USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 76
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
"The society is and means to be a fighting organization, but only in so far as fighting for his rights can help the American of German deseent to get them. Intelligence is its weapon."
The society declared its major purposes in a manifesto issued shortly after its foundation. In this manifesto it declares for:
"One Country-A country so fair, tolerant and just that all who live in it may love it.
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
"One Flag An American flag for American purposes only.
"One Language-The language of truth spoken in any tongue in which one chooses to speak it."
While the German element had its radical leaders who sought the per- petnation of language, customs and habits, there were also those who took a most rational view of the part which the Germans played in the economic. civic and social life of their adopted country. They proceeded upon the thought that the German born brought much to the new world worthy of emulation and of perpetuation. But they also saw the meritorious in the traditions, the ideals and the customs of the native American. They held that true Americanism meant to retain all the virtues of a native land and to recognize all the good found in a new world. But, they also reasoned that it meant the rejection of everything that was bad, be it of foreign or native making.
Thus, the advanced type of German-American readily accepted the better things found in American life and only retained the things in German life which he deemed worth retaining. He reasoned that no nation has a monopoly of all the virtues, or is free from all the vices. The true mission. therefore, of the American is to accept the best in all the races that are merged into our body politie and our social life, and to combat the vieions and objection- able, be it of native or foreign origin.
If one were to faney to himself the composite citizen of Milwaukee today it would be found that the American born predominated to a large degree. This means that the American born, of either Irish, German or Scandinavian ancestry, have passed into the second and third, and even the fourth genera- tion. It would also be found that other nationalities arriving at a later period, partienlarily the Poles, present a constitueney of first and second gen- oration American born. Thus, it is reasonable to hold that the composite pres- sents only a minor fraction of foreign born.
That Alt-Milwaukee period during which the city saw its Yankee, Ger- man and Irish inhabitants sequestered in colonies whose racial qualities were definite and pronounced. is a thing of the past. Yankee Hill has been invaded by various nationalities, is no longer inhabited exclusively by the Anglo- American element, and is no longer known by that name. The area lying to the south of Wisconsin Street and bounded by the river and the lake was For many years known as the Third Ward. The Irish who first landed here settled in this area. Gradually as the older generation died out and the younger generation sought homes in other sections of the city the racial com- plexion of this area declined. Then came the great Third Ward fire which destroyed over three hundred homes, and which prompted the remaining Irish families to seek homes elsewhere. Today this section has been largely invaded by commercial and manufacturing interests and the greatly minimized residence section constituted the Italian colony of the city.
The original German sections of the city, covering a radius of one-ha'" mile to the north of the city hall, has undergone physical and racial change. The old-time cozy cottages, one- and two-storied, with their vegetable and flower gardens, their woodsheds, chicken coops and smokehouses. have given
781
TRANSITION, ALT-MILWAUKEE TO AMERICAN CITY
way to business blocks, shops and factories. The population is crowded into tenement and boarding houses and in apartments provided on upper Hoors of stores and shops. In racial origin the population presents a considerable variety. One hears Greek, Yiddish, Croatian and Slavonian as frequently as English, and German no oftener than either of the other languages.
Passing of Landmarks .- In discussing passing landmarks which recall the "good old days" and their forms of amusement and recreation the Sunday Milwaukee Telegram of April 16, 1922, said the following:
"This is not a tale concerning prohibition ; there is enough heard, as it is. upon that subjeet among the current activities of 'good old Milwaukee.' It is merely a retrospective picture of years that have gone-of how Milwau- kee played during the brief intervals that occurred for leisure while the mighty city of today was being fabricated from the elements which existed in these parts seventy odd years ago.
"Through the haze of years that have gone, the simple pastimes of the pioneers and of their children and children's children are filled with illusions that today are visualized with the keenest of relish and longing.
"In those old days the head of a family took his wife and children to a park or garden on pleasant summer Sunday afternoons, took possession of a large table near the stage, if opera was on the bill, or further back if a symphony orchestra or band furnished music to beguile the leisure moments ; and there the party remained in quiet enjoyment of the open air, the music and the refreshment-for an outlay of 30 or 40 cents.
