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Here are the recommended prescriptions for alcoholism in 1899:

Actaea Racemosa: in irritative dyspedsia  --- Ammonia: Aromatic spirit of, as a substitute for alcohol when the craving                                                                    comes on.

Ammonium Chloride --- Ammonium Acetate --- Arsenic: to lessen vomiting in drunkards, in the morning before food is taken                                                                         and also in the irritable stomach of drunkards.

Bismuth: with hydrocyanic acid, to relieve acidity and heartburn.

Bromides: useful during delirium tremens, or to lessen irritability, in one dram doses in the wakeful condition which immediately precedes it.

Capsicum: as a substitute for alcohol, and also to relieve the restlessness and imsomnia.

Chloral Hydrate: to quiet nervous system and induce sleep in an acute attack. Must be used  with caution in old drunkards.

Cimicifuga --- Cocaine: to remove the craving.--- Faradization --- Gelsemium: same as bromides

Gold and Sodium Chloride --- Hydraastine --- Ichthalbin --- Levico Water: as tonic

Lupulin: along with capsicum as a sunstitiue for alcohol, also to quiet nervous system in delirium tremens.--- Milk: at night.

Nux Vomica: as tonic and stimulant , both to nervous system, and generally to aid digestion.

Opium: May be necessary to produce sleep; to relieve the pain of the chronic gastritis and the want of appetite.

Orange: slowly sucked, a substitute for alcohol. --- Phosphorus: in chronic cases as nerve tonic

Picrotoxine: for tremors. --- Potassium Bromide --- Quinine: in the "Horrors" stage it acts as a sedative to the brain and                                                                            restores the digestive function.

Strychnine Nitrate --- Sumbul: in the headache of old drinkers.

Water, cold: a glass taken in small sips at a time as a substitute for alcohol.

Water, hot: one pint drunk as hot as possible an hour before meals will remove craving.

Zinc Oxide: In chronic alcoholic dyspepsia, and nervous debility. It also allays the craving.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the cures for alcoholics in 1899. Don't you wish you saw a doctor for drinking back then?  If you like, I will write more of these prescriptions from 1899. Remember, turpentine was a pain reliever for back aches then.  If they couldn't cure you, they could kill you with kindness and their remedies for illnesses.

Today is the day that we take time off to give thanks for all that we have. It does not matter what church you go to, but going to church is very important today. It is the least that we can do for all that we have received. We should be thankful for our families, our homes, our jobs and other things that are important to us. Even though you will probally have roast turkey today, don't  over do it with your eating. Relax with your family and do something together. If you have nothing else to do, then watch football on television or basketball. This is a day for the whole family to get together as a unit and a chance to talk over the events that happened to each other this year. This is also a chance for the children to learn about how Thanksgiving Day came into existance and why. Have a happy Thanksgiving Day.

Prescriptions for Acne:

Adepts Lanse: topically            Alkaline lotions: when skin is greasy and follicles are black and prominent       Aristol

Arsenic: in chronic acne; generally though not always, prevents the acne from bromide or iodide of potassium.

Belladonna: as local application to check a too abundent secretion.   Berberis: for acne of girls at puberty

Bismuth: asointment or powder. In acne rosacea, if acute.   Borax: solution very useful.

Cajeput Oil: as stimulent in acne rosacea.    Calcium Sulphide: same as sulfur. For internal use.     Chrysarobin     Coca

Cod-Liver Oil    Copper   Electricity     Euresol     Europhen   Gaduol: internally, in scrofuious and hectic cases

Glycerin: both locally and internally.    Hydrastine Hydrochlorate: as lotion.  Hydrastis    Ichthalbin: internally

This is half of the list of prescriptions for acne. Imagine what it was like to visit a doctor in 1899. Many doctors out west and in the country did not have medical degrees. Our pioneers had to look for doctors from Europe or from the East Coast to find a real doctor. The Indian Medicine Man was very useful to pioneers of America. Many of the medicines used in 1899 are considered to be poison today. In the future I may describe other prescriptions for illnesses of that time.

Here is some material from Merck's 1899 Manual.

