon aa bigbig boardboard inin thethe living living roomroom of of thethe (1914)(1914) house," Andy related to me. When askedasked whatwhat particularparticular offices his his Grandpa Grandpa John John had held, Andy relatedrelated thatthat "he was (town) chairmanchairman and a county board supervisor; in those days (around 1900),1900), anytime you became towntown chairmanchairman you were automatically Andy at at about about age age three. three. made a county supervisor;supervisor; he also servedserved inin thethe (state)(state) (Courtesy(Courtesy ofof KathyKulltv Smids)Smith) assembly andand was aa justicejustice ofof thethe peacepeace -- I I remember remember hearinghearing The primitive roads of the early 1900s broughtbrought a few in-in- of juryjury trials being held in his living room."room." terestingteresting commentscomments fromfrom Andy:Andy: "Thompson"Thompson AvenueAvenue waswas Feeling moremore comfortablecomfortable andand talkativetalkative now,now, AndyAndy began began paved with crushed stone, and we used to walkwalk onon thethe sideside ofof toto drawdraw more `gems''gems' from his memory vaults. 1I askedasked him thethe roadroad in our bare feet. Once thethe stonesstones werewere worn worn down down aboutabout oldold St.St. Francis:Francis: "That"That was builtbuilt upup aroundaround St.St. FrancisFrancis by traffic,traf fic, the the walking walking was was easier, easier, but but forfor aa whilewhile afterafter freshfresh Avenue,Avenue, wherewhere thethe old post office was;was; itit (the(the postpost office)office) stonestone waswas firstfirst laid,laid, itit waswas really really hard hard onon youryour feet;feet; youyou tried tried was mostlymostly forfor postpost officeoffice boxes. boxes. My My grandfather grandfather hadhad aa toto walkwalk inin thethe ditchditch asas muchmuch asas youyou could."could." OnOn K.K. boxbox therethere forfor quitequite a while; II alsoalso rememberremember whenwhen wewe boysboys Avenue:Avenue: "It"lt was nevernever inin mymy memorymemory a a dirt dirt road,road, itit waswas servedserved dailydaily MassMass (at(at SacredSacred Heart),Heart), oneone ofof ourour jobsjobs waswas to to alwaysalways paved.paved. The The interurban interurban trackstracks ran down the center of gogo overover toto thethe postpost officeoffice and and get get Father's Father's mail."mail." The thethe road;road; therethere werewere bricksbricks pavedpaved aroundaround them."them." TheThe men-men- Chicago andand NorthNorth WesternWestern Depot,Depot, near near thethe Rail'sRail's Inn,Inn, alsoalso tiontion ofof thethe interurbaninterurban cars of the Milwaukee-Racine- camecame toto mind:mind: "It"It was more of aa mailmail dropdrop thanthan anything KenoshaKenosha electricelectric lineline provokedprovoked anotheranother amusingamusing memory:memory: —4-4— "The interurban cars cars were were `deluxe''deluxe' models;models; they even hadhad a two tavernstaverns and a few homeshomes there.there. ItIt waswas notnot bigbig (enough(enough toilet on them. But they (the toilets) werewere onlyonly usedused southsouth ofof to be considered aa village);village); neitherneither waswas St.St. Francis,Francis, reallyreally (at(at my Grandpa John's house,house, at Waterford Avenue, wherewhere thethe that time).time). They (New CoelnCoeln andand St.St. Francis)Francis) werewere justjust train leftleft the road andand ranran alongalong thethe sideside of the road next to names (of settlements), really;really; it was allall partpart of Town of the North Western tracks. Before itit leftleft thethe road,road, thethe toiletstoilets Lake, but St. Francis was definitely more of aa village."village." were always locked.locked. TheThe reasonreason forfor thatthat waswas becausebecause whenwhen you used thethe toilet,toilet, itit justjust 'dropped'`dropped' out.out. TheThe toilettoilet waswas locked againagain whenwhen thethe traintrain wentwent backback onon thethe roadroad inin Cudahy, and thenthen unlockedunlocked againagain somewheresomewhere in South Milwaukee. II thinkthink it stayed offoff thethe roadroad thenthen untiluntil thethe traintrain got to Racine."Racine." I wondered what Andy remembered about thethe effecteffect the Lakeside Power Plant utility taxes had on improvements in St. Francis: "I thinkthink mostmost ofof thatthat money wentwent intointo upgrading schoolsschools and keeping taxes down; nono oneone everever gotgot out of paying taxes entirely - there was always thethe school tax. The utility tax money onlyonly coveredcovered thethe propertyproperty taxtax por-por- The greenhousesgreenhouses of of John John Paulu, Paulu, along along KK KK Avenue Avenue south south of of tion. As farfar asas otherother improvements,improvements, suchsuch asas roadsroads andand otherother Thompson (now (now Norwich) Norwich) Avenue, Avenue, were were operated operated by Andy by Andy Koenig andand his his brother, hrother, Leo, Leo, beginning heginning in thein the 1930s. 1930s. services, II don'tdon't recall muchmuch changingchanging inin thatthat respect."respect." whom(Photo courroycourieSv of Kathykathy Smith: Smith; InffirmationInformation courtesy couitesv Mary .Narr Be(ker) Recker, Contrary toto thethe many recreational gamesgames and activities available to today'stoday's youth, AndyAndy paintedpainted quitequite aa differentdifferent Andy's last recollection onon thisthis dayday waswas about about barns: barns: picture of hishis boyhood:boyhood: "There "There wasn'twasn't muchmuch recreationrecreation forfor "There werewere a lot of barnsbarns (in thethe area)area) thatthat weren'tweren't used kids back then; wewe would (ice) skateskate wherever we couldcould findfind anymore, and a lot of them burned (in(in the 1920s) duringduring some ice. II hadhad aa smallsmall pairpair ofof skisskis I I would would useuse byby thethe oldold Prohibition because a lot of stills werewere operatedoperated inin them.them. gravelgrave) pitpit back up in the field (near(near the Koenig home).home). WeWe Barn fires were so common duedue toto havinghaving stillsstills in in them them that that went swimming anan awfulawful lotlot -- anan auntaunt andand uncle ofof minemine hadhad (eventually) therethere weren'tweren't manymany leftleft afterafter thatthat -- firefightersfirefighters a farm right square onon thethe LakesideLakeside Power Plant site, and were really keptkept busy." we would swimswim inin thethe lakeJake there. there. AfterAfter thethe ElectricElectric Com-Com- The only other - and last - memory Andy impartedimparted to me pany bought their farm they moved toto Cudahy.Cudahy. Other Other thanthan outside of thatthat interview was atat aa SFHS generalgeneral meetingmeeting aa that, the only 'recreation'`recreation' we hadhad - ifif youyou couldcould call call it it that that couple of yearsyears ago;ago; itit concernedconcerned thethe firstfirst ThompsonThompson -was filling thethe woodwood boxbox andand takingtaking outout thethe ashes," recalled School, whichwhich dateddated to the 1860s: "A"A lot ofof peoplepeople keepkeep tell-tell- Andy with aa wrywry grin.grin. ing me thethe school waswas onceonce a a church,church, becausebecause itit waswas acrossacross One other exciting event - an annual one - also came to from the Lake Protestant Cemetery, and because thethe bellbell Andy's mind: "When we were kids, II rememberremember that every tower resembled a church steeple.steeple. AsAs far backback asas 1I can September, when we saw big pilespiles ofof softsoft coal coal in in front front ofof remember, and asas farfar backback asas anyany ofof mymy family - father, different houses, we knewknew thethe threshingthreshing machine was com- grandfather, aunts,aunts, unclesuncles - or anyone else II have have ever ever ing. They burnedburned coal for steam (to powerpower thethe thresher);thresher); it known in my life can remember, and havehave toldtold meme so, that belched thick, black smoke. They had a small crew to building was never any thing but a school." Andy wantedwanted toto operate it; they went around with the machine - whereverwherever make that point very clear, and did - in a calm butbut convinc- people grew graingrain - and the neighbors would help eacheach otherother ing way. II am glad to have known Andy Koenig andand to have (by going fromfrom farmfarm to farm).farm). That was a big 'event'`event' toto had the opportunity toto interviewinterview him.him. He was a great asset watch that."that." to St. Francis Historical SocietySociety and his family and community; he will be dearly missed by those of usus fortunatefortunate Andy also spokespoke ofof HowardHoward Avenue:Avenue: "The "The reasonreason II waswas enough to have befriended him. told that Howard AvenueAvenue didn't gogo through easteast of the North Western tracks (between Iowa andand Pennsylvania Avenues) waswas becausebecause thethe landland waswas tootoo swampyswampy toto supportsupport aa road; I thinkthink celerycelery fields were there.there. AndAnd thethe portionportion ofof Howard between Packard AvenueAvenue and the Lake Road - it ran pastpast thethe ReinertReinert farmfarm -- waswas called 'Cinder`Cinder Road' because it was paved with cinders instead of crushed stone;stone; wewe never PROJECTS IN PROGRESS could figurefigure outout why.why. It lt waswas harder harder onon barebare feetfeet than than thethe crushed stone was." • Ron Tessmer reportedreported he will bebe attendingattending aa meetingmeeting ofof the Committee of thethe WholeWhole atat St.St. FrancisFrancis City HallHall to to He didn't recall much about the early days of Milwaukee garner informationinformation onon whenwhen our societysociety will bebe ableable toto County Airport: "That seemedseemed a long wayway off;off; farther farther thanthan utilize thethe FrankFrank Lupo home. Details willwill appear appear inin ourour we wanted to walk. A realreal trip for us was a visit to New next newsletter. Coeln (along South Howell Avenue southsouth of LaytonLayton Avenue) -- therethere werewere twotwo churches,churches, aa generalgeneral store,store, aboutabout

