Stone Lions

Stone Lions

There is a public art piece in Lake Park in Milwaukee entitled

Eight Stone Lions.

They guard the ends of two bridges which span the ravines in the park.

They are sculpted from Bedford limestone (some say sandstone).

Designed by Paul Kupper, they were cast and carved by

stonecutter Otto Lachmund.

The bridges, although now narrowed for pedestrian traffic only,

originally hosted carriage and pedestrian traffic.

They were dedicated on 1 November 1897.

Here's Dad on one of them.

(circa 1940s)

Sad news for the pedestrian bridges.
A truck driver, following his GPS directions drove onto them.
Check out the link below.
Truck drives onto bridges.

The Sound of Autumn

The Sound of Autumn

My excellent husband and soul mate has written a song

for the first day of Autumn.

Click below:

The Sound of Autumn

Mattie Shipley Culver's Birthday

Mattie Shipley Culver's Birthday

Today is the anniversary of Mattie Shipley Culver's Birthday in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Her birth was registered in Clinton where the family lived 

but Mattie was born at Martha Platt's house in Lowell.

Mattie was likely named for her aunt.

 
Check out Mattie's facebook Book Page to see more of her life:
Mattie, A Woman's Journey West

North Point Water Tower

North Point Water Tower

Victorian Gothic and Cream Brick

You can't get better than that

Dad took this photo of the water tower at an angle because when he

originally mounted it in his photo album that angle was

aesthetically pleasing for the eye.
[1930s-1940s--Lake Drive and North Avenue, Milwaukee]

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist 1935

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

Milwaukee 1935

Dad took many photos of buildings in Milwaukee.

Here's one he shot just after a fire partially destroyed the church in January 1935.

Wisconsin Cuneo Press

Wisconsin Cuneo Press

Dad was a printer by trade.

Before he began working at the Milwaukee Journal he was employed

by Wisconsin Cuneo Press.

He worked for Cuneo Press from August 1933 to January 1956.

Dad took some photos of Cuneo.
It was located on 5400 West Good Hope Road (Milwaukee).

Here's a shot showing the workers on break playing cards.

Most likely the card game was Sheepshead, one of Dad's favorites.

The article below tells a slight history of Cuneo Press when it was sold in 1985.

[Article from the Milwaukee Sentinel]

Yacht Club in Milwaukee

Yacht Club in Milwaukee
1940s

More action at the lakefront in Milwaukee.

Dad loved the lakefront and it didn't matter what the weather.

Here's Mom taking a walk in front of the Yacht Club in what looks like a brisk wind

off the lake.

This is likely the version of the Club House that was built in 1945 to serve until the end of WWII restrictions of new buildings.

The 1896 clubhouse had burnt down in 1943.

Milwaukee Centurama

 Milwaukee Centurama

In 1946 the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin celebrated their centennial

with a month-long celebration.

Food and entertainment were the staples.

The stage was constructed at the lake front and in addition to exhibits

there was boat racing on the lake and of course fireworks displays.

Dad took this photo of the Centurama Stage in 1946.
I can see a pool with what looks like synchronized swimmers performing.

The Beach

The Beach

One of our family's favorite activities was swimming at the beach.

Although McKinley Beach at Lake Michigan was a staple we traveled

to many of the smaller lakes around the Milwaukee area for swimming fun.

Dad was as prolific as ever in documenting the "crew."
Obviously Mom took this one.

Here we are in 1955.

The Boat House on Cambridge

The Boat House on Cambridge

Edmund B. Gustdorf built his house to look like a boat.

It is on 3138 N. Cambridge (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)  and faces the Milwaukee River.

Modeled after a 1910 gasoline motor launch it is a 500-square-foot abode.

My Dad took this photo when the siding was still wood, not aluminum and the wavy wooden fence still surrounded the house.

The house was built around 1926-27 and my best guess is this photo was taken in the 1940s.

I love the boat in the yard too.

Lake Park Ravines

Lake Park Ravines

Growing up near Lake Michigan the ravines of Lake Park

offered "wildlife" opportunities for us kids.

It offered photo opps for Dad.

These are a couple of his ravine photos.

Aesthetic Value was what he always said was important.

Dad's Photos

Dad's Photos

My father was a great photographer.

Although a printer by trade he had talent and vision.

He took this photo after a winter storm in the 1940s.

What I love about this image is the contrast of the horse and carriage

still in use across from the automobile,

which I'm sure is what Dad was saying with the shot.
He entitled it Horses to Autos.