All Analyses at these laboratories are so conducted to assure the best service attainable on the basis of the latest scientific developments. The laboratories are amply supplied with a perfect quality of reagent materials, and only with the most efficient constructions of modern apparatus and instruments. The probable cost for some of the frequently needed researches is approximately indicated below:

      Sputum, for tuberculosis bacilli ................ $ 3.00

      Urine, for tuberculosis bacilli .................... $ 3.00

      Milk, for tuberculosis bacilli........................$ 3.00

      Urine, qualitative, for one constituent...........$ 1.50

      Urine, qualititive, for each additional constituent.. $ 1.00

      Urine, quantitative, for each constituent .......$ 3.00

      Urine, sediment, microscopical ...................$ 1.50

      Blood, for ratio of white to red corpuscles .....$ 2.00

      Blood, for Widal's typhoid reaction ...............$ 2.00

      Water, for general fitness to drink ................$ 10.00

      Water, for typhoid germs .............................$ 25.00

      Water, quanititative determination of any one constituent..$ 10.00

      Pus, for gonococci .....................................$ 2.00

The cost of other analyses--more variable in scope--can only be given upon closer knowledge of the requirements of individual cases.

All pharmacists in every part of the United States will receive and transmit orders for the Merck Analytic Laboratories.

This facsimile of the first edition of The Merck Manual, published as Merck's 1899 Manual, has been produced in celebration of the 100th anniversary of this not-for-profit publication.

This book shows how physicians treated patients back in 1899. Imagine what these same laboratory test would cost today at many hospitals. It shows many medicines that are illegal today and some that are considered poison to us now. It also gives us an idea of what it was like to be a doctor back in 1899. Arsenic Bomide, Arsenic Chloride and Arsenic Iodide  are three medicines used then. Opium and Opium Powdered (morphine) were also commonly prescribed medicines. Mercury was used in many forms then. Oil of Turpentine was used as a medicine also. It would take a long time to describe all of the  prescriptions used for each illness. This will give you an idea of what the doctors had to work with then. Would you like to be a patient back then?  Soon, I will write more on this subject. I will show what procedures were done for certain illnesses then. 

We the 4th of July volunteers are dedicated to preserve and keep patriotism alive in the Bay View community with celebrations now and into the future.

An invitation was sent to all active city park Presidents to attend a special DCD meeting on Saturday, December 6, at 9 AM. The intent of the meeting is to come up with creative ways to continue 4th of July events with less funding for city park committees!  Yes, there will be flags, ice cream and fireworks, NOT AS MANY, but less funds presumed to distribute to park volunteer committees and as well other paid coordination positions. (Possibly paid positions funds could be reduced and/or tasks combined or reassigned to maintain parks funding levels.)

It is unfortunate that many city citizens are unaware Milwaukee City Budget allocates funds to the July 4th Commision or it even exists. With only a few city budget public review meetings, this item was not a visable priority for the public to  be aware of  or to fight to preserve!  Many citizens are oblivious to the fact that park volunteer committees plan the city parks July 4th events and are only partially funded. Not all park committees have the ability to raise or even know how to support their event with activities.

20% or $25,000 of July 4th Commission funding allocation was reduced from the City of Milwaukee Budget now at $105,000.

The real loss here will be the subtle teaching of patriotism and freedoms that families enjoy. Unpaid dedicated volunteers plan and implement a fun filled day to be enjoyed by family, friends and the community at large. As with our poster contest, you know the importance of young children learning about patriotism through art. Children's involvement in bicycle, tricycle, doll buggy and coaster contests allows then to address their dreams. Youth talent shows are another positive way to to add to our quality of life. It would be sad to eliminate any of these traditional activities.

Wednesday night our executive board members met to review our internal proposed budget for next year. We looked to see what we can provide to the community with less fund allocation; it will be very hard to maintain. We continue to fund raise but it will be extremely tough during these difficult economic times.