"It has been years since the 'garden life' of Milwaukee was at its height- when the nights were filled with music' and the steins foamed o'er with rich, cool, and stimulating beer. In fact the gardens entered a period of decadence with the opening of this century and the accompanying manifesta- tions of established wealth and prosperity. The old gardens began to be 'too cheap.'
"The younger generation came to believe that an evening passed in sipping a single liter of beer was a waste of time-it wanted something more speedy, with a little more jazz in it. The burden of two generations of earnings became too heavy to bear through an evening of 'Fra Diavalo' or the 'Bohemian Girl' or the 'Mikado' a summer garden dotted with twin- kling little lantern lights, swept by the warm summer evening breezes: so the virile youth of that day called into being something a little more rapid, a little more 'peppy,' a little more expensive.
"Those Days of Yore .- But still there are a good round 100,000 inhab- itants among the nearly half a million in Greater Milwaukee, who not only remember the playtimes of other days with tremendous fervor and vivid- ness, but who regaled themselves in the fashion of their day from youth till custom put a pall on many pastimes, or people so tired of them that they were abandoned.
"The development of the gardens in Milwaukee was a very natural thing. The biergaertens of Germany, whence such a large proportion of Milwan- kee's bilders came in the 50's and later, and the spirit of freiheit' that
782
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
seemed espec ally to flourish in pleasure places of this character, were modeled after in the very early days.
"A pioneer of those days, in speaking of this development, the other day, explained the fundamentals in this wise: 'The people who built Milwau- kee were a hard-working, tireless lot, thrifty and economical. They he- lieved that one of the most economical ways of obtaining healthful recrea- tion was to be in the open air with a glass or stein of beer and a little music. This, they had learned in their childhood days was quite inexpensive and wonderfully satisfying.
" 'The Foaming Steins .- It was a temperate outing and it drew people together, where they could talk over and develop plans for the growing eity. " .This idea of recreation was in fact a recreation for workers. The peo- ple who wrought this swampy town into a great city had to work and did.
" 'l have never known a man personally who was both a hard worker and an opponent of the use of beer. The anti's, in general, are people who have not done constructive work either by the sweat of their brow or by their hands. Anti-beer agitation is a lazy man's and a lazy woman's avoca- tion.
"'In those early days the family life of Milwaukeeans was much more admirable than today. The families lived in their homes and they went out in a body to their recreations. Maybe it was old fashioned. but when I think back to those days I wish we could live them over again. But with the last generation speed overtook the simple pleasures of the pioneer days.'
"It was at the Old Settlers' Club, where a newspaper writer went to find pictures of olden time gardens and gathering places. that it was re- vealed that among the ancient prints upon the walls of the venerable organ- ization's quarters no pictures told of that phase of the early days of Mil- waukee. It was decided, however, that the club should get busy' on the subject, and now a little drive among the older members has been started to gather as many pictures as possible of those old pleasure grounds.
"Milwaukee Garden probably was the first of the beer gardens of im- portance in Milwaukee. It was established in 1850, a year or two after the influx of German refugees. The garden was west of Tenth Street, between State and Prairie streets, and for half a century was a leading factor in the gala events of Milwaukee.
"The garden was the greater part of a city block, with an old style gate entrance. But inside there were gravelled walks and benches and summer houses, and a stage for speaking and tables and chairs for the throngs which attended during summers to hear music or programs of one kind or another or to join in patriotic celebrations.
"Pins Dreher established Milwaukee Garden and when his sons grew up they helped operate it for many years. It was at this place that the great turnerfests were held, and for several years thousands of turners from Cinein- nati. New York, and Chicago came here to compete on the drill ground of the park. bater, when the labor union movement began to grow, the labor gatherings usually were held in these gardens. It would accommodate 12,-
783
TRANSITION, ALT-MILWAUKEE TO AMERICAN CITY
000 or 15,000 people, and on days of special importance there were music, dancing and lots of beer ; what times were had there!
"More than a quarter of a century ago the garden was abandoned as such and the property sold for building purposes.
