Reader Questions

Posted by :Yance On : September 2, 2012
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Category: Milwaukee Talk

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What is the oldest building in Milwaukee?

-Anonymous

This is a question I have got several times. Because I could not answer it on the spot, now is the time. If you want the trick answer, then it is the Joan of Arc Chapel on the Marquette University campus. It was built in the 15th century in France and moved to its present home in 1964.

I believe the oldest, whole building in Milwaukee is the Benjamin Church house which now sits in Estabrook Park but originally was near 4th & Galena. Several downtown churches, St. Mary’s on Broadway and Kilbourn and St. John’s at Wells and Jackson have been around since the late 1840s although they have had many major changes over the years.

The oldest, whole building in downtown which probably hasn’t had as many changes is the James Brown residence at the northeast corner of Astor and Juneau. It was finished in 1851 and has recently been restored to its original style.

Reader Questions

Posted by :Yance On : August 19, 2012
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Category: Milwaukee Talk

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What is the history of the name Locust St? I found that E. Locust used to be called Folsom, but why is Locust St. named after an insect?

-Diane

The original name of Folsom came strangely enough from Miss Frances Folsom, bride of President Cleveland. She caught the nation’s imagination in the 1880s as some sort of Amazon princess and was very well celebrated.

Folsom Place was the name of the street on the east side of the Milwaukee River while the street west of the river was always known as Locust Street. When the bridge was built in 1894, it was named the Folsom Bridge. The great street renaming of 1930 changed Folsom Place along with many other streets around the city. Milwaukee wanted to keep one name for one street so one of the names had to go and it was decided to keep Locust Street. Locust Street was named, not for the insect but for the tree which is still planted along streets all over the city.