— 5 — BOARD MINUTES walking along the abandoned right-of-way of the Lakeside Power Plant Electric Beltline Railway, which formedformed thethe • Ron and Marge Tessmer reportedreported that a State Historical southern border ofof the Wilson ParkPark Veterans' Housing SiteSite Society display, "Women's Work on the Farm,"Farm," isis - where our familyfamily livedlived fromfrom 19511951 toto 1959.1959. scheduled toto appearappear atat St.St. FrancisFrancis PublicPublic LibraryLibrary in in April. Itlt is plannedplanned to run forfor sixsix to eight weeks. A com- One of mymy favoritefavorite thingsthings toto dodo when when I I wasn't wasn't busbus- mittee is beingbeing appointedappointed toto coordinatecoordinate thethe display.display. watching was walking (yes, wewe diddid aa lotlot ofof walking)walking) over over to to Hopper's IGA or Lenard's GroceryGrocery Store on 20th and • Ron also reportedreported that a tour of the caretaker's house on Howard for a fresh pack ofof baseballbaseball cards, cards, hoping hoping toto getget the St. John's SchoolSchool for the Deaf groundsgrounds will bebe setset upup one of ourour favorite Milwaukee Braves -- EddieEddie Mathews,Mathews, in the near future. OwnershipOwnership ofof the home willwill transfertransfer toto Warren Spahn,Spahn, HankHank Aaron,Aaron, LewLew Burdette, WesWes Covington the Citycity on on July July 1st,Ist, andand ourour society hashas anan opportunityopportunity to - at that time, anyany cardcard withwith aa MilwaukeeMilwaukee BraveBrave onon itit waswas a a utilize the facility afterafter that.that. prize possession toto aa youngyoung boy.boy. And,And, a a triptrip toto MilwaukeeMilwaukee • Bob Schwingle reportsreports that notices of membershipmembership dues County Stadium to see ourour heroes playplay -- nownow that that waswas a a real real will be sent out soon. prize! In 1957 -- beforebefore expresswaysexpressways had had yetyet carvedcarved upup thethe land-land- scape; before suburbansuburban sprawlsprawl hadhad begunbegun toto noticeablynoticeably shrink the surrounding countryside;countryside; and long beforebefore morn-morning and afternoon traftraffic fic gridlockgridlock andand summersummer ozone alertsalerts "ST. FRANCISFRANCIS // OLDOLD TOWNTOWN OFOF LAKELAKE had an opportunity to rear theirtheir uglyugly heads, Milwaukee hadhad AREA TRAILS" one remaining urban electricelectric streetcar lineline - the Route 10 Wells Street Car Line.Line. However, its days were also by Chris Barney "CULTURE `SHOCKED':'SHOCKED': What we've gained is not as much as what we've lost." (First of a series) As aa youngyoung boyboy growing'growine up in the Town of Lake in thethe 1950s, oneone thingthing thatthat always fascinated me was publicpublic transit. Living justjust a couple blocksblocks fromfrom WilsonWilson Park Park andand thethe South 20th Street bus line, II wouldwould oftenoften ventureventure overover toto 20th and Waterford toto watchwatch thethe RouteRoute 7979 1100-series G.M.G.M. gas busesbuses turnturn aroundaround and "lay-over" there at the southern end of the line; aboutabout one every half-hourhalf-hour or so. InIn between time,ti me, II might cross 20th20th StreetStreet toto gogo 'crabbing'`crabbing' inin thethe Wilson Looking east across the Wells Street trolleytrolley bridge, aa westboundwestbound Park lagoonlagoon with my older brother, Dan. Other times would Route 10 carcar (center(center ofof photo)photo) isis partiallypartially obscuredobscured byby trolleytrolley poles. find me playing hardballhardball with kids on the grassy areaarea between WilsonWilson ParkPark CreekCreek andand thethe newlynewly builtbuilt apartmentapartment buildings along Van Beck Way; playing hide-and-seek among the huge, brokenbroken sections ofof industrial industrial waterwater pipepipe us-us-

An eastboundeastbound RouteRoute 10IU trolley carcar glidesglides alongalong adjacentadjacent to the Waukesha rapidrapid transittransit tracks, on its way postpast Milwaukee County Stadium after passing underneath thethe 60th60th StreetStreet overpass overpass in in this this 1950s photo. (Both(Roth photos- byhy EdwinEdwin WilsonWilson from from the the collection collection of of Larry turry Sakar)Sukur)

