A while back, I posted an illustrated collection of some of the "little landmarks" I enjoy most in Milwaukee. That list led to requests for more. Next, I discussed these posts with Nate Imig at Radio Milwaukee, which led to still more requests.
So here are six more little Milwaukee landmarks – according to me. You may recognize some of them, while others may not seem as familiar, but I'm guessing they'll help jolt your memory into thinking about some of your favorite places that might not qualify as full-on Milwaukee landmarks, but are definitely notable places in town.
Share your favorites using the Talkback feature at the bottom and if possible, add a link to a photo.
In no particular order...
1. Allis Station, 215 E. National Ave.
Milwaukee Road built this concrete "astylistic utilitarian" station on National Avenue in 1915. Drawn by architect H. C. Lothholz, the waiting room and ticket counter was constructed when the railroad elevated its tracks. Service ceased here before World War II and now a model railroad club uses the space a couple times a month – in season, because it's not heated.
2. Former Bethel Evangelical Church, 2392 S. Woodward St.
I was lucky enough to live a block from this beautiful and unusual Romanesque Revival church for about six years and see it every day. Designed by Crane and Barkhausen and built in 1897 as Bay View Bethel Evangelical Church, it was almost demolished in the '60s, but fortunately it escaped the wrecking ball. Now it's home to a Spanish-language Seventh Day Adventist congregation.
3. Former North Milwaukee Fire Station and Town Hall, 5151 N. 35th St
Designed by Leenhouts and Guthrie, this Victorian neo-classical revival building topped with an eye-catching tower was built in 1900 and added onto the following year. It began life as the firehouse for the town of North Milwaukee but also housed the town hall for a time. When the burg was annexed to Milwaukee in 1929, it became home for a couple years to MFD's engine 37 and ladder 15. For nearly a half-century after, it was a ward yard for the sanitation department. After some time in private hands, it's now back in the city's portfolio, though it is apparently vacant.
4. Former Pabst tied house, 1338-40 W. Juneau Ave.
I find it a little hard to believe that this castellated corner tap isn't the work of Otto Strack, the preferred architect of Capt. Frederick Pabst, who put medieval crenelations on loads of Pabst buildings, but the Wisconsin Historical Society credits it to Charles G. Hoffmann. The building, erected in 1896, looks a lot like the old Pabst tavern that now houses Ristorante Bartolotta in Tosa, stylistically speaking. Sadly, the brick's been painted a stark white, but the Pabst medallion survives. It is currently home to a religious congregation.
5. LaFollette School, 3239 N. 9th St.
Henry J. Van Ryn designed this still-open Milwaukee Public School, which opened in 1898 as District 21 No. 2 and got a large addition in either 1907 or 1910, depending on which set of plans you decide to trust. The design was pretty standard for its era (presaging a number of fairly similar designs, such as at Siefert, 37th Street, Auer Avenue and other buildings), but I like the quartet of rings on the facade near the roof line, presumably added in honor of the fact that it's at the corner of 9th and Ring Streets. In 1912, it was renamed Ring Street School (the nearby school on 3rd and Ring was 3rd Street School, later Berger, now MLK), and in 1931 was named in honor of Wisconsin politician Robert "Fighting Bob" LaFollette.
6. "Phoenix Rising" building, 954-56 N. 27th St.
I know this building (on the right) is but a modest retail shop, but every time I see it, I can picture myself at one of those three beautiful arched Romanesque Revival windows upstairs watering the flowers in the boxes, and running the world's greatest record store downstairs. Designed by Wolff & Evans and built in 1902, this place has a wonderful facade, with those windows, some corbelling above and nice decorative stone courses flanking the retail space. Some call it the "Phoenix Rising" building because of the mural painted on the south wall, which Molly Snyder wrote about in 2012.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
