Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-08-31
WAUWATOSA.
A Handsome Suburban City with All the Com
forts of a Metropolis and the Attrac-
tons of the Country.
Her Leading Business Houses, Which Afford Every 0ppor-
tunity and Purchasing Convenience for
This Trade

In this industrial review. we have SIM
ply introduced enough history 10 snow
the origin Of the city. As il Is purely a
commercial work. we do this 10 give the
starting point in her commerce. The
city is rich in historical rccollectlCns, but
has none in written FORM so We are
indebted to MIR. l.. \. Warren for the
early information we give.
Il was first settled by Charles Hart in
1886. who built a log cabin near whore
L. r. Gridleys old store was. His broth
or. II. Il. Hart. came soon afterwards and
built frame shanty. Hendrlck Gregg
came about the same time. The next set
tier was J. NJ. Warren, father Of our
informant in the data for this article.
He settled in 1888. and built shanty
where Gridley's store now is. Siias
Brown settled here the same year. One
of the first sermons preached i'll the set
Element was in his building. Benson
Brace settled here about the same time.
His shanty was where Myron Gilbert's
residence is. Among the surviving first
settlers still living is l.. l.. Gridley, who
settled here IN 1899.
The first sawmil was built where the
livery stable now is, by Charles Hart.
and ]. NJ. Warren ran gristmill i'll it,
being the first gristmil in the county.
The -four mill now standing was built by
Charles Hart in 1913. All were run 10y
water power The plank road was put
through about 1913. The first store
was started by Charles Hart, about 1S4S.
and it is now part of the Battles residence
on North avenue. The next store was
combination store. postotfice and depot,
and still stands close to the track. 1t
was kept by T. NJ. Reddle. The railroad
came in 1851. The first tavern was ran
ed about where DIR. Fisk's resi-
dence is 1t was afterwards en-
larged and run by W. II. Spur The
building occupied by Lefeber Bros. as
a store was built by Charles Hart as
private residence and bought by i. j.
Subway, who moved it to Its present
location and converted il into the Wau-
watoSa house, one Of the famous tavernS
of its day. Mr.. Sawyer was the first
blacksmith. The first church organiza-
ton was the Congregational in 1S42, and
the next the Baptist The first school
was held in the summer Of 1899 and Mr..
Warren was one Of the pupils. IT was
in a log cabin across the river from the
county asylum. The first regular school
house was built in 1912. The place
was called Harris Mills. and the present
name was suggested by Daniel Proudtt,
who got it from Il book ON Indian trea-
ties. 1t was originally spelled Wauwau-
tosa, but through a clerical error the
second was omitted The first set
tiers were New York and New England
people, and their descendants are now
largely represented in the present popuia-
tion.
Wauwatosa has a population Of 5000,
which represents most healthy IN
crease. 1t is practically a suburban
town, being only five miles from the
Grand avenue bridge, Milwaukee, &c
which it is connected by the St Pau
road and two lines of street cars. The
service includes car every fifteen min
utes.
The city is intersected by the Menom
once river. from which the lands gradu
ally ascend on each side. 1t is beauti
fully plated, well shaded, and has NOR,
handsome homes than any city of il
size in the state. Ii has all the public
Improvements and conveniences-gas
electric light. sewers, waterw0rks Goot
school and churches, n public library
two newspapers, the leading lodges anC
societies, etc
The gas plant is operated under tn,
name of the Wauwatosa Gas company
and receives its gas supply from tn,
Milwaukee company. Some twelve miles
or main are laid III the city, ana to thu
connection with the holder iii the Me
nom0nee valley.
Electric light and power are fnrnishc,
by the Milwaukee Electric Railway ant
Light company, being conducted from
Milwaukee The city is lighted by MIN
are and eighty-three acknowledgement in
candescent lamps. Some 5000 CONNER
cal lamps are in use. The company i
well represented here by ii. L. Hemsing
who is wideawake and stirring in thei
behalf.
Sewers are now being laid to all part
of the city. SO a perfect system will sool
be III operation.
The waterworks embrace q direct pres
sure and reservoir system. The waite
supply comes from a flowing we'll Pump
ing power is furnished 10y two 10O-horse
power pumps.
The school is a large brick building
and the courses are high school, grade,
and kindergarten. 1t is ON the accredite,
list in the State university and the Chi
cage university. 1t is one of the hes
schools in the state, and employs a stat
of sixteen teachers.
The library was founded in 1886. an,
the present handsome building was erect