numbered; byby MarchMarch of of thethe following following yearyear itit tootoo waswas toto pass The author (left), age 6, and hishis elder brother Dan, age 9, withwith their out of existence, along along with with the the numerous numerous other other streetcar streetcar Wilson Park home in the background at right, circa 1957. and "interurban" electric electric lines lines whichwhich had gone before it.it. AtAt (Courtesy(( 'ourtesy of I?osemaryRosemary Barney) Barney) one time, thethe "Milwaukee"Milwaukee Electric Lines"Lines" had extended ed as landfill for the yet-to-be-finished Olympic Bowling north toto Sheboygan, west toto Watertown,Watertown, southwestsouthwest toto East East Alley, beingbeing builtbuilt onon whatwhat wewe kids kids called called the the "Farmer's "Farmer's Troy and Burlington, and southsouth toto Kenosha. Now, allall thatthat Field" (the old Splinter farmstead and pickle factory);factory); oror remained was the Wells Street Line and the Chicago-based ——6 6 — North Shore interurban line,line, also on thethe endangeredendangered list.list. rioting; by the endend ofof the 1960's we has lost large chunks of our close-knit neighborhoods to expressway construction,construction, Being thethe lastlast remainingremaining electric trolleytrolley inin Milwaukee,Milwaukee, thethe muchrauch of which seemedseemed toto gogo nowhere; nowhere; during during thethe 1970's1970's the the Wells StreetStreet CarCar Line sawsaw anan increaseincrease inin ridershipridership duringduring its loss ofof urbanurban populationpopulation to thethe suburbssuburbs and beyond saw thethe last year of existence and,and, sincesince itit wentwent by by County County Stadium Stadium relocation of hundredshundreds of large-scale businessesbusinesses taking taking an the way to its westernwestern terminusterminus atat 70th70th andand GreenfieldGreenfield in in bn thousands of manufacturing jobs with them - the modern West Allis, aa Braves'Braves' gamegame waswas aa popularpopular destination for a `dream''dream' waswas all too quickly becomingbecoming aa nightmare.nightmare. TheThe father wanting his son to experienceexperience aa disappearingdisappearing recession ofof thethe earlyearly '80s'80s putput thethe finishingfinishing touchestouches onon aa pro-pro- Milwaukee publicpublic transittransit tradition.tradition. longed economiceconomic tailspintailspin inin thethe MilwaukeeMilwaukee area.area. I was fortunate enough to be one of thethe thousandsthousands of kidskids Municipalities in the county - and Milwaukee County itself to ride a Wells Street trolley that year. MyMy memories of thethe -were forcedforced toto trimtrim budgetsbudgets andand curtailcurtail certain services inin experience are vaguevague (1(I was 61/2),6½), but but I Ido do remember remember thethe gen-gen- order toto hold off or keep tax increases to a minimum, due to tle swaying andand rockingrocking ofof thethe carcar asas itit lumberedlumbered across the the staggering loss ofof industrialindustrial tax base. Miller Valley onon thethe precarious-lookingprecarious-looking WellsWells StreetStreet trolleytrolley Ultimately, no one hashas beenbeen sparedspared from the effects ofof bridge. I also remember hanging onto the wicker seat in this 'tragic'`tragic' phenomemon and, even thoughthough somesome recentrecent front of me as I looked outout thethe sideside windowwindow duringduring ourour trip reports showshow MilwaukeeMilwaukee making anan economiceconomic comeback of across the half-milehalf-mile span, span, quietly quietly terrified terrified that that the the streetcar streetcar sorts, many - and significant - problems remain. These in- was going toto tiptip overover andand crashcrash to the valley floorfloor oror clude drug usage,usage, teen pregnancy, domesticdomestic violenceviolence - in- Menomonee River below. Finally, I remember aa sensesense of cluding an alarming increase in homocides andand armedarmed rob- relief asas II lookedlooked pastpast thethe motormanmotorman outout thethe front-centerfront-center beries, child abuse, divorce,divorce, hungerhunger andand even thethe window and saw a welcoming clustercluster ofof treestrees (and(and solidsolid homelessness of intactintact families. ground) drawing ever closer. My fearfear was replaced,replaced, asas II recall, by a sense of havinghaving accomplishedaccomplished anan excitingexciting adven-adven- ture!! The only otherother memory II havehave -- probablyprobably duringduring thatthat same year - isis standingstanding onon thethe northwestnorthwest cornercorner ofof 3rd3rd andand Wisconsin, with my Mom, waiting for a Route 19 trolley `bus','bus', and looking northnorth towardtoward WellsWells StreetStreet at at just just thethe right right moment to spot an eastbound trolley crossingcrossing 3rd3rd Street.Street.

