Wilson Park in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Town of Lake

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 21, 2011

1. Town of Lake Marker

Inscription. Organized in 1838, the Town of Lake was one of seven townships that made up pioneer Milwaukee County. Its original borders were Lake Michigan, 27th Street, Greenfield Avenue, and College Avenue. The City of Milwaukee annexed large sections of the town over the decades, adding room for the Historic South Side, Bay View, and Tippecanoe neighborhoods. The suburbs of Cudahy and St. Francis were also carved from Town lands. By the 1930’s, all that remained of the original township was a truck farming and greenhouse district south of Howard Avenue. In 1940, hoping to preserve its independence, the Town of Lake completed this Art Deco tower to house a new water works and municipal offices. Rapid postwar development and steadily rising property taxes finally led local residents to join the City of Milwaukee. The last annexation was completed in 1954, and the Town of Lake became a cherished memory.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.

Location. 42° 58.324′ N, 87° 55.193′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in Wilson Park. It is at the intersection of

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South 6th Street and West Norwich Street, on the right when traveling south on South 6th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4001 S 6th Street, Milwaukee WI 53221, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: General Mitchell Field (approx. 1.6 miles away); St. Josaphat Basilica (approx. 2.1 miles away); Joseph Schlitz (approx. 2.2 miles away); March to Kosciuszko Park (approx. 2.2 miles away); Edward George Ryan (approx. 2.2 miles away); Byron Kilbourn (approx. 2.2 miles away); Orville Cadwell (approx. 2.2 miles away); In memory of Franklin Van Valkenburgh (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

Also see . . . Town of Lake Water Tower and Municipal Building (pdf file). City of Milwaukee Historic Designation Study Report (Submitted on November 28, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin.)

Town of Lake Water Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 21, 2011

2. Town of Lake Water Tower

From across 6th Street

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 21, 2011

3. Town of Lake Water Tower

from the north

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,277 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 18, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.