On Board St. at Northway St., in the median on Board St..
Visitors keep saying,
"Greendale looks like a Norman Rockwell town."
For good reason. Greendale was designed by
a town planner from New England... who gave the
village a definite "New England feel"... resulting in
the type of town that . . . — — Map (db m232493) HM
On West Grange Avenue, 0.5 miles west of South 76th Street, on the right when traveling east.
Born in Detroit to Irish immigrant parents, Curtin came to Milwaukee in 1837 to join his mother’s family the Furlongs and settle on a farm in Greenfield. In the 1840’s the Curtins moved into this typically Irish stone house described in Curtin’s . . . — — Map (db m34760) HM
On W. Grange Ave., 0.2 miles east of S. 92nd Street, on the right when traveling east.
Lime production was an important nineteenth century industry in southeastern Wisconsin, primarily because the region’s geology provided abundant Silurian dolomite rock that was easily quarried. High quality lime, used mainly in mortar and plaster, . . . — — Map (db m37508) HM
On Schoolway at Parking Street, on the left when traveling east on Schoolway.
This building was built during the Great Depression by the Federal Government between the years 1936 and 1938. Historically this site has served as the Police and Fire Department, the municipal court, and was the central heating plant for the . . . — — Map (db m183768) HM
Near Broad Street south of Northway, on the right when traveling south.
The economic depression of the 1930's left millions of Americans looking for affordable housing. The notion of creating "Greenbelt Communities" outside major cities was part of the Roosevelt Administration's "New Deal" to provide new housing and . . . — — Map (db m184179) HM
On Broad Street at Schoolway, on the right when traveling south on Broad Street.
Alonzo Hauser, a Wisconsin native and noted sculptor, was commissioned by the WPA in 1938 to execute this flagpole grouping for the new village of Greendale. The sculpture memorializes the mothers, youths, and working people who were to populate . . . — — Map (db m184115) HM
On Broad Street south of Northway, on the right when traveling north.
In 1934 the government chose this site -- 3,410 acres which had previously been dairy farms -- for one of the nation's three "Greenbelt Communities". It was selected due to its gentle hills, thick woods and clean ponds. Greendale's been called, "One . . . — — Map (db m183649) HM
Near Broad Street south of Northway, on the right when traveling south.
The farms that occupied this land prior to 1936 were regarded as an ideal site for one of the nation's three "Greenbelt Communities". These gentle hills, thick woods and clear ponds—tucked at the edge of 660-acre Whitnall Park—promised a unique and . . . — — Map (db m184180) HM
Near Broad Street south of Northway, on the right when traveling south.
In just 2 years, thousands of workers completed 366 buildings containing 572 living units. Over 100 families moved in during the first 2 weeks of May in 1938. Uniquely, each house was located close to the street, and the living room was positioned . . . — — Map (db m184164) HM
On Broad Street south of Northway, on the left when traveling south.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt personally visited Greendale in 1936 as this massive project was underway. After touring several houses and this downtown area, she said Greendale "is absolutely wonderful" and "is laid out beautifully". Thousands of . . . — — Map (db m183642) HM
Near Broad Street south of Northway, on the right when traveling south.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who had a high regard for the welfare of children and a great concern for impoverished people, visited Greendale in 1936 to personally inspect this "Greenbelt" project. After clambering through one of the two-story . . . — — Map (db m184167) HM
On Broad Street at Schoolway, on the left when traveling south on Broad Street.
This gazebo was built by Greendale volunteers in 1995 as the new "gathering place". Early residents used to gather under a giant elm tree on the east side of Broad Street, before stores were built there. To fund the gazebo, anyone contributing $25 . . . — — Map (db m183070) HM
On Broad Street south of Northway, on the right when traveling south.
To ease managing more than 2,000 men during Greendale's construction, workers were directed to the "A section", the "D section", etc. This alphabetical reference has endured. Still today, all streets in each section begin with the same letter . . . — — Map (db m183617) HM
On Broad Street south of Northway, on the left when traveling north.
The economic depression of the 1930's left millions of American's lacking for affordable housing. The notion if creating "Greenbelt Communities" was part of the Roosevelt Administration's "New Deal" program, aimed at providing needed housing and . . . — — Map (db m183618) HM
Near Schoolway east of Broad Street, on the left when traveling east.
...had its beginnings in 1936, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture began construction of three new communities known as the Greenbelt towns. Besides Greendale, the other two towns are Greenbelt, Maryland and Greenhills, Ohio.
In the . . . — — Map (db m182852) HM
On Northway at Broad Street, on the right when traveling east on Northway.
Visitors often say Greendale reminds them of New England. That's partly because the town planner, Elbert Peets, was from New England. It was his idea to position the homes very near the curb and turn all of them "backwards". That way the large . . . — — Map (db m182897) HM
On Schoolway at Parking Street, on the right when traveling west on Schoolway.
The Hose Tower and Grounds Building was built in 1939 in Greendale a planned community built by United States Government to provide jobs and housing in the era of the Great Depression. The Greendale Volunteer Fire Department used the tower to dry . . . — — Map (db m183793) HM
On Parking Street north of Schoolway, on the right when traveling north.
This building was originally the "Greendale Theatre". It opened in 1939 with a feature starring Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy. To boost attendance during the Great Depression, "dish nights" were popular - free cups, plates, etc. were handed out weekly . . . — — Map (db m183845) HM
On Broad Street south of Northway, on the right when traveling south.
The lower level held Greendale's first Post Office, which opened on December 16th, 1938. The first Greendale Postmaster was Ed Bengs; he was also a Greendale resident. In 1938 postage for a first-class letter was 3 cents!
The upper level was . . . — — Map (db m182905) HM
On Northway at Broad Street, on the right when traveling west on Northway.
Greendale was one of three Greenbelt towns constructed by the Federal Government during the 1930s. The main objectives were to demonstrate a planning concept combining the best of country and city living, to provide good housing for low income . . . — — Map (db m33210) HM