"'In those days,' said Max Dreher, recalling his days of service at the garden, 'people in Milwaukee used to follow bands around like lost dogs fol- low likely strangers. When there were parades and the bands in the pro- cession would come into the park and take a stand at the space inside the gate to play till the marchers got in, the crowds would mill around the mu- sivians and never get into the park proper at all.
" '] remember the greatest labor parade we ever had. There were 10,000 in the parade. I worked ont an idea to get them to come in and hold a pienie. I told the musicians that there would be four barrels of beer in a far corner of the park, and that if they would march right through they could have it-providing they would play a few tunes. The bandboys certainly marched right straight through-perhaps they would now if the proposition was renewed. It was a hot June day and for three hours they kept playing. For the first time in history the entire parade and all the spectators got on the lot. After that we had no trouble about getting the crowd in.'
"While the Milwaukee Garden was a public meeting place, it did not cater as a 'family resort' through the summer, and as such a garden was a popular desire, the Schlitz Garden was established, and there the first open air light opera was given in Milwaukee.
"Music Drew Throngs .- The Schlitz Garden was a popular resort for many years, finally taking the place of the Milwaukee Garden as a public gath- ering place. From the stage in the garden theater many presidents of the United States or their principal campaigning representatives spoke. It was the scene of mass meetings and various gatherings of a general nature.
"But the delightful memories of the old park are more concerned with the opera days, when thousands gathered about the little white tables in the wooded park to listen to 'Bohemian Girl,' 'Fra Diavalo' and other operas of those days. Art'sts and audience mingled after the performances and a gay scene was always to be found from the close of the opera until midnight. For society gathered at the park for these performances and families of the burghers ocenpied groups of tables and busy waiters rushed hither and thither during ensemble numbers, but there always was a respectful and appreciative hush when solo numbers began.
"Schlitz park also fell into disuse with the development of enclosed gar- dens, which could be operated summer and winter. Its site now is a public park. But the crowds that peopled it thirty years ago, when Milwaukee was half its present size, are no more.
"One of the dearest memories of those who were active here at the fin de siecle was that of Whitefish Bay resort. This resort became a nationally known playground. Situated on the high bluffs overlooking the lake about six miles north of Milwaukee and at the end of the old 'toll road,' where, in the bicycle days, a nickel was charged at each gate for toll, the resort, during the summer evenings and Sundays of the '90s and later, attracted
INTERIOR OF THE PALM GARDEN, THIRD STREET NEAR GRAND AVENUE, NATIONALLY FAMOUS IN ITS DAY AS A CONCERT HALL. CLOSED IN 192]
-
THE BAR AT THE SCHLITZ PALM GARDEN-CLOSED IN 1921
785
TRANSITION, ALT-MILWAUKEE TO AMERICAN CITY
thousands upon thousands, especially after street car connection was com- pleted.
"Fine music was the principal attraction at Whitefish Bay, although in its earlier days the euisine established was especially appreciated. White- fish, taken from the bay after which the resort was named, were prominent on the menu; heavy planked steaks and other substantial specialties made the place popular with healthy young gourmands. There was service inside the pavilion and outside on the terraces which had been out into the sheer walls of the bluff.
"The 'Dear, Dead Days.'-Many a summer romance which ended in estab- lishment of families now prominent in Milwaukee, developed in the beautiful summer evenings of long ago at Whitefish Bay. Today, the property is built up with dwellings and very little remains to remind one of the 'dear dead days' of the Swoboda regime.
"These were the principal garden resorts in the half century that ended in 1900. But there were many smaller out door gathering places, at which 'beer' was the symbol of enjoyment, and spicy food abundant.
"Biefeld's gardens, situated where Astor Street and Ogden Avenue now join, was an early day popular garden. Endermann's-on-the-River and Luder- mann's-on-the-Lake were resorts that the 'old timers' recall with a watering of the mouth during 'bock beer' time. The Schuetzenpark and National park on the South Side were for many years popular playgrounds.
