Probably nothing new here to some, but when I came across this looking for something else (isn’t that how a good amount of old information is found?) I could not pass it up without sharing.

Milwaukee Sentinel August 6, 1870

The first tavern kept in Milwaukee was opened in 1835 by Mr. Jacques Vieau, father-in-law of Solomon Juneau, in a small building on East Water street, about opposite the present location of Lansing Bunnells’ establishment. The building was afterwards known as the Cottage Inn, and formed a portion of the new tavern which was erected in 1843 and burned down in the conflagration of 1845.

The first public house of importance built in this city was the Milwaukee House, which was commenced in 1835 and finished in 1837. It was erected by Messrs. Juneau and Martin, and occupied the present site of the Young Men’s Association building. The main building was subsequently removed to the northeast corner of Huron and Broadway, where it was destroyed by fire. A wing of the original building is yet in existence, serving as a carriage works for Meincke, corner of Main and Detroit. It was for a long time known as the Keystone State Hotel, and was quite popular under the landlordship of the late Andrew J. McCormick.

Dennis Pajot
Milwaukee