NOJOSHING Indian word for “straight tongue”

land protrudes out into Lake Michigan like a straight tongue

Newsletter published quarterlyNon-Profit Organization 501c3

March 2018

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A Message From Your President Welcometothefirstnewsletterof2018.Ihopeyoulikethenewnewsletterdesignwiththeadditionofcolor. TheSt.FrancisHistoricalSocietywasverybusyin2017,andwelookforwardtoanotherbusy,productive2018.Herearesomehighlightsfor2018: WehavethehonorofsponsoringtheWisconsinHistoricalSocietyRegionalMeetingonSaturday,July7,attheciviccenter.Membersofareahistoricalsocietieswillbeattending. TheLakesidePowerPlanthistoricalmarker,obtainedthroughtheWisconsinStateHistoricalSociety,willbededicatedthissummer.MoredetailsintheJunenewsletter. TwocivilwarveteransheadstoneswillbededicatedattheLakeProtestantCemeterySaturday,September29,at2:00pm.Allarewelcome.TheVeteransAdministrationprovideduswiththegraniteheadstonesforWilliamBealandWilliamW.Thompsonatnochargetous.TheSonsofUnionSoldierswillconductaceremonyduringthededication. Wearehavingtwobakesalesthisyeartoraisemoneyforour2018operatingbudget.ComevisitusattheciviccenteronApril3andNovember6. Wewillalsobeparticipatingin4thofJulyevents,theSt.FrancisDaysNationalNightOut,St.FrancisDays,andHarvestFest. Wehopetoseeyouatoneormoreofthe2018events.Andthankyouforsupportingyourhistoricalsociety.

AnnaPassante

Meet Your New Board Member: Nancy Goltz

byBarbaraJaniszewski

NancyGoltzgrewupinCudahy.Shewasalwaysinvolvedinvariousschoolactivitieswhenherkidswereinschool.ShewasactiveinthePTOandwasadenmotherinCubScouts.Sheworkedinthenursesroomanddidtutoringinthespecialeducationclasses.In1992shemarriedDave,anowretiredSt.Francisfirefighter.Theyhave6children,12grandchildren,and32/3great-grandchildren.TheygotmarriedintheSt.Francisfirehouseandaskedfordonationsoffood.Theycollected750poundsoffoodthatwasdonatedtoProjectConcern.Herhobbiesincludegardening,sewing,knitting,andcrafting.Shealsolovestobake,especiallywhenthegrandchildrenareover.ShewasinvolvedintheBooster’sClubatthehighschool,thebandboosters,theShareFoodprogram,andtheprogramsatSt.Ann’sCenter.SheandDavewereonthecommitteeforConcertsintheParkfor34years.SheandDavehavebeeninvolvedintheMissSt.FrancisPageant,Davefor45yearsandNancyfor35years.Theyarebothontheboardofdirectorsforthepageant.AverybusyandinvolvedladyandwearehappythatsheisnowaboardmemberoftheSt.FrancisHistoricalSociety.

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What’s New?

Membership Welcomenewmembers:AdamMichalski,MaryAnnMemmel,andDavidandSusanMelaven.

Bake SaleWewillbehavingabakesaleintherotundaduringtheApril3election.

Display cabinet in rotundaComeseethenewdisplaysintheciviccenterrotunda.OnesideisBertMaudie,thelatehusbandofCarolMaudiewhoservedintheKoreanWar.TheothersideisamilitaryquiltdonebyDebbieKoberandcelebratesthemilitarycareersofherfamilymembers.

Election of Board MembersAtourJanuary20,2018AnnualMeetingthefollowingwereelectedfor2018:AnnaPassante,President,Sr.CeilStruck,Vice-President,StephanieMaxwell,Secretary,BarbaraJaniszewski,Treasurer,andNancyGoltz,boardmember.

Cousin’s Subs FundraiserPleasemarkyourcalendarforWednesday,March28thforourCousin’sfundraiser.Wewillreceiveapercentageofthesalesfrom4:00pmto8:00pm.Nocouponisneeded.PleasesupportCousin’sSubs,sincetheyareverygenerousintheirsupportoflocalcharitiesandnon-profitorganizations.

Regional Meeting:TheSt.FrancisHistoricalSocietywillbehostingtheSoutheastRegionalmeetingoftheWisconsinStateHistoricalSocietyonJuly7th.ThespeakerswillbeMarkMauricefromtheGreaterMilwaukeeFoundation,RandyBorlandandAnnaPassante,speakingabouttheLakeProtestantCemetery,andBillDrehfalwhowilltalkaboutthedisplaycabinetsintheCivicCenter.TherewillbeatouroftheSt.FrancisofAssisiChapelandLakeProtestantCemeteryintheafternoon.

