Milwaukee: A City Built on Water | Program |

[Original Airdate: April 22, 2015]
Historian John Gurda explores how the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan spurred Milwaukee's growth. The settlers used rivers and Lake Michigan to transport grain, lumber, leather and beer, but water was just as important for play as it was for work. Gurda explains how the Milwaukee River became a destination for fun. Learn how the lower Milwaukee River was eventually reduced to an open sewer by 1900, with Lake Michigan suffering similar indignities. Only in recent decades have the currents turned for the better. From the Milwaukee River Greenway to the reborn Menomonee Valley to the cultural theme park on our downtown lakefront, the patterns of the past are being reversed, providing cause for celebration as well as concern.
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Milwaukee PBS is an award-winning multimedia producer and broadcaster of exceptional and meaningful local and national content. Licensed to Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee PBS is one of the highest-rated PBS stations in the country. Our unique, independent position in the community makes us the ideal source of community engagement as a storyteller, conversation facilitator and advocate. No matter where you come from or where you make your home, we encourage you to bring your world and Milwaukee into focus as a member of the Milwaukee PBS community.

[@MrSimmies]

Many thanks to John Gurda for all he has done to inform us about the history and making of our historic city!

[@Redlioness-gp9ci]

Loved MILWAUKEE back in late 68. I still remember my teacher Miss O'Keefe😊..... The massive glass botanical dome situated inside this massive park. The deep snows in the winter... The great big lake, we used to go to every summer and the barbecues already fixed down next to the tables and benches. I'm guessing things have changed there too over the decades. Family ended up moving back in the UK after a few years spent in that city, against my will of course, but I still carry the best memories of those days. Thanks for the history lesson of MILWAUKEE.

[@ronaldschwigel2286]

god bless the uk my moms family is from scotland and england.

[@Erikthetravelguy]

I really enjoyed this video. Milwaukee is such an "under the radar" destination. Thanks for showing it off and detailing it's unique history!

[@JLKB-1947]

@Nice One . Agree agree and agree .

[@chipsramek3868]

How did You ever come up with that original comment ?

[@ronaldschwigel2286]

1-29-2021- YOU DID A BEUTIFUL JOB ON THIS MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY . I WAS BORN IN MILWAUKEE STILL LIVE HERE JACKSON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD SAYS HELLO AND GOD BLESS YOU JOHN. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK BRINGING HISTORY HOME TO US TO ENJOY.

[@delmorerealty]

This is a good video. I have have been gone 50 plus years but love Milwaukee. Thank you John Gurda.

[@allexx123]

My daddy worked for Schlitz. You know they allowed the workers to drink all the beer they wanted back on the job before the 1980's. I can't imagine being stoned drunk and working with machinery. There were a few that got hurt, but I never heard much about it.

[@jamesstewart3012]

My grandpa worked for Schlitz too back then...Jim Noack...

[@wcstevens7]

Some folks have all the luck ( a beer lover )

[@AA-cw7ql]

I heard about that. Happened ay Miller too

[@jameswesten2018]

My grandpa did also, he said there was a bell you'd ring and a 6 pack would get pulled upstairs by a rope& pulley so guys could have them on their lunch break

[@jackboots3372]

That's because it's water!

[@kilpatrickkirksimmons5016]

Solid documentary, actually learned a thing or two. No such thing as useless knowledge, so long as it's nonfiction.

[@jonnyjetstreamer997]

My great great grandfather built a sawmill on the Milwaukee river in the 1850’s in a little town called Ebleville named after him. The town is now called New Fane.

[@milmex317th]

I wasn't born in Milwaukee, 35th Clybourn 62-76 The Army sent me to a little island called ENWETAK Korea Frankfurt Wiesbaden Berlin, Oklahoma Kansas Central America. I live in Monterey California. Whenever someone asks "where you from " I'm from Milwaukee.

[@chipsramek3868]

Good answer ... My DL has General Delivery as My address.

[@agentfungus9742]

Excellent program! Mr. Gurda nails it, as usual.

[@chipsramek3868]

He has CIA with The Department Of Energy Funding ... what did You expect ?

[@shaiajean1]

Excellent video. Wonderful old photos and video, and surprising revelations, even for a lifelong resident.

[@prahltd]

John Gurda is the man!

[@ronaldschwigel2286]

milwaukees very own greatest historian of local attractions, he is awesome.

