Cudahy Historical Society

4647 S Kinnickinnic Ave

Cudahy, WI 53110

414-747-1892

Mission Statement

The Cudahy Historical Society's Mission is to keep alive the interesting history of our city and to share it with all its residents, young and old. As owners of the city's Railroad Depot, we have a place to store the artifacts and documents that tell the city's story. We invite all the city's residents and friends to add to that history and to share in our appreciation of the past.

Mary Becker's Self-Guided Historical Walking (or Driving) Tour

Stop 1

The tour begins and ends at the City of Cudahy's Municipal Parking Lot, 4721 S. Packard Ave. This parking lot is the former location Hack's Babyland. The building to the north went up in 1905 and was built by Rich Glanert, one of the first Cudahy fire chiefs. Across the street was the home and office of Dr. Benjamin Palmer, one of Cudahy's first physicians and surgeons.

Proceed south of the municipal parking lot on S. Packard Ave to E. Barnard Ave., 2 blocks. Turn west on E. Barnard Ave. and walk to the end of the block.

Stop 2

On your left you see the Cudahy Family Library, opened in 2003. Built at a cost of $5.6 million, it is a true symbol of our City's motto, "Generation's of Pride."

At the corner of E. Barnard and S. Kingan Avenues, turn north and proceed 3 blocks north of E. Plankington Ave. turn west and proceed 1 block.

Stop 3

Cudahy Railroad Depot. In 1892, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad built the depot on land which the Cudahy family donated. They called the stop "Cudahy." The depot was grand for its day, with oak trim, colored glass windows, a large potbellied stove and maple flooring. Now owned by the Cudahy Historical Society, it is open the last Saturday of each month from 10:00am until noon.

Walk a block to the south and stop at 3450 E. Layton Ave.

 

Stop 4

Mr. Cudahy also needed places for his workers to stay. The Ponto Hotel was built by Theodor Ponto. At one time it was owned by former Mayor Charles Cassebaum. Until recently it was the Gasthuas Nurnberg, owned by Wayne Stenglein. This was the first rooming house/tavern in Cudahy.

Turn to the west on E. Layton Ave and cross the railroad tracks.

Stop 5

The empty fields you see on the left were once filled with the buildings of the Federal Rubber Co. Mr. Cudahy sold them land in 1903: everything east of Sweet Apple-wood Lane to the tracks, most on the south side of Layton, but some to the north.

Federal Rubber Co. first made buggy tires, but the advent of the automobile brought prosperity. In World War I, the company made gas masks for the military. The plant closed June 13, 1930, bringing Depression to Cudahy earlier than the rest of the country. All that remains is the office building, the current D.A. Lubbert building, 3383 E. Layton Ave.

Continue west on E. Layton Ave for 1 block and stop on Sweet Apple-wood Lane.

Stop 6

There is more vacant land to the west. The Power and Mining Machinery Co. and the Worthington Pump Co. stood there in 1906. They didn't stay very long. In 1928, the George J. Meyer Manufacturing Co. moved into the buildings and prospered, especially when beer came back in 1933 and demand soared for their bottle washing equipment.

The company moved out in 1983 after being acquired by Figgie International, and the buildings were razed in 1984. Since then the City's Community Redevelopment Authority has expedited state and federal funds to bring about Lakeport Village. It now includes Walgreen's and Maritime Bank.

Looking to the south on Sweet Apple-wood Lane, you can see that Patrick Cudahy, Inc. has grown until it fills the land from E. Barnard Ave. to the north, and as far as S. Kingan Ave. to the east.

Now return to E. Layton Ave and head east. Stop at 3506 E. Layton Ave.

Stop 7

On the empty lot next to the tavern stood the Village's first Post Office. A block ahead, to the left on land now occupied by M & I Bank and just east of the alley, was the second post office.

Before the bank bought the building and razed it, the post office had become "Amy's Tavern". It was owned by Amy Wandke, a French war bride of World War I.

Go to the corner of S. Packard Ave and E. Layton Ave's.

