APRIlL 24th, 2015
Milwaukee, WI
1 NO.
Table of Contents 4 Introduction 6 Thread Anecdotes - Various contributors 8 The Hedgehog - Peter Denk Sandoval 10 Thread Anecdotes - Various contributors 12 Blue Jacket Interview - Laura van Heijningen 14 Personal Walker’s Point map - Maeve Jackson 16 Resilient Cities Interview - Karen Hunt 18 Unos de Los Primeros - Margarita Featured Thread
24 Thank you to partners 26 Threads of Walker’s Point Team
A thread, a single strand of material that alone is simply a piece of something larger but together, creates a flag that expresses pride for a groups beliefs, a tapestry that illustrates a family heritage, or simply a cap that keeps the Wisconsin winter from nipping the ears of the early morning commuters. Threads of Walkers Point uses the idea of thread personified as stories. A single story from the neighborhood can hold so much emotion and perspective that speaks to an individual or business and their perceptions of Walkers Point. Bringing these stories into one central anthology creates collection of storytellers, and shows the true colors of a neighborhood. We are collecting the stories of the individuals of Walkers Point, expressing the culture and the true colors of the neighborhood. Threads of Walkers Point looks to celebrate the culture a diverse neighborhood. Walker’s Point is a gem in a city that has faced noticeable amounts of criticism.
I grew up on the southside (near walkers point) off Mitchell St. & Lincoln Ave. the thing I liked was that everything was in walking distance. There was Sears, Schuesters, Goldmans, Kunzelmans, Essers for shopping, for groceries there was A&P, were the Modjeska, Granada, Juneau, Little, Pearl, Lincoln Park, Layton, Kosciuszko movie theaters.
– Mark Zimmermann
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Threads of Walker’s Point
England was inviting members’ of its commonwealth to come over to work, in 1967 at aged 4 I landed at Heathrow Airport, my brother was 2. I have always wanted to live abroad and after my first degree I landed at opportunity to move to Geneva, I loved the anonymity of been an Englishman abroad. 1 or 2 years stints followed living in Helsinki, Warsaw, Leiden, Caracas, Dallas, London, Pittsburgh and Chicago. I never felt any desire to make any place I lived my home, until I move to Milwaukee, Walkers Point (WP) to be more precise. The vibrancy, proximity to a lot of “stuff” and the diverse nature of this corner of the world got me hooked and I am here to stay. I brought a home in WP, join the WP association and now the Wisconsin Red Cross; I am here and loving it, can’t wait for SummerFest.
– Alpha Jalloh The satiated traveller
Thread Anecdotes
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Walker’s Point has always brought me good memories. I love how close it is to downtown Milwaukee. It’s the best of both wrolds!
– Savannah I love Walker’s Point because it has the best entertainment it’s like Vegas in Milwaukee.
– Bianca
I remember watching my barrio becoming gentrified… It’s a white man’s paradise now. – J. Perez
Although Walker’s Point can be scary and intimidating at night it holds a special place in my heart because I met the love of my life here 2 years ago.
– Susie
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Threads of Walker’s Point
My favorite part of Walker’s Point is and always will be Botanas margaritas! The best.
– Nicole
My brothers business is located on Walker’s Point, and I have always loved this community. It’s so much fun to see the businesses around evolve.
– Cesar Had some of my best party times with some of Milwaukee’s coolest drag queens.
– Anonymous
Thread Anecdotes
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This cute little hedgehog lived in the harsh desert. During the day, it was unbearably hot. At night it was freezing cold. Well this poor little hedgehog ran around trying to find little nuts, little pines, and pieces of cactus to eat. It was a hard life, but he would search faithfully everyday. Then one day there came a great big eagle to visit the little hedgehog. He said: “Oh little hedgehog, you really should put away that hard life you live! Come with me up to the high heavens and you’ll really know what heaven is like!” ‘Oohh,” said the hedgehog, “I don’t know any other life. I had better stay where I am.” ‘’No, no, no,” the eagle said, “Heaven! Come with me! Hop onto my wings and I take you to heaven! We’re going to fly really high, way up into the mountains. In heaven listen, you’re going to have everything you want! You’re going to have all the food and drink you want. You are not going to have to worry about anything as you have such a miserable life here. “Well the little hedgehog said: ‘But I don’t know, I’m still a little worried about that. Ohhh, well maybe your heaven is really true and I’ll have a better life than here. Okay, I’ll get on your wings!” And so he hopped onto the back of the eagle. “I’m ready. I’m holding on tight to your feathers. Let’s go!”