This 1959 aerial of Wilson Park Housing SiteSite Lookslooks northeast and shows the abandoned right-of-wayright-of-way ofof thethe LakesideLakeside BeltlineBeltline electricelectric railway angling across thethe lowerlower rightright ofof thethe photo.photo. (Courtesy(Cmzrtesy of of Annemarie Annemarie Walinski) Wahnsko A southboundsouthbound Route Route 79 79 busbus crosses crosses Wilson Wilson Park Park creek creek in in 1958, 1958, near its southern terminus ofof 20th20th and Waterford. (City of of Milwaukee) •ilwaul,e0 Why has all this happened? Obviously, there is no single, That year, 1957,1957, saw ourour Braves become BaseballBaseball Cham-Cham- clear-cut answer - but unemployment and loss ofof earningearning pions as our `Bushville' team shocked thethe mighty NewNew YorkYork capacity have toto rankrank high inin aa "top"top ten" list of reasons. Yankees inin thethe WorldWorld Series. AsAs my my father father and and II watchedwatched Though Milwaukee's unemployment raterate is lowerlower thanthan otherother the parade ofof Braves go byby thethe WarWar MemorialMemorial atat thethe large midwestern and easterneastern citiescities affected byby thethe 'rust-belt`rust-belt lakefront during thethe victoryvictory celebration, nobody waswas think-think- recession', the ranks ofof the employed here include far too ing negatively -- aboutabout thethe futurefuture of thethe Braves,Braves, thethe futurefuture ofof many service-oriented workers, where the combined earning public transportation, growing growing traffictraffic congestion,congestion, businessbusiness capacity of a married couplecouple doesdoes not comecome close toto equall-equall- exodus, 'white`white flight',flight', urbanurban decay, racialracial tensiontension -- oror ing thatthat of oneone skilledskilled industrial industrial worker.worker. TheThe frustrationsfrustrations anything else, forfor thatthat matter. In October 1957,1957, in caused by this economic burdenburden can, and veryvery oftenoften do,do, lead Milwaukee, all waswas rightright with the world - inin reality,reality, wewe werewere to frustration, depression and ultimately desperationdesperation dreaming with our eyeseyes open. -resulting in many of thethe problemsproblems mentionedmentioned herehere beingbeing suffered by even the most sincere and well-meaningwell-meaning of The following March,March, wewe lost lost our our last last streetcar; streetcar; later, later, thatthat families. fall, the Braves lost to the Yankees; by 1963, thethe NorthNorth Shore interurban -- ourour lastlast electricelectric railwayrailway -- waswas lost to There has also beenbeen thethe threatthreat ofof aa returnreturn to thethe uglyugly andand abandonment; byby 19661966 wewe would lose our beloved Braves to scarring "race wars"wars" ofof thethe 1960's.1960's. At a timetime whenwhen blacksblacks Atlanta; 19671967 saw us lose ourour illusion of harmonyharmony to racial and whites and all races should be joining hands, names are ——7— 7 — beingbeing called,called, accusationsaccusations hurled hurled andand threatsthreats of violence areare ourselvesourselves -- ourour dailydaily habits,habits, to be specific.specific. AreAre wewe recycling? recycling? formingforming unneccessaryunneccessary barriersbarriers when all of usus oughtought toto bebe sit-sit- AreAre wewe voluntarilyvoluntarily separatingseparating ourour garbage?garbage? DoesDoes our our corn-com- tingting down,down, sharingsharing thoughts and ideas, and goinggoing out into munity have a recycling programprogram - if not,not, havehave wewe askedasked ourour thethe communitycommunity toto impressimpress thesethese positive,positive, quality quality ideasideas upon upon electedelected officialsofficials whywhy not?not? DoDo wewe carpool? carpool? IfIf not,not, havehave we bothboth the public and private sectors - sensibly andand peacefully. askedasked ourour fellow workersworkers toto startstart one? DoesDoes aa carpoolcarpool already exist thatthat we cancan becomebecome a a part part of?of? IsIs therethere publicpublic Until unified cooperation can re-establish and rebuild a Until unified cooperation can re-establish and rebuild a trasportationtrasportation nearby?nearby? Do Do wewe useuse itit often,often, or eveneven occa- base ofof better-payingbetter-paying industrialindustrial jobsjobs inin Milwaukee'sMilwaukee's centralcentral sionally?sionally? DoDo wewe walk walk to to nearby nearby destinations, destinations, like like the the bank, bank, urban areas, many of the vacancies that now exist for these urban areas, many of the vacancies that now exist for these