[@RJ1999x]

A liberal loon

[@thomerwald]

Great work, John and Claudia. You've added a great work that defines who we are as a city. Thanks.

[@RJ1999x]

Lol, good one

[@jackdavion8782]

you all prolly dont care at all but does someone know a trick to get back into an instagram account? I was dumb lost my account password. I love any tips you can give me!

[@romeozaire174]

@Jack Davion instablaster :)

[@jackdavion8782]

@Romeo Zaire thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@joewiltjer5201]

Well done documentary. Glad the environmental damage of the past is being corrected- we can't under state how important restoring streamflow and habitat is to our environment with environmental corridors through the region. If we are to thrive into the future, resiliency is necessary.

[@khunopie9159]

Good old Milwaukee. Tastes as great as its name.

[@berber8032]

several times this art of work brought tears to my eyes

[@JimboPS]

As MUHS boys in the short-lived period when the drinking age was 18, we would drive from school and make "pilgrimages to Pigsville" to have a beer or two -- where there was certainly more than one tavern open (in those days, early 70s). Great video, and I never knew it was there until someone took me there.

[@WN_Byers]

awesome memory, i heard stories from my economics teacher about Seniors at Shorewood High heading down Oakland street for the same thing

[@chipsramek3868]

That started in 72 ... I had younger friends who would "Legally" take their 45 minute lunch break at the closest bar ... to wash down a few pills :)- Most of the pills our Zionist Government already made Illegal. No matter !

[@osculant]

Awesome, loved Making of Milwaukee and this is just as fascinating.

[@epiccow6791]

Thanks for another great documentary PBS.

[@cw682]

Very well done. Thank you for your hard work.

[@WaitItsMeCarlos]

I really enjoyed this video. I would love to see an updated video since so much as changed since this video.

[@diva4tv]

What a fascinating history! A more complete history would have included the migration of African Americans who came in the 1830s and settled around Lake Michigan--though a bit more inland. They were free people of color and those who escaped slavery. The first African American resident was Joe Oliver who was a cook for one of the city's "founders" Solomon Juneau. He was there in 1835. An African American couple Henry & Georgiana Anderson moved from Green Bay to Milwaukee around that same time. African Americans were artisans, barkers, cooks, waiters, et al. Plus, Native Americans were not "displaced". They were driven out by the European as a result of the Black Hawk war of 1832.

[@heatherstrong964]

Does he even mention the Milwaukee Bridge war? My family moved across the US from MD to Ohio to mi. I have no indication that they came via water but I'm open to the idea as they would later become river boat Captains traveling the Wolf River. He doesn't even mention Solomon Juneau, or did I miss it?

[@MrOuchiez]

@@heatherstrong964 - "YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE DOLLOP"! (I hope that's where your comment came from, but if not, you MUST Google the Podcast episode of The Dollop on the MKE Bridge Wars, it's AMAZING) Cheers from the 414

[@heatherstrong964]

@@MrOuchiez actually, I wasn't listening to anything. My GGG grandfather, William Allender worked for Solomon Juneau circa 1838. My GG grandfather Daniel Allender was born in Milwaukee in 1838. There was some discussion over who the first non native baby born in Milwaukee was. But there were basically two cities. I think he and another fellow fought it out in the papers for years, I've read some of the articles. My GGG grandfather later traveled north intending to start his own trading company. Eventually he landed on the banks of the Wolf River and opened his company. He traded with the Menominee who had villiages all along the banks of the Wolf. My Aunt who is in her early 80's still speaks of the bridge war and the separation of Milwaukee. I don't know this Dollop you speak of.

[@heatherstrong964]

@@MrOuchiez lol nope I've never listened to those silly young men before. I do find intriguing that we appear to have come full circle to the days of radio. (Podcasts/independent radio without the restrictions of the FCC).

[@wonbuchanan2676]

My grandmother was 1 of those people. She moved from Mississippi to Beloit in the 1950s, then she moved to Milwaukee. Then my great aunts came up, and a lot of my cousins. My grandmother told me Milwaukee was a beautiful place back then…

[@jeffmrochinski]

Gurda's work is a Milwaukee treasure. Thank you for all you do.

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

A great story of the city’s history, much thanks. Seems like it would have been a cool time to have been alive.

[@esmseg1555]

thank you for this video. i love to learn about our history. I was born and raised in south side of Milwaukee near all those buildings. I've always wondered what they were. Thank you for sharing the information.

