Sunday Church Feature

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

According to the "1970 Photo Directory" of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, it was founded and dedicated in 1870.  The "1970 Photo Directory" which included the history of the church was published to commemorate its 100th anniversary.  The original entrance to the church was at 1023 Russell Avenue in the heart of the Bay View area on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The high vaulted ceiling of the sanctuary gave it the look of a cathedral.

Later additions to the church included the stained glass windows.  The primary window faces east and the church's school building.  The other five major windows depict the "Mysteries of the Rosary".  A new entrance, in the photo above,  on Kinnickinnic Avenue the main commercial street of Bay View, was built in 1959.  It features four Greek columns.  Sometime after 1959 the most spectacular feature of the church building was added.  This was the 2 1/2 storey high mosaic mural behind the front altar of the sanctuary.  It depicts the family tree of Jesus from Adam and Eve to Mary and Joseph.

Today 500 families  are registered as member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  The Pastor is Rev. Ronald E. Kotecki and the Youth Minister is Bob Boehm.

Thank You: To Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Youth Minister Bob Boehm for the information references from the "1970 Photo Directory" regarding the history of the church.

Photo: Taken in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2006  by SW.

Link:  http://icbayview.wordpress.com/

Note: Suzanne Wilson grew up on Logan Avenue (See Blog Post August 4, 2010.) two blocks from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, (or "IC" as the neighbors called it). 

Saturday Travel Feature
Milwaukee Art Museum by Calatrava
Milwaukee, Wisconsin


"The Milwaukee Arts Museum has its roots in two Milwaukee art groups from the 1880s. These organizations and their collections merged under one roof for the first time in 1957. The Museum and its holdings continued to grow over the decades. In 2001, a major addition put the Museum on the map, nationally as well as internationally.

 "The Milwaukee Art Association encouraged Frederick Layton, owner of a meatpacking business, to fulfill a promise he made a few years earlier to establish Milwaukee’s first art gallery. A new Greek Revival building costing $115,000 was erected downtown on the corner of Mason and Jefferson Streets, and opened in 1888 as the Layton Art Gallery. The building was designed by London architects W.J. and G.A. Audsley, and constructed by E.T. Mix & Co. Layton provided the gallery with a $100,000 endowment and 38 paintings, many of which remain as the nucleus of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Layton Art Collection.

 "By 1911, the Milwaukee Art Society, formerly the Milwaukee Art Association, had moved into its newly purchased building and property on Jefferson Street, located just north of the Layton Art Gallery. Nearly 600 members strong by 1914, the Milwaukee Art Society began the annual Wisconsin Painters and Sculptors exhibition and offered free Saturday classes for children, a tradition continued by the Museum today. In 1913, Dudley Crafts Watson became the first director of the Milwaukee Art Society and, in 1916, changed the name to the Milwaukee Art Institute. In 1918, the first annual grant of $5,000 was provided to the Milwaukee Art Institute by the City of Milwaukee. In 1919, city support grew to $10,000, then to $13,000 in 1920, and to $20,000 in 1922.


"In the later years of World War II, three women’s clubs—Altrusa, Zonta, and the Business and Professional Women’s Club—became united in the purpose of establishing a war memorial in Milwaukee County. Inspired by their vision, the Milwaukee Civil Alliance formed the Milwaukee War Memorial Corporation and invited famed architect Eliel Saarinen (1873–1950) to design the War Memorial Center. When Eliel Saarinen died suddenly in 1950, his son, Eero Saarinen took over the project. Hailed as a masterpiece of mid-twentieth-century design, the War Memorial Center was dedicated “To Honor the Dead by Serving the Living” on November 11, 1957. When the Milwaukee Art Institute and Layton Art Gallery moved into their new quarters, the Layton collection came under the curatorial supervision of the Milwaukee Art Institute (today the Milwaukee Art Museum), where it continues to be preserved and exhibited today. In January 1958, the Milwaukee Art Institute changed its name to the Milwaukee Art Center.