"Later, the parks began to develop along the upper river shores, Pleas- ant Valley, the Blatz resort, became one of the most popular places in Milwau- kee in summer-time for Sunday and evening outings. Ont on the West Side, the Miller gardens at the west end of Wells Street also was a resort of pop- ularity.
"But the city outgrew the older and simpler outdoor resorts with the development of resorts in the Waukesha County lake region. Then the 'in- side gardens' had their day. The first of these elaborately ornamented in- terior 'gardens' probably was the Kuenstlerheim, an artist's home, established by Robert Reinhardt, afterwards a celebrated connoisseur of art works and a dealer of international note. The Kuenstlerheim was decorated about the walls and ceiling with drawings of weird subjects, and the scheme was car- ried out in heavy paneled effects. When the panoramas of the Civil war were projected, much of that work was done in Milwaukee and several young German artists were brought from Munich to do the work. Traces of their painting still exist in many buildings where they were housed or where they congregated for beer and suppers.
"But at the Kuenstlerheim, Mr. Reinhardt planned a scheme of decorations that was afterwards exeented by the youths and it remained a feature of the old place until its destruction by fire many years later.
"The Empire garden, the East Side Pahn garden. the Schlitz Palm gar- den, the Gargoyle were among the forerunners of the cabaret of today- they were large restaurants and gardens at which excellent musical programs were given, and beer served-at a price which today may hardly be believed. "The development of the bar-room-restaurants was an early day affair, Vol. 1-50
780
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
but they were popular despite that the then leading hotels, the Kirby House and Newhall House, served large and sumptuous dinners for half a dollar, and the old Leigh House, on Broadway, had as its piece de resistance a mid- day meal for 25 cents-20 cents if a ticket were purchased for eighteen meals.
"No. 1 Grand Avenue was Henry Wehr's restaurant and bar. It was the most advanced of any institution of its kind in the '70s and '80s. The cof- fee served there was talked of all over these United States, for when actors and distinguished people came to Milwaukee their visit was never complete until they had 'taken coffee' and coffee-cake at Wehr's. The old Wehr landmark is at present the eastern extremity of Gimbel Bros.' store.
"Landmarks Removed .- Over on the East Side there were Weber & Me- Laughlin's restaurant, the Wayside inn, Jacob Best's wine stube, Herman Toser's wine stube and the old 'hangout of newspaper row, the 'Quiet House.' In those places the business and professional men of Milwaukee foregathered for years. Any politician could always be found at Henry Weber's. Any journalist at the 'Quiet House.' Business men were at Toser's or Best's. In the latter the finest of imported European wines were available at prices involving niekles and dimes. The Marble hall was a later development. The hall has now been changed into a rapid-fire quick lunch. Of the recrea- tion places of former days there is now left hardly a trace.
"When the last of the hack-drivers took to 'laying up' the hack for the winter months, the final link that connected the 'good old days' with the present, was shattered. East Water Street is now a hurrying mass of busy people of an afternoon, going-where? Certainly not to Weber's or to Toser's or to the 'Quiet House.' "'
A Typical American City .- The World war became a sore trial to the Americans of German birth. To find the country of their adoption in mortal combat with the country of their birth, caused in many of them a conflict between loyalty for the one and love for the other. While he no longer be- lieved in a monarchial form of government, and had always been opposed to the militarism and caste system of the Fatherland, there was something about the land of his birth that touched his sympathies.
lle found it hard at first to reconcile his allegiance to his adopted coun- try with his reverence for the mother country. But he had to ehose between Germania and Columbia. Hle owed his birth to the one, but his existence, his wellbeing, his fortune to the other ; he owed something to the one, but a thou- sand times more to the other. His future and that of his family was wrapped up in the fortunes of this country. After all, it was not difficult to choose between Kaiserism and a self-governing republic, between a elass-ridden and tradition-bound old world and a land of political freedom and of equal op- portunity. In the maze of conflicting emotions the German born eventually found himself. Ile remained true to his adopted country.
While the war was in progress the editor of the only German daily re- quested the author of this chapter to write an article which should reflect the attitude of the German-American clement, as seen from the standpoint of a native born American.