grocery store,score, pharmacypharmacy oror movie theater?theater? (Oooh, it so jobsjobs areare in the outlying areasareas ofof MilwaukeeMilwaukee CountyCounty andand good forfor us!us!!) !) DoDo we use items that make goodgood ecological beyond - inaccessibleinaccessible toto thethe unemployedunemployed oror lower-incomelower-income and environmental sense, like re-usablere-usable instead of service workersworkers duedue toto aa lacklack ofof public public transportation transportation ac-ac- throwawaythrowaway convenience items,items, oror pumppump bottlesbottles insteadinstead ofof cess. ManyMany ofof these these people people have have either either an an older, older, unreliable unreliable aerosol sprays?sprays? car or do not own a car at all and, even though these employers areare willingwilling to to train train workersworkers unskilledunskilled in in the the trades trades I'll bet the answer toto aa lotlot ofof thesethese questions questions is is no, no, or or "I "I involved,involved, mostmost potentialpotential employeesemployees simplysimply cannotcannot getget toto used to,to, butbut not anymore." I knowknow it is for me. Well, thesethese jobs.jobs. Milwaukee, it'sit's timetime forfor usus toto wakewake up.up. JustJust thinkthink about it -that's right, turn offoff the TV, VCR,VCR, stereostereo andand headphones,headphones, Itlt is generally accepted thatthat most welfare recipientsrecipients wouldwould and really thinkthink about the dire straits we're in right nownow - the willingly givegive up up publicpublic assistanceassistance ifif jobsjobs werewere availableavailable toto even worseworse onesones we we - -and and our our children children andand theirstheirs -- willwill be be in, in, enable themthem to provideprovide eveneven thethe mostmost modest modest standard standard ofof not that long from now, if we don'tdon't change our ways. TheThe living. HoweverHowever welfarewelfare cutscuts duedue toto incomeincome restrictions restrictions exciting partPart isis thatthat we cancan helphelp makemake thingsthings betterbetter rightright cause families toto bebe worseworse off off if if both both parents parents are are workingworking atat now, forfor usus andand our children. And we can teach them habits minimum-wage jobsjobs thanthan if bothboth werewere unemployed,unemployed, thusthus they can pass along toto theirtheir children. Much of what we cancan reducing the incentive toto workwork service-typeservice-type jobs. jobs. Thus, Thus, a a do can bebe turnedturned into "family"family projects"projects" - and what we recy-recy- vicious cyclecycle of of frustration frustration andand apathyapathy has been established, cle cancan be turnedturned into useful products, thethe wayway 1I believe GodGod causing secondsecond andand third-generationsthird-generations ofof familiesfamilies to to be be mired mired intended it, instead of mountainsmountains uponupon mountainsmountains ofof in a rut ofof hopelessnesshopelessness - wherewhere having babies is seen asas aa useless, decayingdecaying garbagegarbage taintingtainting countlesscountless squaresquare milesmiles ofof source of added income. earth, rendering itit useless.useless. And, who knows, thesethese projectsprojects could bring families closercloser together;together; getget parentsparents involvedinvolved Many years ago, fear,fear, ignoranceignorance andand racialracial prejudiceprejudice were with their children and vice-versa,vice-versa, and who knows whatwhat definite andand contributing-factorscontributing-factors toto thethe jobjob discrimination-discrimination-- - benefits thatthat might reap!!reap!! And,And, withwith Churchchurch attendance by which led toto highhigh minorityminority unemployment. With the Civil young families onan the increase (according to Newsweek),Newsweek), thethe Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity laws which attitudes ofof whole communities will beginbegin toto change,change, badbad in- were implemented in thethe 1960's1960's andand '70s'70s thisthis imbalanceimbalance fluences willwill decrease,decrease, and and ...... changed for the better, especially in the areas of civil andand federal employment. The current lacklack ofof available, gainful Hey, let's not kid ourselves - the problems wewe have will and accessibleaccessible employment can now bebe seenseen asas moremore not disappear overnight. But they won't disappear at all widespread, affecting all ethnicethnic groupsgroups in varying degrees. unless we do all wewe cancan toto help them go away, andand urgeurge ourour business and civic leadersleaders toto dodo