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  1. #1
    Legacy Member BVZ24's Avatar
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    Address of the original Lee Arms, Milwaukee WI

    This weekend I was shown a civil war era Lee breech loading carbine. It had Milwaukee, WI listed as the address. I was aware that Lee had immigrated to the US and settled in WI for a short time, and opened a factory. I had little interest in learning more, until I encountered one of the carbines.
    I frequently visit Milwaukee for business, and I'm fairly familiar with the city. I'm wondering if anyone knows the original address of the factory or the modern address of the original building. I'd like to drive by and see if the building is still standing. I'll see if the historical society has any publicly available records as well.
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    Legacy Member BVZ24's Avatar
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    Found in historical society records. 454 Canal St.
    They note that it's now known as Commerce st.
    It's worth mentioning that the current address at "454 Canal St" is the Harley Davidson museum. Google maps does not recognize the number 454. I'd have to take a drive down Commerce St to see if there are any old civil war era buildings whatsoever.
    Last edited by BVZ24; 03-21-2023 at 04:21 PM.

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    Legacy Member BVZ24's Avatar
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    More research indicates the site was on the canal and had water power. Based on the first set of records, Lee Armory is somewhere in this picture, which was taken on Canal St, 1860's. This site is now recently constructed apartment buildings. Near by is a former power plant, now Lakefront Brewery, built 1908. The hills to the left still exist to some degree, though the railway is gone. The river has been filled in and is narrower than seen in 1860.

    However, a second set of records indicates that the address around 454 Canal St is converted to be around 712 West Canal St.
    canal st.pdf
    That site is now a cement plant, built in 1930.

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    Legacy Member Salt Flat's Avatar
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    BVZ24, I like this type of research. It helps one imagine what the buildings must have looked like. I've "toured" a lot of similar sites with Google street view too.

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    Advisory Panel Surpmil's Avatar
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    Here's a view from 1872 that shows Canal St., but no street numbers.

    And a later air photo showing the same area.

    There were some street name changes and renumbering of streets was not uncommon as towns grew, so I wouldn't assume that 400 Canal St. today is automatically 400 Canal St. 100 years ago.

    Some info on the area: https://www.thevalleymke.org/history
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Name:	Canal St. Milwaukee circa 1930-1950.jpg‎
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    Last edited by Surpmil; 03-26-2023 at 11:19 PM.
    “There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”

    Edward Bernays, 1928

    Much changes, much remains the same.

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    Legacy Member BVZ24's Avatar
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    It took me a minute to figure it out, on that map, north is the top right corner. The photograph was taken facing north east somewhere near the center right of that map.

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