Cemetery Update:Wehavenewheadstonesfortwocivilwarveterans,WilliamBealandWilliamW.Thompson,whoareburiedinourcemetery.TherewillbeaprogramtodedicatethestonesinthefallfeaturingtheSonsoftheUnionSoldierswhowillperformaceremony.

Thanks!!!Thankstoallmemberswhoaddedanextradonationtotheirrenewalnotices.Wetrulyappreciateyourgenerosity.Everydonationhelpsthehistoricalsocietyfulfillitsmissiontocollect,preserve,anddisplaySt.Francishistory.Yourdonationhelpsusofferhistoricaltalks,continueourhistoriclandmarkplaqueprogram,presenteducationalprogramsinourschools,andfundstheLakeProtestantCemeteryrestorationproject.Thankstothefollowingmembers:

KurtKoenigRandy&LoriBorlandTerry&DianeDuffeyGeorge&PhyllisGeorgeEstherGraybarHelenHachmeisterAnnHowellRay&DonnaKlugNewAssisiArchiveBarbPerszykDianePiedtJayWesnerDennis&CarolWojteckiAnnBuckJulietHillsCarolMaudieStanley&MargaretRaclawSusanStaatsChris&PamBarneyJohnJaniszewskiJim&SandraJaskulskiBeverlyRhoeTom&LyndaSmithJimGoodwinJimHempelJim&KathyMathewCarl&KarenKitzingerLisaPolsterJim&PattyRobinsonRick&JoanWierTomMlinarRobert&MaryJoHallfeldTom&CoryAnnCarlsSkipBuechelDave&HelgaSartoriClareUjcich

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Growing Up on Lipton AvenueByMaryAnnVoltnerPronchinske

I’llstartwithsummer,sincewhenyouareakiditisthebusiest.Thatwouldbeprettyeasybecauseeveryday,afterdoingsomechoresandhavingaVelveetacheesesandwichattheNeubauers,wewouldheaduptoSheridanParkonourbikes(mypurplebananaseatSchwinnwhichIstillhave)andgoswimmingfortheday.Wewouldallshareabasketfor25cents,andthentheresponsibleonewouldwearthebigsafetypinwiththenumberonit.Afterputtingourfeetuponthebenchforatoecheckwewouldjumpinforthedayuntil3:15.Afterwards,ifwedidn’tgostraighthome,wewouldstopattheHobbyShopinCudahyforsomepennycandy. Therealwaysseemedtobealotofkidsaroundontheblock.IneverrememberbeingboredorsittingandwatchingTVforlong.Ah!Thegoodolddayspriortocellphonesandvideogames.Ifyougotreallybored,youwouldjustjumponyourbikesandlookforthehousewithallthebikesonthelawnoutside.Ifyouwantedtotakeawalk,youwouldheaddownNorwichandattheendofthestreettakethedirtpathdownthehilltoOla’s.OneoftheWeinholdswouldbeintheirelevatedofficerightinthefront,whichseemedsotall,whereyouwouldorderaSlushPuppy.OryoucouldheadupLiptonAvenuetoGreeneParkandusetheswings,playbasketballortennisorrollerskatearoundthebighilloverandoveragain.SometimeswewouldgotoGrandmaNeubauer’shousetohelpherwiththequilting.Ididn’tseemtomindsittingaroundwiththeothergrandmaswhiletheysewed.Itwasactuallyfun.Orwewouldplaykickballinthestreetandyelling“CAR,”andeveryonewouldgetuponthecurbuntilthecarwentpast.Whocouldforgetwhenitreallyrainedhard,runningintherainandsittingonthestreetbythecurbandmakingdamswithourbodiestoseehowmuchwaterwecouldholdback.AtnightitwaseitherGhostintheGraveyard,tag,orRedLight,GreenLight. Fallwasgoingbacktoschool.WalkingtoThompsonSchoolwhenhalfwayupNorwich,wewouldtakethedirtpaththroughtheemptylotandthealleytherestoftheway.Pilinguptheleavesfromourbigmapletreeinfrontandjumpingintothem. WinterwassledridingatGreeneParkoriceskatingonthefloodedbasketballcourt.Rememberthatrubbermattinginthepavilionandputtingyourshoesinoneofthecubbies?Andthentryingtobecarefulonthatonestepoutofthebuildingforthatrampdown.Onebigmemoryiswhenmydearmothermadeseveralsnowballsinadvance,andwhenthekidswalkedpast

togohomeshemostlybombedthem.Alittleembarrassingbackthenbutsomeoftheboysstilltalkaboutit.Ofcourseduringbigsnowstorms,youwouldjustgrabashovelandhelpoutwhoeverneededhelp.Thatwasthebestofit.Andwhocanforgetthesnowforts! Irememberhavingtocheckinwithmymomwhenthestreetlightscameon.AndwhentheNeubauerswouldringtheirbellontheporchandyell“SUPPER.”Andwhenyouwantedsomeonetoplaywith,youwouldstandoutsidethedoorandyell“callforMargie”insteadofjustknockingandaskingifshecouldcomeouttoplay. Itwasagreatblockandagreatchildhood.Istillremembermostofthefamilies.Goodpeopleandgoodmemories!