thethe same,same, throughthrough legislation Studies have been done inin recentrecent years (many are listed in submitted by our local, state andand national leaders. A projectproject the Nov. '90'90 issue issue of of Milwaukee Milwaukee magazine),magazine), andand the single is already underway toto create aa networknetwork ofof light-raillight-rail electricelectric most agreed-upon causecause of many of the problems mentioned interurban routes,routes, muchmuch likelike thethe onesones that existedexisted here from here is the proliferation ofof the automobile. The explosion ofof 1897 to 1963 -- butbut thethe actual implementation ofof such a car ownershipownership beginningbeginning inin thethe 1950's, 1950's, followedfollowed by the system will taketake several years to complete. The sad thing, resulting illogical suburbansuburban expansion, freeway andand in- noted a UWM professorprofessor inin thethe MilwaukeeMilwaukee magazinemagazine article,article, terstate highwayhighway construction and business flightflight thatthat is that "we hadhad itit (a(a functioningfunctioning local trolleytrolley andand interurbaninterurban ultimately followed, led toto manymany of thethe problemsproblems now faced system) herehere andand we threwthrew itit away."away." HeHe alsoalso notednoted inin the the ar- ar- by Metro Milwaukee. Too many people driving too many ticle that the spread-out developmentdevelopment of outlying areasareas `driver-only''driver-only' cars; tootoo many miles ofof multi-lanemulti-lane roadsroads re-re- coupled with the building of the interstate highways reduced quiring too-frequenttoo-frequent maintenance or replacement due to the our centerscenters ofof population density, thereby making it dif- ever-increasing traffic volume; too much freedom, too ficult to justify a subsidy (grant)(grant) forfor aa lightlight railrail systemsystem (for(for much complacency,complacency, too little concern, too little foresight the Metro MilwaukeeMilwaukee area). However, studiesstudies areare continu-continu- and far too littlelittle commoncommon sensesense and and cooperationcooperation areare thethe ing,ing, and havehave the support ofof manymany businessbusiness and civiccivic things that havehave helped to bringbring about the greatest urbanurban leaders,leaders, soso light-rail inin somesome formform herehere seemsseems veryvery likely.likely. In dilemma we have ever faced. AndAnd thethe problemsproblems aren'taren't going addition, MilwaukeeMilwaukee County Transit SystemSystem (MCTS)(MCTS) has a toto go away by themselves. It'sIt's goinggoing toto taketake aa concerted,concerted, new `Northwest'Northwest Express' bus system being readied for im- consciousconscious effort by each and every one of us to reverse these plementation -- it's scheduledscheduled to start sometimesometime in 1992 - and ever-worsening conditions - afterafter all, each ofof us,us, inin ourour ownown isis also planningplanning toto buildbuild aa majormajor urbanurban busbus transportationtransportation way, has contributed to these problems. centercenter sometimesometime in the future. However,However, the bottom line is The best way to start is probably to take a look at participation -- untiluntil thesethese newnew systemssystems are in place, we need

—8——8-- to utilizeuulize thethe publicpublic massmass transportationtransportation wewe currentlycurrently have;have; HISTORY AROUND US carpooling, bus, and conventional rail systems - toto startstart the `reversal'reversal of fortunes'fortunes' right away. AnAn addedadded incentiveincentive inin thethe • Founder's DayDay and a national conference onon heritageheritage near future maymay include an increase in urban parkingparking fees,fees, tourism - the growing segment ofof thethe touristtourist industryindustry based on history - coincidecoincide thisthis year year atat Milwaukee'sMilwaukee's Wynd- Wynd- eogo discourage auto usage andand increaseincrease massmass transittransit ridership.ridership. ham Center on Friday and Saturday, FebruaryFebruary 15 and 16. Mass transit, in addition to other sound environmental A block of roomsrooms isis beingbeing heldheld atat thethe WyndhamWyndham forfor thisthis practices, can only reapreap benefits forfor all ofof usus inin MetroMetro confernece. HotelHotel phone phone numbers numbers are are 276-8686276-8686 locally locally Milwaukee - let's help make it work. As for me, I'm going to and 1-800-822-42001-800-822-4200 elsewhere. RatesRates areare $55-65.