Mission
The Bay View Historical Society maintains a sense of community by conserving, celebrating and sharing Bay View's rich heritage.
Vision
The Bay View Historical Society will serve as a portal to, and archive for, celebrating Bay View's history and promise for the future.
Bylaws
Click here to read the complete bylaws.
Awards
The Bay View Historical Society was awarded the prestigious Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy by the Wisconsin Council of Local History for continued excellence of its historic Educational and Programming Achievements.
In addition, the society has received awards from the City of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, the Wisconsin Senate and Historic Milwaukee Inc. for our commitment and dedication to preserving and sharing the history of the Bay View Community.
Bay View Historical Society Background
The Bay View Historical Society began when two neighbors, Paul Kohlbeck and Audrey Quinsey, happened to have a chance meeting in an alley near their homes in Bay View. They discussed the idea of establishing a neighborhood historical society. Along with other neighbors, they distributed notices and conducted their first meeting early in 1979 at the former Llewellyn Library. Approximately forty people were in attendance at this meeting and the Bay View Historical Society was born.
A steering committee was established and meetings were held at the homes of interested Bay Viewites. The steering committee applied for affiliation with the Wisconsin State Historical Society, established membership procedures, elected a board of directors and began the process of incorporation.
The Society's charter meeting was held at the Humboldt Park Pavilion in the fall of 1979. More than 200 people attended. The new board and its officers were introduced and the Society's, objectives—To gather, preserve, disseminate artifacts and information relating to the Bay View area—was presented to it's members.
The Bay View Historical Society is managed by an elected Board of Directors with officers and committees carrying out a variety of programs and projects.
Some of our accomplishments include the restoration of the area surrounding the Iron Well on East Pryor Ave., the erection of a State Historical Marker designating the site of the Bay View Rolling Steel Mill and the designation of the following historical landmarks:
- Warren & Beulah Brinton Home - May 15, 1983
- Bay View United Methodist Church - May 6, 1984
- State Historical Marker for Bay View Rolling Mill - June 2, 1985
- Puddler's Hall - May 3, 1986
- St. Augustine School - August 28, 1988
- St. Lucas Lutheran Church - October 16, 1988
- Estes Home - June 4, 1989
- Kneisler's White House Tavern - October 6, 1991
- Club Garibaldi - October 1, 1992
- Trowbridge Street School - May 20,1994
- Dover Street School - December 5, 2001
- European Copper Beech Tree - September 24, 2005
- Immaculate Conception Church - May 20, 2006
- Keller Winery - September 30, 2006
The society focuses on activities that share Bay View’s history by providing historical information and educational programs to the community. Some examples include:
- The popular Historic Lecture Series
- An Outreach Program that takes the society on the road to various Community Events
- Video Production of Historic Events, Lectures and Oral Histories
- An informative Web Site that includes a Digital Library Link
- The development and publication of Historic Neighborhood Walking Tours and Brochures
- Road Trips to historical points of interest
- Publication of The Historian, our bi-monthly newsletter
- Designation of Historic Bay View Landmarks
- An Archives and Research Collection located at our headquarters that is available to history-buffs, academics and members in the community seeking information about Bay View's past
The original forty people who attended the first meeting at the former Llewellyn Library has grown to over 500 members and the Society currently enjoys the status as one of the few neighborhood Historical Societies in the state.
The Society conducts two general membership meetings and three historic programs annually. Our newsletter, The Bay View Historian is published bimonthly.
Membership is open to anyone who is interested in supporting our programs and projects. Annual dues are:
- $15 Individual/$12 Senior Individual (Age 65+)
- $25 Household/$20 Senior Household (Age 65+)
- $25 Nonprofit/Small Business
- $50 Corporate
You are invited to become a member and enjoy our various projects, programs and events. For additional information go to the Contact Us page, print off the form, fill it out and send your request and payment to the address listed on the form.
Bay View Historical Society Officers and Board of Directors
| President: | Mark Nitka |
| Vice President: | Jeremy Happel |
| Secretary: | Leslie Bachhuber |
| Treasurer: | Jeff Myer |
| Board of Directors: |
Gretchen Wussow Chris Riecke-Risser Ilona Bauer Brigitte Cooper John Manke Kevin Petajan Linda Mrochinski |