Have you ever wondered how you could make a significant difference in the future of the St. Francis Historical Society? One way is to make a bequest to the historical society in your will.

St. Francis Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history and the stories of St. Francis and Town of Lake for the future generations. Remembering the historical society in your will can help assure a strong future.

A specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or all or part of what remains after other bequests are distributed can be bequeathed to the Society. Your attorney or other qualified estate planner can help you with this bequest. Any amount is important to the Society’s future. For further information, please contact us at 414-316-4391.

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Christmas Party at the Polonez Thehistoricalsociety’sChristmaspartyatthePolonezwasagreatsuccess.Wehadarecordnumberofattendees,morethat30people.CarolineDonsing(reenactedbyAnnaPassante)relatedherexperiencesasaU.S.ArmynurseduringWorldWarIattheWesternFrontinFrance.Carolinetooktheaudiencebackintimetoahospitalfieldstation,soclosetothetrenchesthatthemedicalstaffcouldhearthesoundsoftheartillery.Herearesomephotosoftheevent.

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Bay View Park: A Misnomer?byAnnaPassante

mis·no·mer: a wrong or inaccurate name or designation (Oxford Dictionary)

ThetermmisnomermayverywellapplytoBayViewParkinMilwaukeeCounty.LocatedalongtheLakeMichiganlakeshoresouthofOklahomaAvenue,88%oftheparkliesinthecityofSt.Francis,theother12%inMilwaukee’sBayViewneighborhood.SowhyisitnamedBayViewPark?Somehistoricalinformationmayshedalightonthisquestion. Betweenthemid-1830stolate1890s,BayViewParkwasfarmland,thelocationoftheJamesMcFadden,JosephVallier,andSamuelSextonfarms.In1925,MilwaukeeCountypurchasedmostofwhatisnowBayViewParkfor$84,000(Milwaukee Journal July21,1929).Thetotalparcelconsistedof41acres,100feetwideby4,000feetlong(MJ August8,1921),andstretchedfromOklahomaAvenuesouthtotheLakesidePowerPlantnearHowardAvenue.MilwaukeeCountypurchased36ofthe41acres,andtheremainingfiveacreswerepurchasedbytheCityofMilwaukee.ThedividinglinebetweenthetwoparcelswastheMilwaukee/TownofLakeborder,whichisjustsouthofRhodeIslandAvenue.TheCountyestablishedBayViewParkonthese36acres.

Above: In the foreground, the Schlosser house is at its original location with an out building on the edge of the cliff. The Krones house is next door. There were four more houses. The 1923 Milwaukee city directory lists these four houses as being occupied by James Dixon and Urban Jonas (duplex), Martin F. Blenski, Laura Rostad and Otto Schettee (duplex), and Charles E. Hart.

Above right and bottom right: The Schlosser house after it was moved to 3169 South Superior Street in Bay View and as it looks today.

Bottom: Postcard of Bay View Park Beach circa 1920s

Courtesy M

ilwaukee Public Library

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Farms orignally on the site of Bay View Park