Now if you want to see only one band and a few schools marching on July 4th, No talent show, minimum fireworks, flags and ice cream cups for marchers, and no evening program,  then support our Mayor and his proposal of cutting funds for our 4th of July committees. If you would like to continue with the programs established in 1910, when Humboldt Park established the first 4th of July association in Milwaukee, one year before Milwaukee estabished its July 4th Commission, then let the Mayor of Milwaukee know about what you think of this fund reduction. Imagine having a 4th of July with no parade, no park activities, no contests, no talent show, no evening program and one or two fireworks if we are lucky. Our forefathers have earned for us the rights that we have today. Many of the members of our armed forces have made the supreme sacrifice that we could continue to have our freedom. Let us show our pride and wave an American flag and celebrate our country's Independence Day with great joy. Please consider becoming one of us volunteers who have served for many years on our 4th of July Association. Show that you are proud to be an Amercian citizen. I, personally have volunteered for over twenty years as a member of the Humboldt park 4th of July Association. In 2010, if we survive the budget cuts and can obtain necessary donations, we will celebrate 100 years of serving the community on the 4th of July.

If you want to learn about local history, you must begin with your own family records if possible. From there you must go to your local library and look into their local history section for books on the subject matter. When you need more information, you must go to the Main Library Downtown and go to the second floor to visit the Local History Room. From the clues  that you gain at the library, you must then go on-line on your computer to do deeper studies of the subject matter. If you are working on genealogy, you must check the U.S. Census reports for names and dates. If you can get to look at some old city directories, you may gain more information than on the U.S. Census reports. The Church of the Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, will have the best genealogy information. Warning !   You can become addicted to this kind of research. Once you begin to research, you will never want to stop. There is always more information at the end of the rainbow, but you never can find it all. Once you achieve your goals, you will feel very refreshed. Knowledge can be a great awakener. Open your minds and let the new knowledge flow inside. Now you know how to do any type of research or studies. The skills that you learn doing research will help you all the rest of your life.

When we took the train to Minneapolis, Minnesota, we had an interesting time. We left Milwaukee about 3:55 PM on a Thursday. The seats in the railroad car were all facing the wrong direction. When we asked why this was so, we were told that it was for safety reasons. When the regular conductor came into our car, he corrected the situation and changed  the direction of the seats inside. He told us that in Chicago, before the train took off towards Milwaukee, they were supposed to change the seats into the correct position. Since the first woman who told us that this was caused for safety reasons, we wondered how the food would be in the diner car where she worked regularly. Probably,  if we had found a fly or mouse in our food, that it was done for safety purposes. We therefore did not eat in the diner car. The train trip was wonderful, but because it was getting dark outside, we could not see much of the scenery. Minneapolis, Minnesota is wonderful city. The train depot was spacious, but like the Milwaukee Amtrak station, there was no restaurant inside of the station. Our son, Kurt, picked us up and drove us to his home in White Bear Lake, near St. Paul. We had a wonderful time there. Kurt gave us a tour of downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. Because Minnesota does not have many fish fry locations, we went to Appleby's to get some fish to eat for lunch. We had a chance to play with our grandson, Sam, who was celebrating his 2nd birthday while we were there. Olivia, Kurt's wife made a good homemade supper for us to enjoy. The next day, Saturday, we had a birthday party for Sam with many of his cousins, his grandparents on both sides of the family, his great-grandmother, and many of Olivia's cousins. The day went well until it started to rain outside. After all of the birthday guests left, we cleaned up the area and ate a meal together. We all wanted to watch the Wisconsin Badger Football game against Penn State, but that game was a complete wipeout for the Badgers. Both Kurt and Olivia graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. After giving up on the Badgers, my wife and I went to bed, and got up at 5:15 AM, in order to catch the train back to Milwaukee. The trip back started at 7:50 AM. The scenery on the trip back was breathtaking. The leaves on the trees were turning colors and the river looked beautiful as we rode by it. All of the things that we missed on the way there were now visable to us to enjoy. It was nice not having to drive all of the way there. The handicap bathrooms were decent in size, however the the other ones were fat man's folly to enter and use. The seats on the train were very comfortable. All of the trains are non-smoking. If anybody wants to smoke, there are certain train stops where people can take a smoking break. If you smoke on the train, you could leave the train at an unannounced stop and find your own way, minus the train, of getting anyplace. The people on the train were very cordial. If you don't like to drive, then the train is an excellent means of travel. If you start in Chicago. at about 2 PM on a Thursday, you could end up in Portland, Oregon on a Saturday morning. If you are going to travel that distance, you might want to reserve a sleeping car for your trip. We arrived back in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at about 2 PM on Sunday afternoon. It is always nice to return to your home and to relax there. It is nice to travel. but there is no place like home to rest your feet and be yourself. I would not mind taking this train trip again. I would recommend it to anyone.