Stop 8

On the northwest corner stood Fred Schlueter's Tavern and later the Dettlaff Drug Store.

On the northeast corner was Peter Kleineider's Tavern, now razed for a bank parking lot. The site of the present Chase Bank was once the John Kukor Tavern. And on the southwest corner stood the Boros and Valasek Dry Goods Store, later the People's Restaurant, and last, De Salvo's.

Proceed east on E. Layton Ave. to the Chase Bank parking lot.

Stop 9

Across the street at 3620 E. Layton Ave, there used to be tennis courts. In 1928 Lucas Unger and Jacob Disch built the beautiful Majestic Theater with a pipe organ and a stage for vaudeville acts. Alas they lost the building in the Depression of the '30s when people couldn't spare a dime to see a movie. The building was nicely renovated for offices.

This parking lot is the site of the first Cudahy City Hall, built in 1902. The fire house, with a watering trough for the horses in front, was on the first floor. To the east were the stables, and at the back of the building was the Police Department and jail.

Upstairs, in front, were the Common Council chambers. Behind that were the library, city clerk's and treasurer's offices, and the small Health Department.

Permeating the building, until it closed, was the smell of horse urine from the stables!

The Fire Department was almost all volunteers. The first paid men were Frank Jennejohn and Alfred Ensslin.

When the fire siren sounded, all the volunteers ran. I can still see Mr Buboltz, our neighbor in the 3700 block of E. Layton Ave, yanking up his suspenders as he raced to the station. Owners of the first team of horses hitched up to the fire engine received $5.

Go 1 block east to the southeast corner of E. Layton Ave and S. Kirkwood Ave's (3701 E. Layton)

Stop 10

Here stands the Schramka-Nero Funeral Home. Vincent Benyo built the building for his tailor shop, and it later served as the Cudahy Library from 1937-40.

Across the street, 3702 E. Layton Ave., is the home of the Wisconsin Slovak Historical Society, an organization famous for its preservation of Slovak culture and memories.

Head 1 block north on Kirkwood Ave. to 3672 E. Plankington Ave.

Stop 11

You should see the Nativity of the Lord Catholic Church, the first Catholic church in Cudahy. The church was formerly known as St. Frederick's Catholic Church. The first parishioners were primarily German and Irish. They wanted to name the church St. Patrick's, but the name was already taken. The archbishop, Frederick Katzor, suggested his own name, and the parishioners agreed.

Continue west on E. Plankington Ave.

Stop 12

In the middle of the block on the south side of the street, there used to be the Cudahy Methodist Church Episcopal Church. A townhouse now stands on the site because in 1963 the Methodist's moved their present church at 5865 S. Lake Dr.

Turn north at the corner of E. Plankington and S. Packard Ave's.

Stop 13

You should see the Cudahy Fire Station No.1, built January 1959. The second station, added in 1972, is at E. Ramsey and S. Barland Ave's.

Go to the far end of this block - the southeast corner of S. Packard and E. Cudahy Ave's.

Stop 14

This is the site of the former home of Cudahy Mayor Joseph Wagner and, later, the Fine Lando Clinic. After it was razed, the Law Firm of Jursik and Jursik built its offices and apartments, The Packard House. Across the street to the west is the home built by Fred Glazier, an early tavern keeper, resort owner and caretaker of Sheridan Park. To the north is the former home of Jacob Martin, an early Cudahy alderman. On the northeast corner is the home built by Charles Nicolaus, a founder of the Cudahy State Bank, now the Chase Bank Office.

Continue north on Packard to 4527 S. Packard Ave.

Stop 15

Built in 1860 by Herman Mueller, it is the oldest house within the original boundaries of the city.

Proceed west on E. Armour Ave 1 block to S. Kingan Ave. Turn north and proceed 1 block to St Mark's Lutheran Church.

Stop16

The congregation began in 1928, soon constructed a bungalow church, and in 1955 built this Lannon stone House of Worship on the same spot. What became of the little church? It was sold to a soccer club, moved to the 5400 block of S. Pennsylvania Ave, and eventually grew into South Woods restaurant!

