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Milwaukee Recreation
 

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History of Milwaukee Recreation

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Images from Yesteryear

Photos and Captions Courtesy of Fran Coffey Stanat, Ph.D.
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Band at State School Social Center

Band at State School Social Center

Music activities included bands, an orchestra, glee clubs, mandolin clubs, harmonica clubs, singing clubs, minstrel troupes and voice placement classes.

Dance at Dover Street School Social Center

Dance at Dover Street School Social Center

The early precursors of teen centers were exemplified with rough house rooms for boys and young men & drop-in rooms for teens to meet, play games, dance and just generally socialize.

Guardian Club at Fourth Street School Social Center

Guardian Club at Fourth Street School Social Center

Classes in the applied arts included lip reading, beauty culture, dressmaking, furniture making, home care of the sick, knitting/crocheting, miniature aircraft, patchwork quilts, leather tooling, metal work, rug making, textile painting, food preparation.

The Harvest Festival of Many Lands

The Harvest Festival of Many Lands

The Harvest Festival of Many Lands was a three day event celebrating the rich diversity of Milwaukee and later evolved into the Holiday Folk Fair that exists today.

Naturalization classes presented for immigrants (circa 1913)

Naturalization Class (circa 1913)

Immigrants were served with evening schools, citizenship classes, English classes taught at tanneries and settlement houses and athletic leagues representing various ethnic preferences were included (e.g., soccer, rugby).

Dramatic Club at Dover Street School Social Center

School of Drama at Dover Street Social Center

There were advanced classes arranged for individuals who excelled in an activity. A School of Drama was instituted for those who excelled with the Milwaukee Players. Similarly, individuals who excelled in various athletic events and local playgrounds were able to participate in a city-wide athletic league.

Historical photo of swim instructor using a rope to harness and guide students in learning how to sw

Swim Lessons in Part of Aquatics History

City park activities included swimming, golf, tennis, skating, tobogganing, trapshooting, flower shows, and safe fourth of July celebrations

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