When I hear about new buildings being constructed where the U.S. Army had its Bay View Reserve location, I wonder what kind of people are doing the planning of these buildings. Many years ago Deer Creek was the fourth Milwaukee River. After many years it dwindled down to be a creek. It started on the grounds of the Major Seminary at 3257 S. Lake Drive, and worked its way north and west until it got to the area near where Beulah Brinton Community Center is now. When they started building the Bay View Rolling Mill in 1866, they cut off  the entrance of Deer Creek into Lake Michigan. The water then formed into a 200 foot wide pond from about what is now E. Otjen Street north to E. Lincoln Avenue. Its west end was S. Logan Avenue (then Mitchell Street) and S. Bay Street (then S. Ward Street). If you look at certain old photographs of the Bay View Rolling Mill, you can see the Red Brick School and lots of water behind the mill. During the time of the Village of Bay View, the Village Board was told that the Deer Creek Pond was condemned as being too mucky. A decision was made to fill in the pond, as it represented a bad health hazard to the Village. When the pond was filled in by the Village, much garbage and old bottles ended up in the site. In later years after Bay View merged into Milwaukee, this land was left idle. During World War II, quonset huts were placed on the land to find homes for the returning servicemen and women from the war effort. Many of these quonset huts ended up having water come inside due to the unstable ground that they rested on.  When the old Beulah Brinton Community Center on S. St. Clair Street was razed, a new building was erected at 2555 S. Bay Street. Today if you go inside of the building, you can se where the building is sinking and the walls and floor are being disturbed. If you drive on S. Bay Street, you will notice that the road actually bounces as you ride on it. The same  thing is true of S. Delaware Avenue from E. Oklahoma Avenue to E. Trowbridge Street. An order had to be given to only allow light weight buses to travel there, due to the house fondations bouncing up and down when the buses came by. Now if this is what happened on the bed of Deer Creek ( Delaware Avenue ), imagine what will happen when new buildings are constructed on the old army base. This land was unfit for any buildings throughout the years, so why is it fit now? You are just wasting your money by doing construction on this land. Let it remain as park land for the area families to enjoy. Take the time to tour the Beulah Brinton Community Center on the north side of the building. You will get a real education then.

On November 11, 1918, the day that World War I ended on the Western Front, General Jozef Pitsudski declared Poland's independence. His action was the first step in bringing about  Poland's national rebirth after 123 years of foreign domination. Indeed, Poland's borders were only secured in 1921, after nearly three years of war. But thanks to the courage and sacrifices for the independence cause made by countless thousands -  in Poland and in the  emigration, Poland was restored. Leading the work abroad, both diplomatically and policically, were virtuoso pianist I. J. Paderewski and patriot-activist Roman Dmowski. Their efforts were backed in many ways by people of Polish origin, in America and elsewhere. Thus, a 100,000 man Polish army was formed, whose voluteers dedicated themselves to Poland's freedom. Led by Jozef Haller, this army, which included more than 22,000 men from the U.S.A., took part in battles, in France and in Poland, from 1918 to 1921. More than a thousand of these volunteers came from Wisconsin alone.

With Poland's rebirth in 1918, the principle of Polish independence has never been forgotten - despite the horrific World War II Nazi German and Soviet Russia's to destroy the Nation and the imposition of Soviet rule over Poland between 1944 and 1989.

Today Poland is a sturdy democracy and a staunch ally of the United States. This is a source of great pride, to Polish Americans and to freedom lovers everywhere.

November 11, is also Veteran's Day in the United States, a day first known as Armistice Day and established to recall the courageous sacrifices of our soldiers, sailers and airmen in defending our nation. We salute all those who have made this sacrifice and honor them on this occasion!