$55-65. Con- Con- start savingsaving aluminum cans again. And, even thoughthough it'sit's a ference workshops includeinclude hospitalityhospitality training,training, merchan- half-mile walk to the nearest bus line, I'm going to use it dising in museums andand shops,shops, grassrootsgrassroots fundfund raisingraising andand more often. AA triptrip toto Chicago?Chicago? I'm I'm taking taking Amtrak Amtrak - -they they community appearance. Information onon conferenceconference run several 'Hiawatha' commuter trains there daily. And,And, II registration and otherother feesfees is available by callingcalling (608)(608) can't wait until I can ride a local electricelectric trolleytrolley car car toto the the 262-8000. This event isis sponsoredsponsored byby thethe StateState Historical Historical ball park again; I don't carecare ifif I'm 5050 or 60 by that time, I Society of Wisconsin, thethe National National Trust Trust forfor HistoricHistorie know I'll feelfeel like that 61/2-year-old6½-year-old boy boy again: again: awed,awed, yetyet ex-ex- Preservation, the Wisconsin tourism office,office, thethe Wiscon- Wiscon- hilarated. OurOur wildwild andand crazycrazy lovelove affair with the sin Trust for the HistoricHistorie Preservation, andand thethe Wiscon-Wiscon- automobile has turned soursour -- 1,I, for one, saysay it'sit's timetime toto wakewake sin Council for Local History. up - and break up. • ThreeThree all-day all-day workshops workshops will will be be held held in in Waukesha Waukesha onon March 2, Barron on March 16 and Stevens Point onon AprilApril — Christopher N.N. Barney - Old Town of Lake Historian/ 6, sponsoredsponsored by SHS of Wisconsin.Wisconsin. TheseThese LocalLocal HistoryHistory St. Francis HistoricalHistorical SocietySociety —— December 18,18, 1990 Workshops will will bebe on "World"World WarWar IIII andand You:You: Researching and Writing Local History and Memoirs", Designing Newsletters, BrochuresBrochures and and Posters", Posters", and and "Conserving Paper Records".Records". SHSWSHSW staffstaff willwill conduct conduct the workshops, which areare open toto thethe generalgeneral public.public. FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK Registration is $6, and information is available by calling (608) 262-8000. I1 believebelieve it it was was Charles Charles Dickens Dickens who who wrote: wrote: "It "lt waswas thethe best of times; it was thethe worstworst of times."times." That saying is Flearly true forfor ourour societysociety over thethe pastpass half-year.half-year. From the euphoriaeuphoria ofof thethe possibilitypossibility of two ongoing meeting, display and storage facilities forfor ourour society toto thethe shattering and heartbreakingheartbreaking reality reality of of thethe recentrecent lossloss of two of our founding members,members, AndyAndy Koenig Koenig and and Kathy Kathy Schw-Schw- ingle, the gamut of ourour emotions havehave surelysurely beenbeen run.run. While we grieve deeply,deeply, wewe cannot cannot forgetforget thethe lastinglasting con-con- tributions these charter society membersmembers mademade duringduring theirtheir lifetimes, andand wewe mustmust notnot allowallow theirtheir goalsgoals toto remainremain un-un- fulfilled. I worked on many projects with Kathy SchwingleSchwingle myself, and she was, many times, an inspiration to me when I was frustrated oror tiredtired duringduring aa project.project. II willwill continue to carry her inspiration withwith me in whatever I do.

—9-- SFHS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 1991 DATES TO REMEMBER January 28th28th ...... Annual Membership Meeting Name 6:00 p.m., St.St. FrancisFrancis CommunityCommunity CenterCenter Potluck Supper and Program, Address Potluck Supper and Program, "Santa: InIn LifeLife and Legend" February 6, 6, March March 6, 6, April April 3 3 ...... Board Meetings

Telephone 6:30 p.m., Thompson School April 29th 29th ...... General Membership Meeting

•q I wichwish toto playplay an active rolerote in developing thethe St. FrancisFrancis Historical Time, place andand program to be announced. Society. Elq II would like to donate material to the Society. •q 1I would like to serve onan the Board of Directors and/or committeccommittee chairman.

ANNUALANNUM. DUES

•q Individual S 4.00 Hq Life Life ...... $100.00 r!q Family 5.005 00 Liq- Corporate Corporate ...... 100.00 LIq Sustaining ...... 15.00 Return to: Ronald Tessmer,Tessmer, 2517 F.F. NorwichNorwich Avenue,Avenue, St. Francis, WI 53207.

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Newsletter St. Francis Historical Society nnn 4235 S. Nicholson Avenue ...1n1 •• • St. Francis, WI 53207 ...... _

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