A Look at Our Past
Formerly a part of the Town of Wauwatosa and the Town of Greenfield, West Milwaukee became a village in 1906. The influx of industry (Pauling and Harnischfeger located here in 1904), transportation 
(new roads, railroads, and streetcars to service the area), the swelling of the population to 909, and strong leaders fueled the village's urge for independence. What was once an area "west" of the City of Milwaukee has become West Milwaukee, the center (or heart of) Milwaukee County. Large farms, estates, summer homes, and gravel pits have become homes, shops, and industries which happily coexist. Ethnicity, once almost purely European, now includes a more worldly cross section of African Americans, Hispanic, and Asian peoples. Many who have moved still have fond memories of growing up in West Milwaukee. The year 1906 was a monumentous one. The average worker earned $500. A tremendous earthquake hit San Francisco, the supposedly unsinkable Lusitania was launched, the Statue of Liberty was rededicated after being lit by electricity and the Village of West Milwaukee was born and has been moving forward for over 100 years.
American Indian tribes were drawn here, evidenced by mounds in the shape of lizards and other animals that were located south of Greenfield Ave. and west of 43rd street, known as "Indian Fields" The area area boasted rolling hills, meadows, thick forests and fish so enormous they could be seen jumping in the Menomonee River. Rare black swans were said to inhabit the area in the ponds of Soldiers' Home. Settlers were drawn by the cheap land. It is told in stories that the Settlers' union threatened to anyone bidding over $1.25 per acre into the river. In 1906 West Milwaukee was quite different than today. It was less than one square mile in size and had many taverns, a gravel pit, a 28 room mansion a number of large and small farms and even a pickle factory.