"In the late 1960s, Peg Bradley, wife of Harry Lynde Bradley who co-founded the Allen-Bradley Company, offered her entire collection of more than 600 Modern, American, and European works of art to the Museum. She challenged the community to build a museum addition to house the extensive collection, and donated $1 million towards construction. The challenge was met: in 1975, the Kahler building addition opened with vastly enlarged galleries.


"In 1980, the Milwaukee Art Center changed its name to the Milwaukee Art Museum, to reflect its mission to collect, preserve, and exhibit art. The Museum was fully accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1983.


"In the early stages of planning for the Museum’s centennial birthday, another major expansion was proposed and accepted. In 1994, based upon his international vision and skill as an engineer and architect, Spanish-born architect Santiago Calatrava was chosen to be the designer to carry the Museum into the next millennium. On December 10, 1997, the Milwaukee Art Museum broke ground for the new addition.


"The Quadracci Pavilion, the first Calatrava-designed building to be completed in the United States, opened in 2001 to rave reviews. The expansion project included new exhibition galleries and an auditorium, as well as a museum store and cafe. In addition, the Museum completely renovated and remodeled its Collection galleries." (See Link.)

Photo: Taken in Milwaukee Wisconsin in 2006 by SW.
Link:  http://www.mam.org/info/history.php

Friday, September 10, 2010

A Week of Black and White

1928 Canary Yellow

The bright yellow house that stood at 332 East 4th Street in the year 2000 was originally built for $2500 in 1928 by H. Earland. The architect was W. Earland. Previously, in the year 1923 H. Earland had built a $4000 Dancing Hall at 119 East 3rd Street. The architect for that building was T. Korner.

In 1931 the owner of 332 East 4th Street was W. E. Phillips, a laborer. Alex and Nancy E. Walton lived in the house in 1940. Alex Walton was employed as a teller at the Bank of Montreal. In 1950 and 1955 the owners were Ron W. and Lillian V. Stewart. In 1950 Ron Stewart worked as a salesman at General Truck Sales. By 1955 he was a sales manager at Volkswagon Pacific Sales. Mrs. I. and Guy E. Ellison were the residents of the house in 1960. In 1971 City Directory Jahura Begg was listed as the owner. And in 1980 again there was a new owner, this time it was C. Varney.

In 1991 Helen C. Donnelly moved into 332 East 4th Street. This is indicated by the title of "New Neighbor" in the City Directory. She was employed as a food and beverage supervisor at Grouse Mountain. She continued to live in the house and work at the same job in 1995. In 1995 Monahan Wesler was also listed as living at 332 East 4th Street.

By 2010 a new side by side duplex with the addresses of 330 and 332 East 4th Street had been built on the 332 East 4th Street lot.

A Week of Black and White

The Black and White photos of all the homes this week were taken in July of 2007 as part of the Demolition and Construction North Vancouver Archives Project by Suzanne Wilson. On notification of City and District applications for Demolition Permits the photos were taken and documented. Negatives and contact prints were filed at the North Vancouver Archives as part of their permanent photo collection. The project ran from 2001 to 2010.

A colored photo of the house at 332 East 4th Street is also included in the Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home on file at the North Vancouver Archives.

Demolition Permit: Applied for in 2007.

Photos: Year 2000 colored photo and black and white photo Demolition and Construction Project photo Roll # 85 Negative 22 on file at the North Vancouver Archives. (The photo above was taken of the contact sheet with a digital camera.)

Thursday, September 9, 2010
A Week of Black and White
Westlake and Marshall

It seems that this large house with the Tudor trim at 4375 Underwood Avenue in the Upper Lynn area of Lynn Valley was only owned by two families, the Westlake's and the Marshall's.

F. A. Westlake built the house in 1950 for $5000. Three years later, in 1953 he applied for a Building Permit for a $150 carport. Frank A. and Louise M. Westlake owned the house at least until 1971. In 1955 Frank Westlake worked as a warehouse foreman at Pacific Coast Wholesale Drugs. In  1960 he was a foreman at Pacific Coast Wholesale Drugs. And by 1971 Frank Westlake was retired.