The article was prepared, translated into German and published and gen-
787
TRANSITION, ALT-MILWAUKEE TO AMERICAN CITY
erally accepted as pietnring quite faithfully the duties and responsibilities of the foreign born, as well as the attitude to which he had adjusted himself or which he had voluntarily accepted. The article read as follows:
"Unity of Thought and Action .- The duty of the hour demands loyalty to Flag and Country. It has been our good fortune, as Americans, to have lived for many years in peace with the world and with ourselves. Today we are in a state of war-war with Germany. And while we have practiced good citizenship in time of peace, it is doubly inenmbent upon us to assert our faith, our conrage, and our loyalty to our country in time of war.
"No man loves war. All men should hate war. But, some of the na- tion's highest ideals and greatest purposes have been realized through the medimm of war. It was through war that the nation primarily secured its independence, that slavery was abolished, that the Union was saved, and that ('nba was set free. In the language of the late Senator John L. Mitchell, . There are some things worse than war, some things better than money.'
"We have enjoyed the great fortune to live in a democracy, where a gov- ernment of the people, by the people and for the people prevails. We have held firmly to the doctrine that there shall be no goverment without the consent of the governed. When a government so constituted has spoken through its accredited representatives its voice becomes the law of the land; when it ealls its citizenship into action, that citizenship must respond un- hesitatingly, enthusiastically and courageously.
"This is not a war against the German people, against German culture, German enstoms or German ideals. It is a war-paradoxically speaking- against war itself, against a system that makes war possible. It is a sacrifice and a prayer for the dawn of that day when no man can be compelled by government, monarchial or otherwise, to kill his fellow man! it is a struggle for permanent world peace. What cause could be more landable, what motive more lofty, what purpose more exalting !
"The foreign born who finds the country of his adoption at war with the land of his birth, may find it hard to adjust himself. Ile may be torn with conflicting emotions. But let us remind him that he owes his whole and highest allegiance to the country under whose protection he lives. Unele Sam loves his adopted children as he does his own, but he must remind them that in the stern hour of duty there can be no divided allegiance. The ties of blood and kinship, however strong, must be submerged when country is ar- rayed against country. Individual consideration must give way to collective purpose-to the cause of a whole nation.
"The German immigrant wended his way to the United States to escape economie hardships, compulsory military service, and the evils of class dis- tinction. He came to the new world to establish a home, to exercise the right of citizenship, to provide his children with an education, to afford them op- portunities which were denied him in his native land. Never, at any time, would he seriously have considered a return to the old world, or subjected his family to old world conditions.
"But. the acceptance of new world blessings imply new world duties and responsibilities. Men must leave old preconceptions and predilections behind
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
them, and accept the true, the tangible, the imperative. They must be loyal to the land of their adoption. The tenets of true manhood demand this. honor and integrity exact it.
"When publie duty comes into eontliet with private sentiment the latter must unequivocally give way to the former. The larger thought and purpose must prevail. The canse of state and nation overshadows all individual considerations. Their integrity and safety become paramount. Citizen must array himself with citizen into one strong, compact, invincible unit-to live, fight, and die for the cause.
"Therefore, all men who live under the American flag, who enjoy its pro- teetion and its blessings, must come together in unity of thought. purpose and action. Such a course only, ean render us, in this hour of trial, worthy of the proud title of Americanship and worthy manhood."
Much that remained to testify to the one time popularity of all that was German, and the influence of the German element as such, was swept away as the result of the changed sentiment brought about by the World war.
The feeling against everything German in name, sentiment or purpose became most bitter. The teaching of German, for instance in the public schools was speedily dropped, and German speech in publie places became unpopular. Commercial and social enterprises had to yield to the prevailing sentiment. For instance, the Deutscher Club changed its name to Wisconsin Club. the German-American Bank changed to the American Exchange Bank. the Germania Building adopted the name Brumder Building and removed the statue of Germania from the structure. The German Theatre had to close its doors, and even after the armistice the feeling had not subsided sufficiently to permit immediate reopening. Some months elapsed before a German play could be prodneed without incurring opposition.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.