[@floydroadheroes]

just love history! thanks, this was an enjoyable watch! Excellent educational video!

[@wombtang20]

wonderful. Thank you 🙏

[@sandrapetrovich8894]

Excellent source of invaluable information of past, present and future. Thank you

[@RJ1999x]

To bad it's not accurate

[@jojorockallnations7351]

interesting of MILWAUKEE......... THANKS 4 THE HISTORY.

[@celestialbeing5291]

This is a good documentary on Milwaukee.

[@marksantelman5293]

"Many fish to make the purse heavy....and many children to make the purse light" at 12:55 was such a delightful surprise. America knew how to treasure and value children at one time.

[@CountBakfromten]

may your empty purse have a sturgeon funk. AMERICA!!

[@wcstevens7]

Mark Santelman ..Any family with children would agree 100 per- cent.

[@JJstram84]

aka "free labor"

[@badguy1481]

Great Job! Very unique!

[@kilburnvideos]

Well done. Excellent show.

[@williamotto7746]

Such a great community.

[@TheYeti308]

THANK YOU ! You folks are doing a splendid conservation job . !

[@ronaldschwigel2286]

LIFELONG FAN OF PBS- GREAT JOB ON THIS DOCUMENTARY.

[@RJ1999x]

Only because you don't know better

[@daleolson3506]

The old pbs not the new

[@chipsramek3868]

You do realize that You have admitted to and enjoy being BRAINWASHED ... don't You ?

[@dickpotter6108]

superb, thanks.

[@codymullins2332]

Is it me or are there people hung from trees at 23:14

[@michaelhill7471]

A wonderful story!

[@edwardwebb9267]

wow this is so cool

[@ernee100]

Haven't been to Milwaukee in 40 years. My grandmother lived on Menlo right above Hubbard Park. Kinda neat to find out it used to be an amusement park.

[@xxbulldog74]

Outstanding Love the way Milwaukee selves there problem and took the city back!!!!

[@ODOTGreen]

John Gurda rides a singlespeed bike, as if he wasn't already a legend

[@pizzaenthusiast69420]

Well done 👌

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

Well done

[@1223steffen]

Wisconsin is interesting

[@tammieknuth6020]

It literally is the best believe it or not!!

[@cbearabc]

Awesome is the right word, it's good to know your history because how else do you know where are right now in it!

What an awesome story!

[@marichka2681]

Never been to Milwaukee, but your story-telling kept me very interested and showed some new things for me.humans saving habitat for humans)

[@michaelcaldwell8280]

Quite the history of my hometown.

[@RJ1999x]

A poor history seeing how most of it is wrong

[@michaelcaldwell8280]

@@RJ1999x how so

[@RJ1999x]

@@michaelcaldwell8280 Milwaukee was built on the river, but it wasn't beer that drove Milwaukee and employed it's masses, it was Allis Chalmers. The largest company in Wisconsin, the largest employer in Milwaukee, the highest tax payer, the company that built the world's largest pump to clean the treaped river, yet no mention in this liberal propaganda story

[@michaelcaldwell8280]

@@RJ1999x I wondered why they didn't talk too much about that myself. But I think he was focusing on how Milwaukee grew around the water. And it seemed like he concentrated on the history of the rivers running through our city. But yes you are correct that Allis Chalmers plant that was in West Allis was a monster.

[@michaelcaldwell8280]

@@RJ1999x I don't know about liberal propaganda I guess it's all in how you look at it.

[@NativeHoney608]

This video makes my heart happy, not sure why but MKE was/in Potawatomi land ❤️

[@rapman5363]

Run Bambi Run!! Lori Bambenek was another infamous Milwaukee native who made her mark on history.

[@mikek8089]

"Bembenek". She was my Wife's cousin. Yes, my Wife is a Bembenek as well.

[@rapman5363]

@@mikek8089 I’ll bet she gets a lot of second looks when she makes restaurant reservations and the like. Lol Although I’m not even sure how many people remember that whole time frame,it’s been like 40 years.

[@mikek8089]

@@rapman5363,Lol. Yes, years ago she did, as her and Lori looked very much alike. And you're right....nowadays not too many people remember, or are too young to know.

[@mikehrenak1390]

One of my good friend is mike bembenek he is a cuz of Lori also air2 s army out

[@JLKB-1947]

Her father was a retired Milwaukee police officer . My family lives about a mile from that “ incident site “.