The 1980 City Directory reports Garry and Ann Marshall as the owners of 4375 Underwood Avenue. They owned the house at least until 2007, as indicated by the North and West Vancouver Phone Directory. In 1980 Garry Marshall was employed as a bodyman at Tip Top Collision Ltd. In 1991 he was working as a bodyman at Bodo Motors.

In August 0f 2009 the house at 4375 Underwood Avenue was sold for $942,000.

A Week of Black and White

The Black and White photos of all the homes this week were taken in July of 2007 as part of the Demolition and Construction North Vancouver Archives Project by Suzanne Wilson. On notification of City and District applications for Demolition Permits the photos were taken and documented. Negatives and contact prints were filed at the North Vancouver Archives as part of their permanent photo collection. The project ran from 2001 to 2010.


Demolition Permit: Applied for in 2007.
Photos: The black and white photo Demolition and Construction Project photo Roll # 85 Negative 10 on file at the North Vancouver Archives. (The photo above was taken of the contact sheet with a digital camera.)

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

A Week of Black and White

Cement on West 6th

The original house at 454 West 6th Street was built by J. Gibson in 1924 for $2000. The architect was O. Markle. In 1925 Jacob Gibson was living in the house. He was a foreman at Lonsdale Coal. By 1931 the resident was Daniel Dumaresq, a logger. In 1940 the residents were Robert M. and Doris Robinson. Robert Robinson was employed as a clerk. And in 1950 the owner was Mrs. W. Gibson, widow of J. Gibson.

In 1955 owners of the house at 454 West 6th Street are listed in the City Directory to be Antonio J. and Olive M. Calla. (Note: Although there is no documentation at the North Vancouver Archives the 1955 home of the Calla family looks to be a new house built about that time. This large home with the south facing front widows and the veranda across the upstairs living area seems typical of this era.) The Calla family is also listed as the owners in the City Directories for at least the next 35 years and for all those years Antonio Calla worked as a cement contractor. In 1955 Antonio Calla was listed simply as a cement contractor. In 1960 he was a cement contractor "of Calla Bros, 502 East Keith Rd." And in the 1971 and 1980 City Directories the entry reads "president Calla Brothers Cement Contractors."

The "New Neighbor" designation was given to Frank and Barbara Hampton in 1991. Frank Hampton reported that he was retired. They seem to have lived there until the time the house was demolished in 2007. This was indicated by the listing of Frank Hampton at 454 West 6th Street in the year 1999/2000 and 2006/2007 North and West Vancouver Phone Books.

By 2010 a side by side duplex with the addresses 456 and 458 West 6th Street were built on the lot that had been 454 West 6th Street.

A Week of Black and White

The Black and White photos of all the homes this week were taken in July of 2007 as part of the Demolition and Construction North Vancouver Archives Project by Suzanne Wilson. On notification of City and District applications for Demolition Permits the photos were taken and documented. Negatives and contact prints were filed at the North Vancouver Archives as part of their permanent photo collection. The project ran from 2001 to 2010.


Demolition Permit: Applied for in 2007.
Photo: Band white photo Demolition and Construction Project photo Roll # 85 Negative 23 on file at the North Vancouver Archives. (The photo above was taken of the contact sheet with a digital camera.)

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

A Week of Black and White

Capilano Highland's Stucco

The house at 910 Beaumont Drive in the Capilano Highland's area of the District of North Vancouver was a typical 1950's stucco home. It was built for $9000 in 1951 by D.S. Stoddard. The series of small square windows next to the front door set is apart from its neighbors.

In 1955 the owners of the house were William A. and Alix Smedman. William worked as a clerk for Daly and Morin. Mrs. Alex Smedman was employed as a stenographer by N. Jefferson. In 1960 the owners were Harry W. and Ada Tisdall. Harry Tisdall worked as a claims clerk for the PGE. The Pacific Great Eastern Railroad was the original name of B. C. Rail. (See Link.) In 1971 the owners were John M. and Margarete E. Slauenwhite. John Slauenwhite was a trust officer at Royal Trust.

