I thought during this time of State Fair I would look up a little history on the fair. I found an article in the Milwaukee Sentinel which the describes the early locations of the fair.
You can find it at the Links To The Past Milwaukee History Website.
The Library of Congress has added a newspaper collection to their site. These historic newspapers are available to read online in Chronicling America at the Library of Congress.
There aren’t any from Wisconsin there yet, but many times events are picked up by other newspapers across the country. It is worth taking a look.
Happy Reading
Ellen-
I have been working on writing material for a website for a client. Her family has a lot of surnames attached to it. The main ones are Sanderson, Pierce, O’Driscoll, Hardy and Schmidt.
If you are interested in those surnames, please take a peak by going to sandersonpierce.linkingyourpast.com
This morning after checking my email I stumbled upon a website. The “Street Guide to Old Milwaukee” is a website about the history of Milwaukee. Using a number of resources Yance has put together a detailed mapping of downtown, collection of historic articles and photos. The site is still evolving, but certainly one to watch.
I thought this article was interesting enough to post in its entirety here. It describes a fire where the papers of the city offices were destroyed. Explains why a lot of records are missing!
Milwaukee Daily Sentinel, (Milwaukee, WI) Tuesday, January 01, 1861; Issue 1; col E
Another Fire! Cross’ Block in Ruins!
At precisely twenty minutes to two o’clock on Sunday morning, while a portion of the firemen were yet a the fire on Walker’s point, the alarm was given for the third district, and Cross’ Block on the corner of Huron and Water Streets was discovered to be in flames. The firemen, already drenched with water and coated with ice, repaired from one scene of destruction to another, and recommenced their efforts to save the property from the devouring elements. When first seen, the flames were confined to the hall in the third story, and there being no one in any of the offices at that tie, there is no theory that will account for the fire but that of incrediarism. From the hall the flames spread rapidly to the adjoining offices occupied by city officers, and in an incredible short space of time the Common Council Chamber, the City Clerk’s office, School Commissioners’ room, and the various offices were wrapped in a common blaze. Armstrong & Spink, Bankers, occupied the corner room on the ground floor. They succeeded in saving their office furniture, even to the carpet. THeir books and papers were secured in a large safe locked up at the rear of the house-which yet stands, apparently perfectly sound. All the papers in the City Clerk’s office-records and valuable documents-were destroyed. There are nearly $200,000 of chattel mortgages, together with a large amount of bills and vouchers, in one of the Herrings safes, which fell from the third story. It will probably be opened to-day. In the Connell Chamber was a large amount of furniture, including oil paintings of the Mayors, upholstery work, records of the Board & c. The furniture of the chamber was worth about $3,000. In the city Comptroller’s room were also valuable papers, but it is impossible to state with accuracy what is lost or saved until the safes shall be opened. The School Superintendent, Mr. Foru, informs us that he had $500 in money in his safe.
Mr. Summer, picture frame maker and gilder, occupied rooms in the building, and barely escaped with his life. Nearly all his stock, including his tools, is lost and could not be replaced for $1,000. He lived in the building with his family, and being a cripple-as we have said-barely escaped himself.
There was another room occupied by Mr. Aldrich, who, together with Russel Wheeler, will probably lose $500.
Mr. Bilty, the proprietor of the saloon in the basement, estimates his loss of $150. A man by the name of Ellesly, who had a stock of liquors in the East end of the basement, is also a loser, but to what extent we could not learn.
Edward Miller, type founder, just opposite, had a quality of stock in the building, most of which was removed in an injured condition.
R. Dunn’s mercantile agency was in the same building. Loss Unknown.
This paragraph is blocked out.
Cross’ Block blocked out…. and cost $12,000. It was insured for $30,000, with an insurance of $8,000 on the ???.
It has been occupied by the city for several years at a rent of $2,900 per annum. The City Treasurer had but recently moved his office to the new City Hall, thus saving everything.
The stones north of the main entrance was occupied by Geo. Dyer & Co., with a very large and valuable stock of saddlery, hardware, &C., amounting to about $60,000. There were insured, we understand for about $30,000. A great portion of their stock was removed, though their lost is heavy.
