Beulah Brinton House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beulah Brinton House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Beulah Brinton House
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2590 S. Superior Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1870 |
| Part of | Bay View Historic District (ID82000686) |
| Designated CP | August 23, 1982 |
The Beulah Brinton House is a special old house located at 2590 S. Superior Street in the Bay View area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It's important because of its history and its unique design. This house was once the home of Beulah Brinton, a kind woman who helped many people in her community.
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The Story of Beulah Brinton's House
A Welcoming Home for New Neighbors
Beulah Brinton was a very respected and important person in the early days of Bay View. In the 1870s, many new workers came to Bay View. They were mostly immigrants from countries like England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Italy. These families came to work at the Bay View Rolling Mill.
Many of these new neighbors did not speak English. Sometimes they needed medical help. They also missed their home countries and needed fun activities and a sense of community. Beulah Brinton opened her home and her heart to these workers and their families.
Learning and Fun at the Brinton House
Inside her home, Beulah taught them many useful skills. She helped them learn how to read and how to sew. She also offered a place for fun and relaxation. Beulah often played the piano so that couples could dance and enjoy themselves.
She even helped introduce a new sport to the area: tennis. Beulah built a tennis court in her side yard. She kept tennis rackets ready in a box on her back porch. This made it easy for everyone to learn and play the game.
A Community Helper and Library Founder
Beulah Brinton was also a leader in helping others. After the Great Chicago Fire in October 1871, she helped organize neighbors in Milwaukee to send aid. In 1886, after a difficult time when people were asking for an 8-hour workday, she worked to bring everyone together.
Her collection of over 300 books became the very first library in Bay View. Beulah Brinton's efforts were similar to the famous work of Jane Addams at Hull House. However, Beulah Brinton started her community activities even before Hull House began.
A Legacy Remembered
In 1924, a new community center opened in Bay View. It was in an old firehouse on Saint Clair Street. People saw this center as a direct continuation of Beulah Brinton's helpful work. So, they named it after her.
Beulah Brinton came from Chicago to speak at the dedication of this new center. Today, a special paper from that event and a picture of Beulah Brinton are in the lobby of a newer Beulah Brinton Center on Bay Street. Beulah returned to her old home in 1926. She lived there with her granddaughter's family until she passed away in 1928.
The Beulah Brinton House Today
Today, the Beulah Brinton House is the main office for the Bay View Historical Society. The Society often uses the house for its events and activities. Upstairs, you can find the Bay View Historical Society Archives. These archives are open for visitors to explore on the afternoon of every third Saturday of the month. The house also holds a collection of old items. These include dresses, hats, photos, and paintings from the 1870s.