Back in Jamestown, 400 years ago, several Polish craftsmen and their families were among the settlers new to America. During the Revolutionary War.in America, Casimir Pulaski and Thaddeus Kosciuszko were two Polish officers who fought on our side. Poland has been dominated by Prussia (Germany), Russia and Austria for many years in the past. When the Polish emigrants came to America at Ellis Island, because they spoke German or formerly lived in German occupied territories, were called German settlers. The Kasubes, from Poland, established the first Polish Roman Catholic Church in Milwaukee,  St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church and later built St. Hedwig's Roman Catholic Church on the East Side of Milwaukee. St. Stanislaus was the first Polish Catholic Church in America. It also was the starting point for the strikers in the battle for the eight hour day on their way to the Bay View Rolling Mill in 1886. The Kosciuszko Guards were part of the Wisconsin State Militia that fired upon the strikers in May of 1886. They also were members of St. Stanislaus Church. During World War II, it was the Polish that enabled us to get an German Enigma Coding Machine, that we used to intercept the German messages during the war. At Yalta, near the end of World War II, President Truman allowed the Russians to occupy Poland, if they would also invade Japan to help end the war there. This is how the Russians were able to totally take over Poland.

Pope John Paul II, a Polish Cardinal, brought back hope to the Polish people. He told them to never give up hope of freedom. The Roman Catholic Church was the main thing keeping the Polish people united thoughout the years. They have always been on our side during conflicts. We should support them in their cause.

                                                "Mazurek Dabrowskiego"   (The Polish National Anthem)

                                       Jeszcze Polska nie zginela

                                       kiedy my zyjemy.

                                       Co nam obca przemoc wrzela

                                       Szabla odbierzemy.

                                       Marsz,  Marsz Dabrowski

                                       Z ziemi Wloskiej do Polski

                                       Za twoim przewodem

                                       zlaczym sie z Narodem!

Take some time out to thank our men and women who have served our country in both war and peace. Many of them have never returned and payed the extreme sacrifice for our freedom and the priviledges that come with this. Even today, many men and women are serving in areas of the world like Iraq and Afganistan, and placing their lives in jeopardy for us. Freedom does not come cheaply. Many lives are lost in these efforts. Please take the time to thank and honor our veterans, both now and always. Please support efforts to get better benefits for our veterans. Lately they have been on the short end of the stick on government policies. Please write or call your member of the House of Representatives or your U.S. Senator and ask that better health care and provisions be given to the members of our armed forces when they return home. They have served us in honor and deserve great respect from all of us. God bless the United States of America.

Go web site: http://www.music@llerrah.com/whatisaveteran.htm   Here is a song dedicated to our honored veterans who have served our country.

Recently, I recived a letter from my cousin Marjorie Manke, from Sussex, Wisconsin informing me about some relatives of our family that we were not knowledgeable about. My great-grandfather, August Manke, came from Pomerania, Germany, many years ago. We were told that he had a step-brother or brother living in the Brookfield, Wisconsin area. The other family  never made contact with us, even though my great-grandfather August Manke made an attempt at contact. The Sussex Sun and the Waukesha Freeman wrote some articles about this other family.

"Former Lisbon farmboy, Leon Manke recently donated more than 60 photos and newspaper clippings of the extended Manke-Stier family to the Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical society. The photos are now in a three ring binder so researchers can study that once-mighty Lisbon farming family, which is down to only three Manke and two Stier entries in the most recent local telephone book. Once, though, in about the first one-third of the 20th century, Lisbon boasted five Manke farms and three Stier farms.

The Stier-Manke family began in the mid-1880's with Jacob and Anna Stier's arrival in central Lisbon, where they raised three boys and a daughter. Herman, Charles and August Manke immigrated to Lisbon from Germany in the early 1900's. Their land stretched from today's Bristal Court and Sussex Bowl west to Pick N' Save and North Shore Bank on Highway 164.

Leon Manke, now a member of the Historical Society's board of directors, is descended from both lines. His mother, Lizzie (1876-1955) was the only daughter of Jacob and Anna (Eisenhauer) Stier. (She was baptized Elizabeth, but was known all of her life as Lizzie.) She married August Manke on November 30, 1904. Both had been born in Germany. She gave birth to the first of their four sons, Jacob, soon afterward. Ed followed in in 1909, then Art in 1915 and finally Hilbert (Hib) in 1919.