[@2birds4flowers36]

i live in milwaukee.Its really popular in wisconsin

[@northwayn]

@41:29 I'm almost positive that's me. Ha!

[@wijavierramos925]

Hey I live in Milwaukee and we are also known for our beer aswell

[@ronaldschwigel2286]

you got that right javier.

[@youthough4468]

I live in London and I wanna live in Milwaukee so bad

[@petercrowl9467]

I grew up there and would never move back. It's turned into Gang Banger Heaven

[@MrMix87]

I love Milwaukee!

[@jamespritchett6627]

@@johnm3010 ..Milwaukee is nothing like Detroit and illegal immigrants didn't turn the mennomene valley into an industrial wasteland. white Europeans did.(were they illegal immigrants?..did they destroy a beautiful place for profit?) FUCK YOUR SELF RIGHTEOUS BULLSHIT? I hope you moved away..we don't need or want you here.

[@deh23]

although Milwaukee is one of the most, if not the most, segregated city in america, the lake front culture is a great area in general. there's still a lot of economic disparities and political issues (as does a lot of other places). milwaukee can still be a good place to reside since chicago is so close and you also have the great northern woodlands as well.

[@terracebeverly7925]

Milwaukee isn't terrible. Just alot of young kids growing up to fast.

[@mikehrenak1390]

I’m from Waukesha been taking pictures of Waukesha water treatment facility they just finished pipeline to Lake Michigan I’ve been using my drone to take pictures

[@HieronymousLex]

I’ve been pretty interested with that project, would be cool to see pics like that. The return pipeline was put in right in front of my place. The project seemed massive

[@fuzzybits410]

I want go ice biking!

[@Weenknds]

i live like right around the corner from the bridge he's filming at @ 7:28

[@ronaldschwigel2286]

i know i used to live right off of marshall st and state street at marshall hall apts- on the top floor my view was of the harbor and war memorial. this history was right outside my window.

[@kenaidog6974]

Lake Michigan was always dirty in the 70's and 80's. Rivers were even worse. Glad it's being cleaned up.

[@edwardhernandez8079]

Is the Tamarak still there? Great place for noise and liquid refreshments. Shank Hall too

[@saidinjest]

I hope we get it sorted out in the next couple of dekkids.

[@richardstonyisland9719]

24.40. That so-called family mutt is looking like a full-blooded German Shepherd if you ask me

[@chevinbarghest8453]

Everything in the US is so recent. My granddad was born in 1862 and my last house in England was built in 1725... 20 years before a Scottish army swept past it heading south... The ridge in my home town (Chevin), was named in the Brythonic language used before the Romans arrived in AD43.The canal by my house was built in 1774.....

[@casswashwash1070]

Yeah we rebuild alot. Not many old things

[@garyives1218]

50:48 School of Fresh Water Sciences........only one in the nation!

[@colleenuchiyama4916]

My grandma used to skate on the river while attending the teacher’s college (now UWMilwaukee). And Schmitz made Milwaukee famous for inventing brown beer bottles, which made room temperature shipping possible.

[@chipsramek3868]

The German manufacturing company made the glass bottles ... I think not. P.S. Medicines were stored in brown bottles long before beer.

[@colleenuchiyama4916]

@@chipsramek3868 it is a fact that Joseph schlitz took the concept of brown bottles and applied it to beer storage. Prior to that, beer was bottled in clear glass bottles. He revolutionized the brewing industry, because beer didn’t degrade as fast in a brown bottle. This is why schlitz was called the beer that made Milwaukee famous. I learned it in elementary school on a field trip to pabst brewery. Schlitz was gone by then, but Milwaukee breweries were proud of this. Google it.

[@johnqpublic2718]

Yeah, I'm that nerd - watching this and I'm born, raised, made my living in, and will die in Oklahoma.

[@frlouiegoad4087]

Water; The wave of life.

[@ronaldschwigel2286]

amen,- the water is alive- i will never thirst again.

