Historic Wauwatosa
Explore the stories that shaped Wauwatosa.
The Historic Wauwatosa newsletter has been a cornerstone of the Wauwatosa Historical Society’s mission — preserving and sharing the rich history of our community, one story at a time.
Browse decades of articles written by local historians, longtime residents, and passionate researchers dedicated to bringing Wauwatosa’s past to life. From neighborhood landmarks and founding families to forgotten moments and celebrated milestones, each issue reflects our ongoing commitment to keeping local history alive and accessible.
Members also enjoy exclusive access to full PDF versions of the original newsletter issues — a treasure trove for anyone who wants to experience the history exactly as it was shared.
New articles are added regularly, so check back often — there’s always another piece of Wauwatosa’s story waiting to be discovered.
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Firefly Art Fair Celebrates 40 Years of Art, Community, and Preservation
What began in 1987 as a volunteer fundraiser to save the Kneeland-Walker House has grown into one of southeastern Wisconsin’s most beloved art fairs, set among the historic gardens it helped preserve.
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400 Million-Year-Old Trilobite Fossil Discovered on Honey Creek Parkway
A 5-year-old’s fossil find on Honey Creek Parkway turns out to be a 400-million-year-old trilobite, now the oldest artifact in Wauwatosa Historical Society’s collection, linked to the famed Schoonmaker Reef and Dr. Day’s fossil legacy.
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Home’s Historic Kitchen Features St. Charles Cabinets, Trendy in the 1940s
In 1947, the Walkers gave their Queen Anne home a thoroughly modern kitchen with St. Charles steel cabinets, the same status-symbol brand found at Fallingwater and Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs home.
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Lowell Damon House, Wauwatosa’s Oldest Residence, Is Sold
Built in 1844, Wauwatosa’s oldest residence, the Lowell Damon House, has left public hands after decades as a museum. New owners will preserve it under a permanent easement.
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Waterworks, fire department founded after 1895 fire
The historic fire of 1895 in Wauwatosa’s Village was the catalyst for the creation of the waterworks and the fire department.
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Postcards of Wauwatosa
Explore the history of American postcards from the Golden Age to modern photochromes through Len Borkowski’s collection at the Wauwatosa Historical Society.
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Psychiatric Hospital Has a Long History in Wauwatosa
From an 1884 sanitarium in a farmhouse to Aurora Psychiatric Hospital, this tucked-away Wauwatosa campus pioneered hydrotherapy west of the Alleghenies and weighed in on Teddy Roosevelt’s would-be assassin.
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Broken Barrier
Twice, arsonists burned Zeddie Hyler’s house frame. So he and eight armed men spent a night in his basement, ready to defend his right to be Wauwatosa’s first Black homeowner. He lived there 49 years.
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Back to the Highlands
Published in 2015, this article provides background on the homes in the Washington Highlands that were part of that year’s tour of homes.
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Wauwatosa Battled Milwaukee for Access to Lake Michigan Water
Learn how Wauwatosa fought an eight-year battle with Milwaukee for Lake Michigan water access, from contaminated wells in the 1950s to a 1962 contract.
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Dutch Elm Disease Struck in the Mid-1950s
When Dutch elm disease reached Wauwatosa in 1956, the city fought back with DDT and neighborhood block wardens, but the battle still claimed the state’s oldest elm, a 296-year-old giant.
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Harwood Avenue Bungalow Evolved with Changing Times
Explore the history of Wauwatosa’s Harwood Avenue bungalow and how it evolved through changing times and families.
