Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: The First Beer Baron
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

The First Beer Baron

1860s photo features the Menomonee Brewery and owner Charles Melms' Italianate home.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Loading Coal, 1885
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Loading Coal, 1885

These appear to be dock workers along the river. Coal was vital to the city's commerce and lifestyle.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Public Museum Exhibits, 1880s
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Public Museum Exhibits, 1880s

The museum would move 12 years later, saving it from the exposition building's disastrous fire of 1905.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Panorama of Milwaukee, 1885
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Panorama of Milwaukee, 1885

The new Industrial Exposition Building gave a great vantage point for those photographing the city.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Milwaukee Industrial Exposition Building, 1880s
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

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.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: German Market, Early 1880s
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

German Market, Early 1880s

The market hall on E. Juneau was popular from at least 1870 to about 1920.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: City Hall, 1880
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

City Hall, 1880

The remodeled market hall became City Hall in 1861, but the Milwaukee Sentinel derided the result.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Elias Friend Residence, 1879
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Elias Friend Residence, 1879

The wealthy clothing manufacturer built this elegant home on Cass and Mason.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Fire Fighters in Dress Suits, 1880
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Fire Fighters in Dress Suits, 1880

A classic photo of workmen at Firehouse No. 1, looking like dudes about town.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Broadway North of Wisconsin, 1879
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Broadway North of Wisconsin, 1879

Another classic H.H.Bennett photo captures Milwaukee just after the advent of telephones and telephone lines.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Water Street in 1880
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

Water Street in 1880

Looking south from Wisconsin, this was a prime business district dominated by Victorian buildings from the 1850s.

Yesterday’s Milwaukee: Wisconsin Avenue Bridge, About 1880
Yesterday’s Milwaukee

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.