Proceed east on E. Van Norman Ave for 3 blocks to S. Swift Ave.

Stop 17

On the northeast corner you will find the former home of Henry Schade. Patrick Cudahy hired him to sell the first homes and lots in the village. Present owners Steve and Kathleen Liszewski have lovingly restored it.

Turn south on S. Swift Ave and proceed 2 blocks to E. Cudahy Ave and find St Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church and School.

Stop 18

This is the second church in Cudahy, built in 1894. A new building was constructed on the same site in 1963.

In 1991 the old school, which had contained bowling alleys and a small auditorium for plays, was replaced by the current structure, which opened the following year.

Proceed east on E. Cudahy Ave and cross to the east side of S. Lake Dr, Turn north on S. Lake Dr. and continue 1 block to E. Armour Ave. Proceed 1 block on E. Armour Ave to S. Sheridan Dr.

Stop 19

You have reached the Michigan Highlands, bounded by E. Bottsford and E. Armour Ave's. This was the residential area which Mr. Cudahy set aside for finer homes.

Proceed south along S. Sheridan Dr. to Sheridan Park.

Stop 20

In 1911, the City of Cudahy bought 40 acres from the Patrick Cudahy Family Company to begin the park. They bought 25 more acres 13 years later. The park is named after General Philip Sheridan of the Civil War.

Walk to the lagoon.

Stop 21

Just northeast of the lagoon, up the hill, is the highest spot on Lake Michigan, where Warrren Johnson and Charles Fortier demonstrated the first ship-to-shore telegraph west of the Atlantic in 1900.

In 1931 the City gave the park to the Milwaukee County Park Commission, and Sheridan Park now totals 78 1/2 acres.

The old lagoon was used for swimming and ice skating. The Orioles, a semi-pro football team, played south of it. There was a band shell at the foot of E. Layton Ave and a long, narrow open shelter to the east of that. A refreshment stand was at one end, washrooms at the other end. Farther east came the playground and tennis courts.

Walk east to the park entrance at E. Layton Ave. and S. Lake Dr.

Stop 22

Patrick Cudahy's descendants honored him in 1965 with the statue near the park entrance. The sculptor was Felix de Weldon of Washington D.C., who had created the Iwo Jima monument. The Veterans Memorial,built in 1989, can also be seen here.

Walk south on S. Lake Dr for 2 blocks to E. Munkwitz Ave

Stop 23

St. John Ev. Lutheran Church was built in 1956. It replaced a 1906 building at Squire and Swift Ave's, now the home of St. Nikola Serbian Orthodox Church.

To the west once stood Cudahy High School, built in 1925. It was razed in 1992 after being used as the high school, then Cudahy Junior High East, and finally the Stadium Campus of Cudahy High School. The new high school across the street was built in 1965.

Walk south to 5050 S. Lake Dr.

Stop 24

The City Hall was built in 1956 and also houses the Police Department and the Health Department. It was expanded in 1991. The next building south is the city's Water Filtration Plant, built in 1954. It was greatly expanded and improved in the 1970's.

Turn east from S. Lake Dr onto Pulaski Ave.

Stop 25

As you walk toward the lake bluff, you are approaching the water intake station, built by Patrick Cudahy to supply water to his plant. It began in 1897, and in 1961 the company sold the plant and the water mains to the city. As you look north along the lake bank as far back as E. Munkwitz Ave, try to visualize the former St. Anne's Home. In 1903, Patrick Cudahy donated this parcel to St. Vincent's Infant Asylum for its summer home. The building was razed and is now part of Sheridan Park.

Head east from E. Pulaski Ave along the park road, until you reach the parking lot of Warnimont Park golf course.

Stop 26

The Milwaukee Vinegar Works and The Red Star Yeast Company once stood on this very spot. They were built in 1903, but because of erosion, the plants became hard to operate by 1947. In 1957, the company sold the property to the Milwaukee County Park Commission for $95,000.