The north wall of Cross’ Block fell upon the unoccupied four story brick store adjoining, with a tremendous crash, completely demolishing it. The building was owned by Eliphalet Cramer, and was worth $7,000 or $8,000-covered by insurance. It has fortunate ended, that the store was unoccupied at the time, as the smallest amount of fuel, in the shape of goods, added to the flames, would have caused the destruction of the entire block of buildings.
My family is putting together a recipe book in memory of my nephew Mike. If you have any recipes you would like to have published in a cookbook, please let me know or you can send them directly to my niece and sister-in-law.
Here is more information on the cookbook.
http://sewcrafty-mikesprogress.blogspot.com/2008/11/update-on-recipe-book.html
Saturday, November 15, 2008 is Genealogy Saturday at the library of the Polish Museum of America (PMA). PGSA volunteers will be available from 10 AM to 1 PM to assist you with your Polish genealogy questions. There are no fees.
The PMA/PGSA is located at 984 N. Milwaukee, Chicago IL 60622.
There is plenty of free parking and a bus stop right across the street. If you have any questions, contact PGSAmerica@aol.com.
Hello everyone.
Karen D. just sent me the index to a book called “We, the Milwaukee Poles.”
Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. I have been worrying about my nephew and haven’t really had the mind set to update the sites.
Last Tuesday my nephew was hit by a car while crossing the street in Whitewater. He is still in critical condition, now a week later. We are praying for him constantly. You can email me privately if you are interested in any details.
His parents put up a blog here so that all that love him can monitor his progress more easily:
http://sewcrafty-mikesprogress.blogspot.com/
Many people have asked if they can send flowers or if they can help in anyway. I believe whole heartedly, besides your prayers and positive thoughts, we all can help Mike best by supporting him in his recent decision. On August 13, Mike wrote the following letter to me:
Hello,
I hope this letter finds you well and that you’re enjoying your summer. As you may know, this past May I graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater (UWW) with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Computer Systems (MCS). My time there was well spent, I learned so much about myself, the man I wish to become, and had a blast doing it! While I enjoyed my major, my future goal is to become a campus staff worker with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at UWW rather than “using my degree” in the typical sense.
The decision to join staff took me almost a year to make, but after much thought, prayer, and council of others, I truly feel called by God into the ministry of InterVarsity and therefore am pursuing it with every effort. Not having a relationship with Christ when I first attended college I understand first-hand the need for college Christian ministry. Staff and students in InterVarsity poured their love, training, and generosity into me during school and I want to pless others in the same way. The best way for me to do this is through joining InterVarsity staff.
As a campus staff worker I’ll be helping students grow in their relationship with Jesus, learn to love all people and teach them how to become future leaders in the church. Becoming a campus staff worker will allow me to use many of my natural skills. I’ll be relating with people, expressing my passion for God, and making a difference in people’s lives.
In order to make this goal a reality, I’ll need a team of support to keep me going. My support team will consist of people willing to pray for me, people willing to travel with me and help me with my personal cares, and financial support to meet my salary and ministry expense needs. It’s my hope and prayer that you would be interested in being part of my team and helping me meet some of those needs and challenges.
I will be contacting you within the next few months, along with many others, and would appreciate you to being thinking and praying about your interest in supporting my ministry with InterVarsity. If you have any questions I welcome your response through a phone call (he left his number) and his email (I won’t post that since he cannot respond right now), or sitting together face to face and discussing it. Thanks for reading and please look forward to our future contact.
Blessings,
signed Michael J. Chaloupka
If you feel the wish to help, it would be spectacular if when Mike wakes up and is further on his journey to recovery that he finds his salary needs for the upcoming year are met. Please help support Mike, by going to http://www.intervarsity.org/ and clicking on the donate link on the left. You can give by credit card, phone, mail or automatic withdrawal from your account. Any amount is good, even if it is just a dollar or two.
It will ask you if you want to give towards a certain person. Put in Chaloupka and it will come up with his name. Check the radio button and then continue.
Thanks for reading,
Mike’s Auntie Ellie
My great grandmother, Lillian (Tuma) Radej was a saver. She saved photographs, news tidbits. Sometimes just brief notes in random places maybe as she was thinking of something. When my grandparents passed, I got custody of many of the piles of miscellaneous tidbits. At the time, I had no clue who many of the people were in the pictures or why Grandma Radej saved this obituary or that newspaper edition. Years later I have been through it all millions of times, and still don’t know the importance of some items. (more…)