June 22, 2009
BUILDING A SENSE OF HISTORY: SIDEWALK MEDALLION PROJECT
I have been working with the Whitefish Bay Historic Preservation Commission to identify the historic and architecturally significant homes and other sites within the Village. We have created an inventory that currently documents over 90 significant properties within Whitefish Bay and we expect to expand this list significantly over the next several years. (See: WFB AHI, to view a list of the sites that are on the Village’s Inventory.)
This month, we have started a project to install sidewalk medallions in front of buildings that are on the Village’s inventory. In order to make the project affordable, we are following the Village’s sidewalk replacement schedule. In 2009, medallions are being installed in the southeast portion of the Village.
Photo of the first medallion installed.
Landscape architect and member of the WFB Historic Preservation Commission, Tom Kindschi is shown marking the location of a sidewalk medallion to be installed in 2009.
The Whitefish Bay Foundation generously donated funds to cover the cost of the medallions for this year’s project.
Later this year we plan to prepare a brochure and walking tour, featuring the Wilshire District and southern Lake Drive area, providing information on the homes featured in the Inventory in these areas. Through these efforts we hope to help build on our sense of Village history.
June 6, 2009
HOOKED ON CONSTRUCTION
I know that I’m not alone. The success of Truck Day in the Bay provided ample evidence of this. Of course, most kids probably grow out of such things well before they get to my age.
So, when the Trustees were given an opportunity recently to tour an expansion of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District’s deep tunnel system, I followed through on the opportunity.
This $80 million project is designed to help reduce overflows and basement backups. The expansion is part of a $1 billion Overflow Reduction Plan that includes dozens of projects to help protect Lake Michigan. This one involves that will provide an additional 27 million gallons of storage capacity when heavy rains hit the region.
Touring a project like this is a bit like participating in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark – you know, the scene in which Harrison Ford is racing down an underground tunnel with a huge boulder rolling toward him! Well, we didn’t see any boulders quite that size, but nonetheless it’s a pretty awesome experience.
After a safety briefing and donning rain suits and waders, we took a construction elevator that rides in the access shaft to descend deep below the ground. The elevator opens into a cavernous space where the tunnel boring machine was originally assembled. The machine is 455 feet long and has a cutting head that measures 23 feet in diameter. As it rotates it carves the rock face and conveys the spoils along its long tail.
This is a view of me (center) and the village engineering staff, standing under the tunnel boring machine.
Of course, the machine is a long way from the original access shaft. It’s in the process of carving out a two-mile-long tunnel. You get to it by riding a mining train, with cars about the size of the train at the Milwaukee County Zoo. This isn’t quite a ‘ride in the park,’ so to speak. The rock strata isn’t complete impervious, so a constant water stream flows down the tracks and the train merrily splashes its way through it.
This is a view looking back toward the entrance shaft. The tube at the top provides ventilation to the tunnel. The mining train rides on the narrow gauge track.
While the train ride is a convenient way to get to the tunnel boring machine, it’s real purpose is to remove the rock spoils.
When finished with the new tunnel, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's (MMSD) Deep Tunnel system will stretch 28.5 miles long and hold 521 million gallons.
Over the last year I have developed a much better appreciation of the critical buried facilities (sanitary and storm sewer lines, water and natural gas piping, etc.) that serve our Village. I found the above tour to be very helpful in giving me greater insights into how the entire sanitary sewerage system is interrelated.
March 14, 2009
HOW TO RESEARCH THE HISTORY OF YOUR HOUSE
At one point or another, we've all wondered about the history of the house where we live. For example:
• When was my house built?
• Who built it and what did it cost?
• Who are past owners?
• Who has lived in it?
• What changes have been made to my house over the years?
• Is my house historically significant?
• What is its architectural style and why?
• What was the neighborhood like when my house was built?
So how do you learn about the history of your home? There are a variety of resources available right here in Whitefish Bay to help you.
Property Records
The best starting point to research your home's history is to review the Village’s property file. The Village maintains a file on every property within the Village. The files are accessible for review from any of the Village clerks. They generally include the original building permit, which can provide a great deal of information. The permit typically includes the name of the builder and original ownership, original dimensions, and estimated cost. Sometimes the architect/designer is also listed. And on occasion the plan drawings are on file.
Subsequent building permits for additions and improvements should also be contained in the property file, along with plumbing and other permits. By reviewing these records you can piece together a good deal of background about your home.
Unfortunately, property records prior to 1922 are not available. A basement flood back at the old Village Hall destroyed such records. However, even if your home pre-dates 1922 there should still be a wealth of information available in the property file.
Plat/Insurance Maps
While you are at Village Hall, you should also view the Sanborn Company insurance company map for your block. Located on the counter in a large black binder, the Sanborn maps include detailed drawings of every street within the Village, along with an outline of the buildings. The map is usually annotated with the date of initial construction, although pre-1922 dates are not listed.
This map can give you a pretty good idea of what other homes were present in the area when your house was built.
City Directories
When you are done at Village Hall, walk over to the Library for the next phase of your research.
A good starting point is a review of the Village directories. For many years the Whitefish Bay Women’s Club has published a telephone directory of all homes in the Village. A copy of all directories is available at the adult reference desk. While they are stored in a locked cabinet, the reference librarian will be happy to provide you will access.
You should be able to use these directories to determine who occupied your home over the years.
Whitefish Bay Architecture and History Inventory
While you are in the lower level of the locked cabinet in the Library, also check the Village’s Architecture and History Inventory (WFB AHI). This inventory is summarized in a three ring binder, located on the shelf on top of the telephone directories.
