Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Mason Street at Lakefront, 1868

Before the days of Prospect Avenue mansions, the lakefront sported modest frame houses on an eroding, sandy bluff.

By - Jan 28th, 2014 09:49 am
Mason Street at Lake. Photo courtesy of Jeff Beutner.

Mason Street at Lake. Photo courtesy of Jeff Beutner.

From the late 1870s until early into the 20th century Prospect Avenue became a prime place to build a mansion. Sadly, all too few of these grand residences remain today. But in earlier years properties with a Lake Michigan view were hardly prime real estate. The lakefront parks did not exist and the lake bluff was little more than eroded sand, thanks to fluctuating lake levels.

This is a view (circa 1868) of the eastern terminus of Mason St. The irregular sandy soil is in the foreground and the residences are all modest frame dwellings. Hardly a proper location for the likes of Alexander Mitchell and John Plankinton who lived west of Downtown. In the background glimpses of the village on Jones Island may be seen as well as the masts of sailing ships which were a common sight along the Milwaukee River back then. At the end of Wisconsin Street (now Wisconsin Avenue) there was a lighthouse but this was removed in the late 1850s. How times change. Today the intersection of Mason and Prospect is the site of Milwaukee’s most expensive residential real estate.

Jeff Beutner is a collector of photographs, postcards and stereoviews of old Milwaukee. This column features these images, with historical commentary by Beutner.

4 thoughts on “Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Mason Street at Lakefront, 1868”

  1. Looks to me like the Couture site is out of water and on land in this view.

  2. John G. says:

    To Mr. Horne or other Milwaukeeans in the know,

    Could anyone explain the history behind the Preserve our Parks group and principals? I understand the need to protect the public space along the lake front, but the opposition to the Transit center site seems…strange…

  3. Casey says:

    Thank you.
    I love little gems of history like this.

  4. bruce mallon says:

    wonderful info. gerew up in milwukee, loved it. went to riverside, 1961. robin meister was my football mate and classmate. i was a lifegard @ bradford beach and grew up with summers on “bare ass” beach north of filtration plant. loved the town. sad to see the teabiskets have ruined a once proud and prosperous state. get rid of most of the state gov and the fasceist govenor and you have a good start on cleaning up this horrible mess.

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