AGING IN PLACE + WASHINGTON PARK

NEIGHBORHOOD

HISTORY

The Washington Park Neighborhood was developed as a suburb of Milwaukee between the late 1800s to the early 1900s.  The area was predominately populated by second generation German middle-class working families.  Polish, Irish and Italian families resided within the area as well.  The neighborhood infrastructure was designed to accomodate single family homes.  However, in the early 1900s housing expenses were relatively high for residents so many newly constructed homes were duplexes and several existing homes were converted into duplexes to be shared by two families.   

The most common plat size was 30’ x 120’.  The housing stock primarily consisted of wood frame, two story structures.  Most of the homes shared mutual characteristics including a large front porch, a relatively shallow setback from the sidewalk, a detached garage and a small backyard.  Many of the homes continue to retain their original integrity into the 21st Century.

In the late 1800s, early 1900s, The Menominee Valley and factories along the Railroad Viaduct provided many industrial and manufacturing jobs to the residents of Washington Park.  Many residents owned small shops on W Lisbon Avenue, W North Avenue and W Vliet Street, which all functioned as commercial corridors and aided in growing the neighborhood’s economy.

During World War II, manufacturing and industrial jobs were abundant within the Menomonee Valley and Railroad Corridor.  Challenged by housing discrimination, many African Americans sought work and housing within the city of Milwaukee.  Between 1960 -1990, the African American population grew within Washington Park, eventually encompassing 75% of the neighborhood’s population.  In congruence, many of the original European residents began migrating to the suburbs.  Manufacturing and industrial services declined in the 1980s, causing significant job losses.  The neighborhood was significantly impacted by these transitions and as a result continues to face immense hardship within the 21st Century.  Below are a series of images documenting the characteristics of the Washington Park Neighborhood in the early to late 1900s.