OnthefiveacresownedbyMilwaukee,thereweresixhousesindangeroffallingintothelakeandneededtobemovedorrazed,accordingtothenAldermanPaulGauerinhisbook,The Gauer Story.TwoofthehousesweremovedtodifferentlocationsinBayView. OneofthehouseswasthehomeofWindandSchlosser,alakeshipcaptain.Histwo-storyhousewasmovedacrossthestreetto3169SouthSuperiorStreet,whereitremainstoday. HermanKronesownedtheotherhouse,acottage,builtin1910.Itwasmovedto3288SouthIllinoisAvenueinBayView.MarySchlosser-Dereszynski,agranddaughterofSchlosser,rememberedaphotographthatshowedthebackporchoftheKroneshousehangingoverthelakebluff. Milwaukeepurchasedthefiveacresforacoupleofreasons.ThecityhadambitiousplanstoextendSouthShoreParksouthfromMeredithStreettoincludethesefiveacres.TheCityalsointendedtoextendthebreakwater,topreservethelakeshorefromerosion.Soon,Milwaukeewaseyeingthe36acresownedbythecounty.MilwaukeeenvisionedtheextensionofLincolnMemorialDriveallthewaytotheLakesidePowerPlant,anditwasanticipatedthatfromthere,theCountycouldextendtheroaduntilitlinkedwithGrantParkinSouthMilwaukee. Withthoseplansinmind,in1929MilwaukeealdermenrequestedtheCountytotransfertheremaining36acrestoMilwaukee.CountySupervisorEugeneWarnimontintroducedaresolutionthattheCountyturnoverBayViewParktoMilwaukee,andtheCountyboardvotedunanimouslytodeedthe36acrestoMilwaukee. ButthestockmarketcrashofOctober1929andtheDepressionthatfollowedthrewawrenchintoMilwaukee’splans.TheDepressioncausedfinancialdifficultiesformostmunicipalgovernments.WithlessmoneytorunMilwaukee’scityparks,mergingthecityandcountyparkswasasolutiontothefinancialproblem.Areferendumwasheldin1936andpassed.OnDecember31,1936,allMilwaukee’sparks,includingBayViewPark,weretransferredtoMilwaukeeCounty. Today,BayViewParkisawonderfulplaceforwalkersandbikers,andtoenjoyapicnic.It’saplacetoenjoythebeautifulviewofthelakeshore,andthebeachalongtheparkisafavoriteplacetoenjoythesurf. Buttherestillistheissueofthepark’sname.IthasbeenknownasBayViewParksince1925,butperhapsit’stimetorepairthemisnomer.PerhapsitshouldberenamedBayView/St.Francisparkornamedforoneoftheearlyfarmersoftheland,JamesS.McFadden,JosephVallier,orSamuelSexton.Itwouldn’tbethefirsttimeaparkwasrenamed.HumboldtParkwasoriginallySouthPark,ZablockiParkwasCherokeePark,McGovernParkwasSilverSpringPark,andWhitnallParkwasHalesCornerTract.

Samuel Sexton TheSamuelSextonfarmwaslocatedatthesouthendofBayViewPark,justnorthoftheLakesidePowerPlant.SextonwasborninVer-montin1798.In1850,hemovedtoTownofLakeandpurchased174acresfromThomasBrock.HissonLevialsoworkedthefarm.Acreamcitybrickhouseoncestoodonthepropertyalongthelake-shorewheretheFBIbuildingisnowlocated.ThismayhavebeenthehomeofLeviSexton.

In 1929, the Herman Krones house was moved to this location at 3288 South Illinois Avenue in Bay View.

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The James McFadden farm was at present-day Oklahoma Avenue, east and west of present-day South Superior Street. In the drawing, the St. Francis convent is to the left. MacFadden’s farmhouse is most likely the one on the right on the lakeshore.

James S. McFadden JamesS.McFaddenwasoneoftheearliestsettlersinTownofLake.Hewasbornin1810inNewYorkandmovedtoWisconsinaround1837.Hepurchased158acresattheFebruary1839governmentlandsale.Mostofhisfarmstretchedfrompresent-dayOklahomaAvenueonthenorth,Pennsylvaniaonthewest,Morganonthesouth,andthelakeshoreontheeast.In1850,McFaddensoldlandtoCatholicBishopJohnHennifortheSt.Francisconvent.

Joseph Vallier JosephVallierwasborninMontreal,Canada,in1810andasanadultworkedasafurtrapper.WhenheimmigratedtoAmericain1845,hesettledinMilwaukee’sWalker’sPointneighborhood.In1858,hepurchased35acres1or$700($14,000today)alongthelakeshorejustsouthofthepresent-daySt.FrancisofAssisiConvent.Likemanyoftheareafarmers,VallierhadanappleorchardandwasknowntodonateapplestothenearbySt.Aemilian’sOrphanage.

1Anumberofthose35acreshadbeenwashedintothelakeduetoeroisionbythetimeMilwaukeeCountyownedit.

Left: The Vallier home in present-day Bay View Park, which was razed.Center: Joseph VallierRight: Catherine Vallier, wife of Joseph

St. Francis Historical Society3400 E. Howard Ave.St. Francis, WI 53235

2018 OfficersPresident.....................AnnaPassanteVice-President............SisterCeilStruckSecretary......................StephanieMaxwellTreasurer.....................BarbaraJaniszewski Board of Directors RandyBorland JanPientok JenniferMertzJayWesner NancyGoltz

Honorary NewsletterJimGoodwin AnnaPassante RalphVoltner BarbaraJaniszewskiBillDrehfalMaggieLuczywkoMargeTessmerKathyMatthewTerryDuffeyCarolWojtecki

Mark Your CalendarMeetingsMarch17BoardMeetingApril21GeneralMeetingMay19BoardMeeting

EventsWednesday,March28Cousin’sSub4-8pmBakeSale:April3onelectionday

Facebook:St.FrancisHistoricalSocietyEmail:st.francishistoricalsociety@gmail.comAddress: 3400E.HowardAve.Website: stfranciswihistoricalsociety.orgPhone:414-316-4391

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