Customer Reviews

Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names (Wisconsin)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For anyone who has ever wondered how it could ever have been named Fairy Chasm Road, or who Plankinton was, this is the book for you. Lots and lots of local history tidbits. And unlike some books of this type, it isn't afraid to say, "Gee, we just don't know why its named that. But here are a few theories." Definitely a must own for the Milwaukee history buff.

This book is really informative. I first started out looking for the streets I lived on, now I am indeed having a good time reading about all the streets.

What a great book! The author has researched and researched some more, until many of Milwaukee's street name puzzles that we may have wondered about but had no thought of how to find the answers ourselves have been found out. Almost as rewarding as being able to say "So THAT'S where that comes from!" is reading the book's Introduction - simply having all the answers means little without being able to share how the many discoveries came to light.
Additional pluses include finding out how the Upper Peninsula came to be the domain of the state of Michigan - through the disclosure of the source of a Milwaukee street name - and learning the general modes employed all over the world for naming streets.
A fine read for area denizens interested in the various "whys" and "hows" of Milwaukee history.

Anyone who knows Milwaukee and has a curious mind needs this book. I grew up in Milwaukee but have lived all over the U.S. I noticed that Milwaukee has some of the most unusual street names of most cities. It was fun reading this book to learn how they got their names. Love Milwaukee? You'll love this book.

I absolutley love this book. Having lived in Milwaukee for most of my life, I always wondered as a child, why certain streets were named as they were. Then, a few years back, my mom picked this book up for me as a Christmas present. It has totally satisfied my curiosity about the stories surrounding the plotting of this fair city. Baehr does a wonderful job of telling full and detailed stories, including in-depth historical accounts of Milwaukee's early history, (at times going all the way back to pre-statehood). This book is wonderful for anyone who holds a special place for the Cream City in their hearts.