They raised the boys on a 75 acre farm on Pewaukee Road, north of Sussex's Main Street. (The land claim had started with the then 80 acres, but the Bug Line Railroad cut the farm in half, taking five acres of right-a-way with it.) Much of the family's land was a former lake swamp, which made it flat and fertile. The 1923 Rural Directory of Waukesha County listed two horses and14 milking cows to the farm. (Unlisted was a Case steel-on-steel tractor.)

The four boys attended Lisbon's Sixteen School, a one room school at Good Hope and Hillside roads. They later transferred to Sussex Main Street School and went on to the two-year Sussex High School (housed in the same building). The brothers all benefited from their father's financial backing: Jacob got a 78 acre farm along today's Highway 164 just east of Jay Lane south. Edward got a 40 acre farm immediately across Highway 164 from Jacob's farm. Arthur (Art) got their parents' 75 acres. Hib, the baby of the family, bought land around Main and Maple Avenue with money from his parents. He leased the structure to Paul Cain Sr. and ran the Manke Oil Company out the back half.

Hib served in World War II and ended up in the Philipine Islands at the end of the war. He joined the Sussex Fire Department after his return and served there for 25 years, 1948 to 1973. His brother Jake also volunteered for service with the department, from 1926 to 1932. Jacob had four children, Elisabeth (Betty), David, Philip and Louise. Betty helped run Halquist Stone Company, while Larry Halquist was at the helm. She was also a key member of the Sussex-Lisbon Area Business and Professional Association (Now the Sussex Area Chamber of Commerce).

Edward had two sons, Curt and Richard (Dick) Both joined the Lisbon 4-H, went into the insurance business and served on the Waukesha Board of Supervisors, Dick for 28 years and Curt for six. His fellow supervisors elected Curt their leader during his time there. Curt, Dick and their uncle Art, who served 25 years on the County Board, together put in 59 years there. Curt also served as the County Expo (County Fair) director for a while. His last hurrah came on the Waukesha County Historical Society Board of Directors, where he served for nine years, the last four  as its chairman. During his tenure, the Waukesha Historical Society Museum ironed out the ongoing acquistion of items related to elctric guitar pioneer Les Paul, a Waukesha resident in his youth."

It is funny that over the years, no formal connection between this Manke family and our Manke family was established. Even though we are related and lived parallel lives, all of this happened. My great-grandfather, August Manke, was either a half-brother or step brother to the the other Manke's who came from Germany. My great-grandfather founded the Manke Greenhouses in North Milwaukee, in the Town of Granville. Many of the later descendents of our August Manke went into the U.S. Post Office and others stayed in the florist business. A weird thing is that I was on the Board of Directors of the Bay View Historical Society. The resemblence of my Uncle Clem Manke to the other Manke bothers is unbelievable. Sometime members of the same family do not recognize each other for unknown reasons. From the time I was child, I knew of the "lost" family members who did not acknowledge my side of the family. It would be interesting to one day have a meeting of these two families and share common ties with one another.

After hearing all of the advertisements of the various candidates to polical office, are you satisfied with the results?  If you did not vote, you have no right to complain. The will of the people has shown itself through this election. We have elections for the purpose of having people vote for us while holding down a political office. If we do not like the candidate chosen, then we have the right to elect somebody new to that office the next election. Voting should not be taken for granted. Many people who have served our country in the military service have given up their lives that we might have the right to vote. Be happy that you live here in the United States where we have free  elections, without the government ordering us to vote for only one candidate of their party. Remember not all people have the same freedom that we have here. It will help in future elections, if you register to vote before the election and not on election day at the polls. Now you have the right to complain that your candidate did not make it into political office, if you have voted at this election. Do not vote and you deserve no right to complain. Feel proud to be an American citizen who has the right to vote. God bless the United States of America.

Here is a web site to view: http:www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Proud/index.htm   Enjoy this song as you relax.

