Yesterday’s Milwaukee
The First Beer Baron
1860s photo features the Menomonee Brewery and owner Charles Melms' Italianate home.
Sep 29th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Loading Coal, 1885
These appear to be dock workers along the river. Coal was vital to the city's commerce and lifestyle.
Sep 8th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Public Museum Exhibits, 1880s
The museum would move 12 years later, saving it from the exposition building's disastrous fire of 1905.
Sep 1st, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Panorama of Milwaukee, 1885
The new Industrial Exposition Building gave a great vantage point for those photographing the city.
Aug 25th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Milwaukee Industrial Exposition Building, 1880s
Touted as the "finest in the country," the exposition hall on 5th and Kilbourn held a wide range of events.
Aug 18th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
German Market, Early 1880s
The market hall on E. Juneau was popular from at least 1870 to about 1920.
Aug 4th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
City Hall, 1880
The remodeled market hall became City Hall in 1861, but the Milwaukee Sentinel derided the result.
Jul 28th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Elias Friend Residence, 1879
The wealthy clothing manufacturer built this elegant home on Cass and Mason.
Jul 21st, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Fire Fighters in Dress Suits, 1880
A classic photo of workmen at Firehouse No. 1, looking like dudes about town.
Jul 14th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Broadway North of Wisconsin, 1879
Another classic H.H.Bennett photo captures Milwaukee just after the advent of telephones and telephone lines.
Jul 7th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Water Street in 1880
Looking south from Wisconsin, this was a prime business district dominated by Victorian buildings from the 1850s.
Jun 30th, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
Wisconsin Avenue Bridge, About 1880
The wooden bridge would be replaced by a new iron one two years later. It is turned to allow boats to pass on the Milwaukee River.
Jun 23rd, 2015 by Jeff Beutner
