Lincoln Village, Milwaukee facts for kids
Lincoln Village is a cool neighborhood on the south side of Milwaukee. It's a place with a rich history and a mix of cultures.
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Where is Lincoln Village?
Lincoln Village is located in Milwaukee. It stretches from W Becher Street in the north to the Kinnickinnic River in the south. On the east, it goes to South 5th Street, and on the west, it reaches South 20th Street.
Who Lives in Lincoln Village?
More than 16,000 people call Lincoln Village home. About 55% of the people are Latino, 30% are European American, and 10% are African American. The rest are from other backgrounds. In 2007, the average household income was around $28,145. Also in 2007, about 54% of families owned their homes.
A Look Back: History of Lincoln Village
This neighborhood was started by Polish families in the late 1800s. Many Polish immigrants came to Milwaukee back then. They needed new homes, and the area grew fast. By 1880, about 30,000 Polish people lived in Milwaukee. This made them the second largest group in the city.
Today, some of the original Polish families still live here. New groups of immigrants have also moved in. Many new residents come from the Jalisco and Michoacán states in Mexico. Others come from Central and South America. This mix of cultures makes Lincoln Village a very diverse and stable community.
West Lincoln Avenue is the main street for businesses. It has two important landmarks. These are the Basilica of St. Josaphat and Forest Home Cemetery. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are very important historical sites.
The business area on West Lincoln Avenue is special. It's the only "Wisconsin Main Street" in Milwaukee. This program helps fill empty shops and keep the neighborhood looking good. It also helps protect old buildings.
Today, West Lincoln Avenue is full of unique shops. You can find Mexican and Polish stores. There's also one of Milwaukee's oldest flower shops. The biggest bicycle shop in Milwaukee is here too, along with the Milwaukee Bicycle Company brand. You can also find restaurants serving food from Serbia, El Salvador, and Mexico.
Buildings and Homes: Architecture
Many homes and shops in Lincoln Village still look like they did when they were first built. This makes Lincoln Village the most crowded neighborhood in Wisconsin. The streets feel a bit like those in Europe.
Most homes here are a type called a "Polish flat". These were built in the early 1900s. They looked like small cape-style homes. But they were raised up 1⁄2 story to add living space on the ground floor. Because these homes were small and the land plots were small, many buildings were built close together.
Along West Lincoln Avenue, most buildings have shops on the first floor and homes above. They often have special "Polish gables" and beautiful details.
The Amazing Basilica of St. Josaphat
The huge dome of St. Josaphat Basilica is a stunning sight on Milwaukee's south side. Father Wilhelm Grutza started the church in 1888. It was named after Josaphat Kuntsevych, a bishop from Eastern Europe. As more Polish immigrants arrived, a bigger church was needed.
Architect Erhard Brielmaier designed the basilica. In 1896, the plans were ready. Father Grutza found a great deal when he went to Chicago to buy bricks. The Chicago Federal Building was being torn down. He bought the entire building! This included stones, hardware, and six large granite columns. These were all used to build the new church.
St. Josaphat's looks like St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It has a Neo-Renaissance style and a cross shape. The basilica is 212 feet long and 128 feet wide. Two 100-foot towers stand at the front. The huge copper dome rises 250 feet from the ground.
Inside, the basilica is very fancy. It has murals, paintings, and gilded plaster work. The stained glass windows came from Innsbruck, Austria. They show Polish and Bible stories. There are five altars made of marble and onyx. There's also a beautiful hand-carved marble pulpit.
In 1929, St. Josaphat's became a "minor basilica". This is a special honor given to very grand and important churches. St. Josaphat's is still a parish church today, with many Polish members.
The Grutza Building
This impressive building is at 610 W. Lincoln Ave. Father Wilhelm Grutza, who was the pastor of St. Josaphat's, bought the land in 1899. It was right across the street from the basilica, which was almost finished.
Like the basilica, this building was designed by Erhard Brielmaier. People say it used leftover materials from the basilica's construction. It has a large triangle-shaped top and big window sections. These were designed to match the grand style of the basilica. Early shops in the building included a clothing store and a furniture and funeral business.
The Riviera Theater
The Riviera Theater was built at 1005 W. Lincoln Ave. Construction started in May 1919. It cost about $125,000 to build. The theater opened on January 28, 1920. It even showed Polish language movies for kids!
The Riviera was a "transitional" theater. It was built as old "photoplay parlors" were fading and grand "movie palaces" were becoming popular. The Riviera had an organ player named Casimir Uszler. He played an organ worth $12,000! Sometimes, a ten-piece orchestra also played there.
The theater had a full stage with two dressing rooms. This meant they planned to have live shows, like vaudeville acts. Unlike many theaters, the Riviera had a simple outside but a fancy inside. It could seat 1,200 people. It also had a special "stadium style" balcony. You could walk right up to the balcony from the main floor seats. This was a rare design for Milwaukee.
Kosciuszko Park: A Green Space
Kosciuszko Park is one of the biggest public parks on Milwaukee's south side. It's about 33.6 acres. It used to be called Lincoln Avenue Park, but people often call it "Kosy." This park has been a vital gathering place for over 100 years.
Since Lincoln Village is a very crowded neighborhood, the park is important for fun activities. People play soccer and youth football here. You can also go fishing. There's a water park called Pelican Cove. The Kosy Community Center offers boxing, basketball, and other community events.
Kosy Park was once home to the Kosciuszko Reds. This was a semiprofessional baseball team. They played until 1919 and often had thousands of fans watching their games.
The Kosciuszko Monument
At South 9th Place and West Lincoln Ave, you'll find one of Milwaukee's oldest sculptures. It honors a Polish-American hero, General Tadeusz Kościuszko. The Polish community in Lincoln Village paid for this bronze statue in 1904.
Italian sculptor Gaetano Trentanove designed and built it. It was finished in 1905. In 1950, it was moved to its current spot and placed on a marble base.
People in Lincoln Village donated money to build the monument. Some gave as little as 5 cents! But the community raised over $13,000. That's like $344,000 today! It's even more amazing because they had just raised money for the Basilica of St. Josaphat in 1901.
Before World War II, two old cannons sat next to the monument. They are no longer there, and no one knows where they went.
In 1950, the City of Milwaukee filled the monument with concrete to make it stronger. But over time, the concrete has expanded and damaged the statue from the inside. Harsh Wisconsin winters have also caused damage to the outside. Local groups are now working to raise money to fix the monument. They want to repair it just like the community came together to build it.
Images for kids
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Basilica of St. Josaphat, on Lincoln and 5th St.
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The Basilica of Saint Josaphat.
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Holler House, on Lincoln and 20th St.
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Landmark Chapel in Forest Home Cemetery on Lincoln and 24th St.
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Lincoln Village homes.
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Lincoln Village street scape in spring.
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The Kosciuszko Monument
