Milwaukee Firsts
A partial record on some of the achievements from this great city on a great lake. The city's industrial history are well reflected but so are some less well-known innovations.
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First Habitable Building in the World Built to a Height Above 350 Feet
Completed in 1895 to a height of of 353 feet, Milwaukee's city hall was the symbol of the city for a century. Although other man-made structures were taller, such as the Eiffel Tower or the Egyptian pyramids, these were not lived and worked in like the city hall. There was even living quarters constructed near the clock so the maintenance man would not have to climb so many stairs every day.
First Wrapped Cartons of Ice Cream
Formed in 1897 by John Luick, a Civil War veteran. Luick's Ice Cream Company was the first to sell pint “bricks” of ice cream wrapped in paper and quarts of ice cream in cartons. Previously ice cream was hand-packed in cartons as customers purchased it at parlors and pharmacies.
First Rounded Marshmallow
The fluffy, sweet marshmallows made by Campfire Co. was the first to be produced round, instead of square. The smooth edge meant they could be more easily used in recipes, like that for the new marshmallow and Rice Krispies treat. Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day of the Kellogg Company Home economics department developed the snack in 1939 as a fund raiser for the Camp Fire Girls.
First Major U.S. City to Electrify All Streetlights
As a special project by the Socialist party elected by the citizens of Milwaukee, all Milwaukee streetlights were electrified by 1922. The brighter light made for less crime and accidents. The elimination of coal gas lights made for a safer light source.
First Feminist American Newspaper to be Published by a Woman
In 1852, German immigrant Mathilde Franziska Anneke founded the Deutsche Frauen Zeitung in Milwaukee. It was the first feminist newspaper to be published by a woman on American soil. It had a circulation of at least 2,000 readers. It only employed female typesetters!
First Catholic Coeducational University in the World
In 1909, Marquette in Milwaukee began to allow women to enroll in the Bachelor of Arts program for summer classes. Higher Catholic church authorities protested as this was not the tradition the world over. Marquette expanded the women offerings and received approval from Rome a few years later.
First Woman Elected to a Major U.S. City School Board
At a time when being a female and being married meant that you could no longer serve as a teacher, Meta Berger didn't let it stop her from helping school children. In 1909 she was elected to the Milwaukee school board and helped bring in many reforms including "Penny Lunches", which were served at the schools requiring the construction of cafeterias. Berger served on the Milwaukee School Board, among other duties, for 30 years.
First Pelletized Fertilizer
Our last fact humorously ends our study of Milwaukee ingenuity. The Jones Island Water Treatment Facility was constructed by Milwaukee's "Sewer Socialist" politicians. Finished in 1924, it was the largest water cleaning facility in the world. In 1926, the solids from the facility began to be sold as Milorganite, Milwaukee + Organic + Nitrogen. The fertilizer is still a leader in supplying slow-release nitrogen for healthy lawns and gardens.
Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear
Museum Curator:
Joel Willems