[@brewcitymike1]

My daughter and I did that exact program with the urban ecology center and we used that netting to catch microscopic crustacians, insects, etc. in the kk river near 6th st. I have lived on the kk river since birth and I have seen the good and bad it has to offer but I am not a fan of the new green project that has them using imminent domain to buy out all the homes and eliminate the cement walls to put rain water catches and other random things. And they just did a terrible job 'revitalizing' pulaski park by eliminating most of the playing fields by widening the river bed 4x and putting the basketball court in front of the one thing that the park is most beloved for-the huge sledding hill, smh. Baseball diamonds were erased and tennis courts removed and all turned into soccer fields. Still I would love to have livedc during the time of the river side amusement park and water slides. I am born and bred here, made up entirely of milwaukee being Polish, German, and a few other things mixed in and I wish I could've seen Jones Island as the Kazube fishing village. I think Milwaukee has one of the greatest histories of all US cities escpecially given the small size in location, yet its done so much for the development of the state and even country.

[@devinmarie1635]

Jones Island, Milwaukee's only urban village....but what about the Villard Village?? Fire house, grocery stores, post office, library, church, barber, funeral home, bakery, banks, hardware stores, salvation army, ice cream shop, hospital, florist and a movie theater...all within 3 blocks on Villard Ave. The Villard Village was actually separate from Milwaukee.

[@KELLEYSrUS]

Never heard anybody say "decod" instead of decade.

[@cefcat5733]

There is a street called Lapham. Was there a naming ceremony?

[@cefcat5733]

Do you have a video on West Milwaukee in the 1920' s? How can we turn off the text? It is blocking the picture. Thanks. This is a great video. We get so little time with Grandparents, to hear about the past and not all are talkative. They really knew how to work but also have fun back then. (sigh) Still, It must have been a struggle.

[@Jimothy_the_frog]

Interesting

[@TotallyVeracious]

I learned so much, move over Ken Burns. But I almost didn't commit to the entire video because of that dated John Tanner score.

[@sammccue1359]

+PersistentIllusion ...Maybe you'd prefer a heavy metal soundtrack by someone like "Kiss" or "Spinal Tap?" Perhaps Bartok and Beethoven? This is period video about Milwaukee's past, not about the musical score. BTW, John Tanner is an incredibly talented musician.

[@ash7473]

Классно!

[@tammieknuth6020]

Nothing left to hang on..july 4th

[@margaretbauer4126]

I am a Kusabe! Got proof of my grandmother repairing fish nets as a young child! I want to meet my peeps!

[@margaretbauer4126]

Nobody can ever take that away from my family, ever!

[@grontek]

Kashube not Kusabe

[@margaretbauer4126]

Go Pack!

[@ianjharris]

How can the river get clean?

[@badguy1481]

I don't understand WHY we can't control the level of the Great Lakes better than we're doing now. WHY don't we have a dam, say across the Detroit River, that can be opened and closed to perform this control. Lake Michigan is DESTROYING the shoreline in Milwaukee. This does NOT need to happen.

[@allexx123]

Them days are before my time of course. But I am sure that these people in the beginning of this video also wished for the good old days too. As a person gets older everyone wants to relive their past.

[@tammieknuth6020]

May 13..I have plans for you said the Lord. Author and finisher no stopping

[@UnkleAce]

Water to Miller Lite. Cheers 🍻

[@richardkronberg4925]

Let’s build a a John gurda statue next to fonzie!

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

Great point - when Arizona and California run dry, will we (Great Lakes states) have the resolve to refuse them? Sure hope so.

[@fozzyozzy1030]

Should you refuse them? Why is that your instict? Wouldnt the great lakes region potentially have enough water for our country as a whole. Also does that mean you admit climate change is real?

[@canDOcodster]

Cops ice sledding at @24:20

[@tammieknuth6020]

You destroyed your own destruction of epic proportions

[@allenschmitz9644]

Blatz beer made it drinkable?

[@charlessoukup1111]

They called it the Industrial Gultch back then...late 60's.

[@daleolson3506]

What did the lake say to the beach? Nothing it just waved. The background music isn’t,too loud junked another video.

[@pierresashimoto4442]

Arthur Fonzarelli for Pres!

[@tammieknuth6020]

First time for everything literally

[@thomasmorgenstern9204]

Deced. Or Decade.

[@jrmfrg]

Decade, decade, decade,

[@bigcatproductions2789]

Sad that the River now needs to be Dredged 😢

[@garymittelstadt7821]

Soooo.... what's a deckid?

[@THATGuy5654]

47:29 Half visible in the left background, a child who narrowly avoided drinking riber water.

[@Terra812]

I miss the "LOVE" rock.

[@tammieknuth6020]

hx in the making. coulda woulda shoulda but did