This inventory currently contains information on approximately 90 homes within the Village. An index in the back will help you to quickly determine if yours is one of the houses listed in the AHI.
The ‘Mimi Bird’ Files, a.k.a. the Whitefish Bay Historical Collection
Now should be a good time to start some more intensive research. Whitefish Bay is fortunate in having an incredible asset for such research, known as the ‘Mimi Bird’ Historical Collection.
Mimi Bird was a resident of Whitefish Bay since the age of four.
In the 1980’s Mimi researched the history of the community during which she compiled materials on the area, photographed homes, businesses and landmarks, and organized it all into a set of thirty-nine volumes which she donated to the Library.
Maintained in a locked cabinet, it is accessible through the adult reference librarian.
Of the 39 volumes, 1 through 11 and 28 are likely to be most helpful:
1: Town of Milwaukee settlers, 1850-1880. A-L
2: Town of Milwaukee settlers, 1850-1880. M-Z
3: WFB censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1892, 1905, 1910
4: Town of Milwaukee cemetery: 1917-1988 records
5: Whitefish Bay in the 1890s
6: Whitefish Bay’s first 60 years: 1892-1952
7: Former Whitefish Bay homes and buildings
8: Whitefish Bay homes 1860-1899
9: Whitefish Bay homes 1900-1916
10: Whitefish Bay homes, 1916-1922
11: Home development in Whitefish Bay post 1922
28: People of Whitefish Bay
Volumes 1 and 2 also contain a number of early area maps, which helps provide a good context on what the community looked like before your house was built.
Some of the other volumes are also likely to be of interest. There is a wealth of information in the Collection, and while you are reviewing the documents you will learn a good deal about the early history of the Village.
While it can take a good deal of time to review the Collection, if you are patient and lucky, it can be a very valuable source of additional information on your house.
Census Records
If the city directories and Whitefish Bay historical collection don't provide enough information on the past residents of your home maybe it's time to check the census records. Every ten years from 1790 forward there was a federal census taken across the county.
The Mimi Bird Historical Collection summarizes the Census data for the Town of Milwaukee, from which Whitefish Bay eventually severed ties to create its own Village. However, not all families are listed – especially for homes that were built after 1910.
Additional census and other records (military service, birth, death and marriage certificates, and immigration data) is available on-line at the Library through the Ancestry.com website. You can log on to one of the Village’s computers and enter your library card number and two-digit birth year to access this database. Ask any librarian for assistance, if you need help to get started.
Reference Texts
Check out the library book entitled, “As Good As New.” It contains a large section devoted to describing the various architectural styles commonly used throughout the City of Milwaukee, including significant illustrations of Italianate, Victorian Gothic, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, American Foursquare, Arts and Crafts and Craftsman, Prairie, Dutch Colonial, Georgian Revival, Tudor Revival, Mediterranean Revival, Milwaukee Duplexes and Polish Flats.
Architectural Plans
Architectural drawings are available for a few houses in the Village in the Wisconsin Architectural Archives, which are maintained by the Downtown Milwaukee Public Library (through the Humanities Desk on the second level). An index to the available Whitefish Bay properties is expected to be posted on the Village's website soon.
Other Sources of Information
• See What Your House Can Tell You
Inspect your house closely. You can learn a lot just by looking. Check out how your house was built and what type of building materials were used. Examine the walls and moldings. Look for original materials, such as the bricks of the fireplace. Housing design has changed dramatically over the years, and you may be able to find some clues as to when your home was built, what substantial changes it has endured, and how well off the original inhabitants were.
If you don't know how old the house is, try looking under the water tank lid on the toilet. Toilets are sometimes date-stamped under the lid, giving you a rough estimate of when the house was built, if the toilet was original. You can also get a good idea of how long it has been since a room was remodeled. Different styles of kitchen cabinets and appliances, for example, go in and out of vogue every few years.
• Talk to your neighbors
If you’re new to the neighborhood and want to find out about the recent history of your house, your longtime neighbors may be able to help. Plus, asking about your house and the neighborhood is a great way to break the ice.
• View Your Property Deed
Visit Milwaukee County Courthouse to look at the deed registry. The registry should be available in the clerk and recorder’s office. Ask for the registry of deeds for your particular property. This information is indexed by a lot and block number in a city, and a section, township and range for rural property.
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This certainly is not a complete list of sources for researching your home's history but it will offer a good starting point for you to begin your work. Most of these resources are free and open to the public.
Once you have done this, please consider filling out an application to add your home to the Village's architecture and history inventory. That will ensure that the information that you have obtained on your residence will be saved for future generations.
Application forms are available at the WFB Library, located in the cover pocket of the Architecture and History Inventory binder.
March 6, 2009
WHERE IN WHITEFISH BAY IS...?
February 12, 2009
WFB's HIDDEN TREASURES
The need for exercise, or perhaps just to get out of the house during the doldrums of the winter, has caused me to spend a fair amount of time walking the streets of the Bay. So, rather than dashing up to Silver Spring to get a cup of coffee in my car, I’ve been using it as an excuse to take a leisurely walk through our community.
Life slows down considerably when you’re walking. I’ve noticed a lot of ‘hidden treasures’ that weren’t apparent when driving through Whitefish Bay. During one of my trips, I took along my camera to capture a few of these gems, some of which are reproduced below.
I’m not going to point out where they are located, expect to state that they were all taken during a single trip from Silver Spring Drive south to Hampton. I’ll leave it to you to see if you can discover them.
