Old Milwaukee.net Visits the Chudnow Museum

Milwaukee has plenty of good museums but for people that want to enjoy the city’s history there is always a need for more. The Streets of Old Milwaukee at the Public Museum have been around for almost 50 years, believe it or not! The Milwaukee County Historical Society has cleaned house after their renovation so remains nearly empty of displays. The Jewish History Museum and Black History Museum both offer various glimpses into Milwaukee’s past but otherwise there is a need of more displayed history.

The Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear helps to fill in that gap by showing some glimpses of life in 1920s and 1930s Milwaukee. It is set up in the old Avrum Chudnow home at 839 N. 11th St. It doesn’t look like a museum from the front but step to the back door on the right side to gain entrance. Limited parking is available off a driveway on Highland, west of 11th Street otherwise metered parking is on the street. Beware the street parking restrictions or face a ticket!

The museum takes objects from the large collection of the Chudnow family and gives them context by displaying them in rooms that are built as if they are shops or offices. One room is the Grafman Grocery store, another the Augusta Hart shoe store, and it goes on and on through the two floors of the very large home. There is plenty on display here and it is worth an hour or so to slip into Milwaukee’s past. There are some surprises on the tour and a secret room on the second floor I won’t tell too much more about.

The first days it was open to the public were the past few days of July 20th and 21st but the official grand opening won’t happen until August 18th. Stop by and help to support the Chudnow Museum! Admission is a reasonable $5 for adults. Check the website for more information.


http://www.chudnowmuseum.org

Missing Milwaukee at MPL

Mark your calendars and make your reservations to come and hear me talk about the Missing Milwaukee book. If you missed the tour, this will be the next best thing!

This event will happen on Saturday, July 28 at 2pm in the Rare Books Room of the Central Library. Registration is required and can be done online or by calling during normal business hours at 414-286-3011. Space is limited so register now!

Books will be available for sale at the event for $15 cash or check and I will be more than willing to sign them. Hope to see you there.

Milwaukee in Miniature

A new exhibition opening up at the Milwaukee County Historical Society will display 16 scale model buildings created by Ferdinand Aumueller in the late 1960s. The project included 60 blocks of downtown with 200 buildings in all. Several block were last displayed in 1984 at the Historical Society but have normally been in storage because of the size required to display them. The models are intricately detailed to be as accurate as possible.

Ferdinand Aumueller worked as a secretary for the Cramer-Krasselt advertising agency until he retired in 1955. He occupied himself during retirement building scale models of buildings for home Christmas displays and in 1967 tackled the downtown project to depict the view as it looked during the early 1900’s. He worked on it for two years before finally completing it in 1969. After his death in October 1971, the models went on auction and were bought by Mrs. Thomas O’Byrne and later acquired by the Historical Society.

The exhibit opens Thursday June 14 at the Milwaukee County Historical Society.

Milwaukee’s Arab History

Marquette professor Enaya Othman, has worked for several years to help create an organization here called the Arab Muslim Women Research and Resource Institute. The organization and her work was reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel back in December 2009.

One of the projects she and dedicated individuals has been working on for this institute is a history of Arab immigrants to Milwaukee. An article on the project’s website gives a brief history of Syrian and Palestinian immigration.

Further reading on Milwaukee’s Syrian colony can be found in the following article from the Milwaukee Journal of June 19, 1945.

Missing Milwaukee Walking Tour

Here’s a great opportunity to take a walk into the past of Missing Milwaukee. This walking tour will be hosted by myself and will provide a glimpse back at several downtown buildings which are no longer with us. These buildings were featured in the HMI book published last year as well as many others.

The tour will start at 5:30 on May 11th and is $15 for HMI members and $20 if you are not a member. For $10 extra you can get a copy of the book.

More details and tour registration can be found here.

Mansion For Sale

The Harnischfeger Mansion out on 35th & Wisconsin has recently been listed for sale by Shorewest. It’s hard to say whether it is a steal at $349,900 because it is a fixer-upper. It would need lots of attention to bring it back to its original glory after years of abuse and neglect but it still has some interesting features.

Anyone interested?

2011 Wisconsin History Website Award

OldMilwaukee.net was given the prestigious 2011 Wisconsin History Website Award by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Every year a website is chosen that makes the most valuable contribution to presenting Wisconsin history during the previous year.

We have always made it a point to engage and involve site visitors in discovering Milwaukee and Wisconsin history. It is hoped that everyone comes here to learn something new about this great city.

Milwaukee Brews & Booze

Author Martin Hintz has released his latest book on the history of booze in Milwaukee, A Spirited History of Milwaukee Brews & Booze.

Crack open this comprehensive history of Brew City booze. Explore Milwaukee’s “rum holes,” discover how the city weathered Prohibition and which Jones Island sported the longest mustache. Copy down the best recipe involving Sprecher Special Amber, Rainbow Trout and sauerkraut. Sample the rich heritage of Pabst, Schlits, Gettelman and Miller-the folk who turned Milwaukee into the Beer Capital of the World. And save some room for the more recent contributions of distillers and craft brewers who continue to make the city an exciting place for the thoughtful drinker.

Be sure to stop by Friday, September 30th, 7:00pm at Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Avenue to meet the author and buy the book.

Octagon House Program

The Bay View Library will hold a program presented by Ellen Puerzer about octagon houses on October 4th. It will be a slide presentation on Wisconsin octagons, and those across the country. Some then and now photos will also be shown.

Its free and begins at 6pm and The Octagon House Inventory book will also be available at a discounted price of $20.

In case anyone has a curiosity about 19th century octagon houses inspired by Orson Fowler’s 1848 book, this your opportunity to meet the author and learn about this unique building type.

You can contact Bay View library for more info.

Happy Fourth!

It is a great day to remember our nation’s history! It is important to not only remember and celebrate the Declaration of Independence but also all of the history which has made America the country it is. Take time to educate yourself on the history of your country and city!

Sorry about the lack of a Monday mystery today. Holiday activities have delayed getting a mystery question posted. Check back again soon!!