THE  INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL COUNCIL OF BAY VIEW PROUDLY INVITES YOU TO ATTEND THE

                                                     ANNUAL

                                    BAY  VIEW    CHRISTMAS    TREE    LIGHTING

                                        Monday,    December  1,    2008

                                George Washington Post 180 of the American Legion

                                        2860  S.   Kinnikinnic   Avenue

                                       Milwaukee,  Wisconsin    53207

                                  HIGHLIGHTS  OF  THE  EVENT   INCLUDE:

                        6:30 PM               Dancers   With    Woofs   ( dancing dogs )

                                              inside   hall

                        7:00 PM       Tree lighting with performance by Bay View High School Choir

                                                         directed by  Michele  Kartz

                                            And  special  visit  by   Santa  Claus

                                   This  is  a  free  event   welcome   to   anyone

                                 Refreshments and treats  sponsored by  V.F.W.  Post  2879

                                            and   Louis Travis   Amvets   Post   14

On Monday, November 10, 2008, at 7:00 PM, the Bay View Historical Society will present the South Shore Park Pavilion with a landmark plaque, during the County Historical Society's Annual Meeting at the South Shore Park Pavilion. It was felt that our Society should also honor the South Shore Park Pavilion as Milwaukee County will do this night.

In 1835, Elijah Estes, who walked over 1,000 miles from North Carolina to get to Bay View, established his land claim on the land that was to become South Shore Park in the future. His wife, Zebadiah Wentworth Estes, who was the daughter of the Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, was said to be the person who named this area "Bay View".

In 1838, the Town of Lake was incorporated in Milwaukee County. Its northern boundary was Greenfield Ave. (then Railroad Street). Its southern boundary was Racine County. Its western boundary was what is now S. 27th Street. Its eastern boundary was Lake Michigan. In 1840, the south six miles of Town of Lake became Oak Creek. In 1879, the Village of Bay View was incorporated out of Town of Lake. In 1887, Bay View became a part of the City of Milwaukee.

In 1889, a survey revealed that Milwaukee, with a population of 205,000, had only sixty acres of parks. With the exception of Juneau Park, these area consisted of small squares and tringles donated by private individuals. Efforts were then made to secure a proper park system and the enactment of Chapter 488 was secured in the State Legislature during early 1889. A Bay View Attorney, Mr, Theobald Otjen, was very active in the creation of the original legislation, and shepherding the bill through the Milwaukee Common Council and the State Legislature. It is reported that he personally convinced Governor William D. Hoard to sign the bill into law. ( Mr Otjen served as the first alderman from Bay View to serve in the Milwaukee Coomon Council. He served as a alderman for several years and later was elected U.S. Congressman of the 4th District. In that capacity, he appointed Douglas MacArthur to West Point Military Academy, and was the father of Great Lakes Naval Base. He later returned to Bay View to work with his son Henry, in a law office here. He was also influencial in the building of the World War I Memorial that is in Humboldt Park near E. Oklahoma Avenue and S. Pine Avenue. His son Henry, was a founder of the Trowbridge Street School Parent Teacher Association.)

The new law provided for the appointment, by the Mayor, of five commissioners who, in turn, would establish a system of public parks within the city, and provide for the purchase, payment, and government thereof. The law also called for the sale of $100,000 in park bonds to finance the purchases. The original plan was to acquire two parks, one on the north side and one south of the Menomonee River. On June 18, 1889, the first meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners was conducted. membership consisted of Mr. Christian Wahl, President, and Messers. Calvin E. Lewis, John Bently, Charles Manegold, Jr. and Louis Auer, Secretary. All were private citizens, eminently qualified, and served without remuneration. They all had been appointed by the Mayor, the Honorable Thomas A. Brown, on or before June 1, 1889. At this first meeting, the Commissioners voted to take action to aquire lands for five parks to be known as Lincoln, West, Lake, North and South ( now Humboldt Park ).

The Milwaukee Sentinel, on July 21, 1889, carried a lengthly article which announced to its readers which sites the Commissioners were considering for purchase. Sites to the south side were:

1.  The Coleman Woods tract -- Forty acres in the area bounded by 1st and 8th Avenue on the east and west, and Becher Street and Lincoln Avenue on the north and south. ( Part of thei area is now Kosciuszko Park ).

