As the gentle whispers of spring begin to fade and the warm glow of summer begins, I’m excited to share our recent successes and upcoming initiatives at the Bay View Historical Society.
On March 30th, we hosted a special event with Adam Levin, author of Kodachrome Milwaukee and Fading Ads of Milwaukee at Puddler’s Hall. Adam showed us long-lost and never-before-seen images of downtown, Mayfair Mall’s Ice Chalet, the Mitchell Park Domes, and Milwaukee County Stadium just to name a few. The event brought out 45 people, of which 95% were not BVHS members. We sold signed copies of Adam’s book, Kodachrome Milwaukee, which allowed us to raise over $300 for the event. The event and partnership with Adam Levin went so well, we hope to host another event in the near future. Stay tuned!
In late April we held our Annual Dinner at the South Shore Yacht Club. It was a beautiful spring day to spend overlooking the water and spending time with friends. The event was very successful, bringing in over $1,000 from the silent auction and wine & spirits pull alone. A special thank you to Bradley Wiles for being our speaker. You can read more about this event later in the Historian.
May began an exciting time for the Society as we have many events on the horizon. On May 22nd we offered the opportunity to learn how to research the history of your home. Board Member Grace Pelisek taught us how to navigate and interpret valuable sources of public information such as census records, county property records and more. She showcased a recent research project she completed.
On May 31st, we were a stop for Bay View Gallery Night. We featured art from conceptual art photographer Barbara Budish and fiber artist Heidi Parkes (2024 artist in residence at The Pfister Hotel). Musicians Lisa Ridgely and Francesa & Tom performed throughout the evening.
On June 15th we will have our 29th Landmark Dedication at Christ Church. In July we plan to participate once again in Humboldt Park’s Fourth of July Parade. In August, Ron Winkler and Sean Reagan will be leading our Annual August Walk. We have a lot of other events that are still being planned so make sure to check our website and Facebook.
Do not forget that our trivia nights at The Sugar Maple continue to occur on the last Wednesday of every odd month (May 29th, July 31st) at 7pm. We also continue to hold our open houses the first Saturday of every month from 1-4pm.
Best,
Margaret Herzfeld