Return to E. Pulaski Ave and head west to S. Lake Dr.

Stop 27

The Sheridan Hotel. In 1911, Frank Sztukowski leased a tavern on this site from a Milwaukee brewery. In 1920, he built this brick building. Formerly the Fountain Blue Restaurant, it is now owned by Lee Barczak and Jane Schilz. On the ground floor is a restaurant, on the second floor are seven hotel rooms, complete with bathrooms and fireplaces, and on the top floor are the owners living spaces.

Pulaski Ave was originally called Colt Ave. When Polish people settled in Cudahy in the mid 1890's, they asked the village board to rename the street in honor of Casimir Pulaski, the Polish general who aided George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Their request was granted.

Proceed west on Pulaski Ave for 1 block.

Stop 28

The Pulaski inn was built in 1905 by A.M. Bielawski and Joseph Wojtysiak. After a long ownership by the Glowacki family, it was sold the Brian and Karen Swessel.

Proceed 1 block on S. Hately Ave for 1 block and turn west on E Undwerwood Ave until you reach the beautiful Holy Family Catholic Church.

Stop 29

The church was built in 1931. The Congregation's first building was constructed in the spring of 1901 and the school building to the south was built in 1910. The new school and auditorium facing Hammond Ave was built in 1958. Today, the parish is part of Nativity of the Lord Catholic Church, as is the former St Joseph's Catholic Church at 4965 S. Swift Ave. Holy family's Parish House is now occupied by Interfaith for Older Adults. St. Joseph's was sold to Changing Lives Assembly of God.

Proceed west on E. Underwood Ave for 3 blocks to S. Packard Ave.

Stop 30

You will see the Ladish Company, originally a drop forge shop called Obenberger that opened in Milwaukee in 1905 and moved to Cudahy in 1912. The firms name changed to Ladish in 1916. It is the first drop forge to use counterblow hammer to forge titanium for airplane parts and to make steel rings weighing up to 30,000 pounds.

Turn north on S. Packard Ave and proceed 3 blocks north to 5025 S. Packard Ave.

Stop 31

There's history at 5025 S. Packard Ave. The warehouse of the MSF Corporation was formerly the Hemholz Mitten Company, built by Patrick Cudahy's son-in-law.

Proceed north on S. Packard Ave 3 blocks to E. Carpenter Ave.

Stop 32

On the southeast corner of E. Carpenter Ave and S. Packard Ave was the former location of Glazier's Park and Dance Hall. It extended back to where Motion's Plus Bowling Center Stands. Sadly, these buildings were destroyed in a fire in 2004.

On the corner of E. Pabst and S. Packard Ave's stands the former August Hermes Log Cabin Saloon. Most recently known as Drop Shots South, it was a community beauty spot when erected in about 1906. It was constructed entirely of tamarack logs taken from the vicinity of Random Lake, and the foundation was of unusual black and gray rocks. There was a wine room in the back, over which was a balcony for an orchestra that played summer afternoons and evenings. In the basement were bathrooms, the only public place for baths in the city.

Continue north on S. Packard Ave for 1 block.

Stop 33

To your right is Washington Square, a senior citizens residence. The land formerly housed Washington School, in 1895 the first school within the city. When it was razed, "The Square" was built in 1983.

Continue north on S. Packard Ave for 2 blocks to E. Squire Ave

Stop 34

On the southeast corner of S. Packard and E. Squire Ave's is Dretzka's Department Store, a business that began in 1901. The original frame store in the center of the block was moved around the corner to the 3500 block of E. Squire Ave, where it is a private home. Dretzka's had a unique feature - a system of cords that ran along the ceiling that carried payments in little boxes to the office in the balcony in the back of the building and returned the change and receipts to the customer.

Across the street to the west is the parking lot where our tour concludes, in the heart of the CUDAHY BUISNESS DISTRICT. We hope you've enjoyed your trip back in time, to the days when the City was beginning to grow from the farm fields on the bluffs of Lake Michigan.