2.  The Kane Farm -- Seventy-five acres located between Kinnickinnic Avenue and the shore of Lake Michigan, north of Oklahoma Avenue. This tract has 3/4 miles of lake frontage and was the favorite choice of several of the Commissioners. ( Part of this land is now South Shore Park ).

3.  The Wilcox Farm -- Described in the Milwaukee Sentinel as follows: "The next site offered is known as the Wilcox Farm property. It lies east of the Howell Road and north of Oklahoma Avenue, between Garfield Street ( now Logan Avenue ) and Russell Avenue in the Seventeenth Ward. It comprises eighty-two acres, half of which are offered at $3,500 per acre. The grounds are nicely wooded and more broken than the Coleman grounds, but the adjoining property is located in the Village of Brookhaven in which ex-Alderman Jordan is heavily interested. Mr. Jordan and a number of other Brookhaven property owners are already at work advocating the selection of the Wilcox Farm. The Wilcox Farm, as described above, was a portion of an undeveloped and unplatted area which was shown on a 1876 plat map as owned by a Joel Wilcox. Adjoining to the east, was a equally rural tract owned by the Mann Brothers. These two tracts, which in 1879 constituted the southestern-most border of the Village of Bay View, was heavily wooded. The northeastern-most end of the Wilcox tract contained a brick yard. During the existence of Bay View, 1879-1887, there was no formal park located at this site."

Paul Gauer was successful in securing the purchases of lands to the north of Estes Street between South Shore Drive and the lake. This incliuded the site of the original Estes home. The homes were removed, and it now marks the bluff above South Shore Yacht Club premises. The rubble mound didn't extend far enough to the south , and annually there was erosion of the banks. Residents on S. Superior Street south of Oklahoma Avenue, like Judge Blenski, Frank Meyer, and the Dixons were in danger of having their homes slip into the lake. so he introduced a resolution to purchase all lands between Superior Street and the lake  south to the city limits, which carried. The homes were moved to the west and saved. He secured for the South Shoe Yacht Club the right to build in the park.

For years, Bay View residents said that our old bathhouse was inadequate, and Paul Gauer not only led the fight for referendum approval of the South Shore Bathing Pavilion bonds, but insisted uponits construction as well in 1932, during the term of Mayor Dan Hoan. Here are some events that happened during the term of Alderman Paul Gauer:

1920 - To locate South Shore Bathing Pavilion.

1921 -  To issue South Shore Bath House bonds.  ---To condem additional lands for South Shore Park

1922 -  To condemn additional lands for South Shore Park at Oklahoma Avenue

1924 -  To stop sewerage flow into bathing beach

1925 -  To condem additional lands  for South Shore Park

1926 -  To turn over land on lake shore  at Oklahoma Avenue to Park Board

1927 -  To approve legislation for State aid for lake shore purchases  -- To appropriate money for South Shore Bathing  Pavilion

1928 -  To repair Bath House at South Shore Park -- To extend Rusk Avenue sewer at bathhouse

1929 -  To appropriate  $115,000 for South Shore Breakwater -- To request County Board to convey park lands on lake shore.

1931 -  To revise plans for South Shore bathing Pavilion

The information in this article comes from "A City Park for the South Side" by Melvin A. Graffenius and from the book by Alderman Paul Gauer. I hope that you have some understanding on the importance of South Shore Park Pavilion and why we wish to issue a historical plaque to it from the Bay View Historical Society. The South Shore Park Watch and Kathy Mulvey were also very much involved in the decision to issue a plaque.

Many people tak about politics, but are unwilling to take the time to vote in an election. This election is very important, as we are electing our next President of the United States. What would happen if everybody took the time to vote this election? Maybe we could have a good person elected to office. I am not telling you who to vote for. You must decide by yourself who you think is the best person for any elected office. If you do not vote, then you have no right to complain about how somebody you did not like got into office. We as citizens of these United States have the right to vote in any election, not like people in some countries who can only chose one political party and one candidate that the government offers for you to vote for. Freedom is not cheap. Many of our citizens have served their country and paid the extreme price for this. They did this so that we can have the right to enjoy our freedom. You should take the time to thank the men and women who have given their time to serve their country, in both war and peace. I can only hope that as many people as possible take the time to vote on this election day. God bless the United States of America.