And by 1980 the owners were Walter R. and Vicki Voros. Walter R. worked as a production manager for Teleflex Canada Ltd. It is interesting to note that by 1980 the listing of the wife's name was no longer listed in the City Directory  in parentheses (Vicki). It is now simply listed as "and Vicki". In the earliest City Directories the wife's name was not listed at all. This seems true in the 1925 and 1931 publications. By 1940 the wife's name was listed in the parentheses form (Vicki).

In 1991 and 1995 the owner of the house at 910 Beaumont Dr. was Brenda J. Brown. She reported in 1995 that she had lived there more than 9 years, so probably moved in around 1985. In 1991 Brenda Brown was employed as a barrister at Boughton Peterson Yang Anderson. And in 1995 Brenda Brown was a lawyer at Davis and Company.

By 2010 a new large single family home had been built on the property at 910 Beaumont Drive.

A Week of Black and White

The Black and White photos of all the homes this week were taken in July of 2007 as part of the Demolition and Construction North Vancouver Archives Project by Suzanne Wilson. On notification of City and District applications for Demolition Permits the photos were taken and documented. Negatives and contact prints were filed at the North Vancouver Archives as part of their permanent photo collection. The project ran from 2001 to 2010.

Demolition Permit: Applied for in 2007.
Photos: The black and white photo Demolition and Construction Project photo Roll # 85 Negative 5 on file at the North Vancouver Archives. (The photo above was taken of the contact sheet with a digital camera.)
Link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Great_Eastern_Railway

Monday, September 6, 2010
A Week of Black and White
Since 1946 in Deep Cove

This 1946 home at 4142 Mount Seymour Parkway is noted in the Real Estate ad as being in Deep Cove. It just makes it into this most eastern area of the District of North Vancouver for it sat above the intersection where the Dollarton Highway turns into Deep Cove Road. The road runs in the west from the Upper Levels Highway to the base of Mount Seymour and then on to this junction in the east where Dollarton Highway changes to Deep Cove Road.

The name of Mount Seymour Parkway itself does not seem to appear in the City Directories until around 1971. There is no listing of Mount Seymour Parkway or Mount Seymour Highway in the 1955 City Directory. In 1960 and1965 Mount Seymour Highway is listed, but not Mount Seymour Parkway. However, in those years there are no addresses on Mount Seymour Highway. Mount Seymour was named in honour of Frederick Seymour, second governor of the Colony of British Columbia. (See Link 2.)

In 1971 there is full documentation of the 4142 Mount Seymour Parkway address in the City Directory and Mount Seymour Highway no longer is listed. Leslie F. and Glady's N. Newson are listed as owners of the 4142 Mount Seymour Parkway house. Leslie Newson is also listed as president of Leslie Brown Realty.

The only other owners listed in the City Directories are Terrance and Anne Sheldon. They seem to have lived at 4142 Mount Seymour Parkway at least from 1980 to the year 2000 as indicated by both the City Directories and the North and West Vancouver Phone Directories. In in 1991 and 1995 Terrance Sheldon was working as an electrician.

The Real Estate ad in Link 1 describes the house as being on a 14,303 sq. ft. double lot. The 4 bedroom 3,052 sq. ft. house had two storeys with a basement, and a double garage. There was even a "peek-a-boo" view of the water. It sold for $800,000. (See Link 1.)

A Week of Black and White

The Black and White photos of all the homes this week were taken in July of 2007 as part of the Demolition and Construction North Vancouver Archives Project by Suzanne Wilson. On notification of City and District applications for Demolition Permits the photos were taken and documented. Negatives and contact prints were filed at the North Vancouver Archives as part of their permanent photo collection. The project ran from 2001 to 2010.


Demolition Permit: Applied for in 2007.
Photos: The black and white photo Demolition and Construction Project photo Roll # 85 Negative 1 on file at the North Vancouver Archives. (The photo above was taken of the contact sheet with a digital camera.)
Link 1: http://www.davelund.myubertor.com/Properties.php/Details/14
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Seymour