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Threads of Walker’s Point
Off they flew up into the sky, higher and higher. They passed mountain tops and kept on flying into the clouds. It was very cold up there, and the little hedgehog said: “Gee, it’s even cold up here. What do you mean this is heaven?” The eagle replied: ‘Wow it’s too late. I’ve caught you! Now you are going to be my heavenly dinner!” And he shook and knocked that poor little hedgehog off his back. Down tumbled the little hedgehog towards earth. As he was spinning down he said, “Oh lord help me! I believed that wicked eagle. I hope I survive this fall! ”Poom! He landed! And lucky for him he landed onto a big juicy cactus and lived! “Wow!” He said, ‘frat almost killed me! I’ll certainly be wary of all those stories of another heaven! I’m so lucky to live in my desert here. At least here I have food. I have dry little sticks and pieces of cactus. This is my heaven right here and I’m going to enjoy it from now on!”
– Pedro Sandoval Story told to his children
The hedge Hog story was told by Pedro Sandoval to his daughter Elvira and six other children, including grandson Peter Michael Denk when he was very young. Pedro and wife Margarita Sandoval lived in the Walkers Point area until the early 1950s. Elvira Denk (maiden name Sandoval,) was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1942. Her grandparents were migrant farmers who moved back and forth between the United States and Mexico and her parents were the first members of their families to establish permanent residence in the United States. While Elvira speaks Spanish fluently as a bilingual guidance counselor, she translated the story of The Hedgehog into English for me. – Peter Denk Sandoval
The Hedgehog
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Interview with Laura van Heijningen (owner)
How did you find yourself in Walker’s Point? My husband and I, who are the proprietors of Blue Jacket, we started in 2011. I was so excited when we found the spacev because it is two blocks away from lake Michigan, and I love the neighborhood, and I loved everything happening down here so it was a really, it was cool and it worked out the way it was supposed to work out, it was really good the way it happened.
Do you see challenges in the neighborhood? I think the biggest thing this neighborhood faces, and one of the challenges that you see with gentrification, is that property taxes can go up very high, very quickly. So you may see some of these younger companies, all of a sudden they are, like Tom and I right here, in terms of space it can jump very high all of a sudden. In my mind I think that is one of the biggest issue.
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Threads of Walker’s Point
How do you personally define Walker’s Point? I think it is awesome, I know that’s a lame word, but it is a really fun community and diverse community, like you have, you know, a lot of different businesses down here, I know obviously, most of the restaurant owners, because we work together and have partnerships. I think you have a really eclectic group of people down here, I like the fact that it seems to welcome a lot of diverse groups, so I think there is like, still a huge element of... I don’t even know how to say it, like culture of the place that originally made Walker’s Point what it is. you get such a cool range of people here, that is what I’m about, I love that. I think people are for each other, I hope they keep that going and one of the things I wouldn’t want to see happen to walkers point is Walkers point to turn into a Third Ward.
I think the people are for each other.
Blue Jacket
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Threads of Walker’s Point
– Maeve Jackson The Pitch Project
Personal Walker’s Point Map
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center for
resilient cities
Interview with Karen Hunt What is Center fo Resilient Cities? Center for resilient cities, our mission is to build thriving and robust urban communities, that are healthy, economically viable and environmentally sound. What that basically means is that we work on green infustrcture projects in underserved and isolated urban communities as a way to create a civic platform for engagement.
How would you define walkers point? It’s a little quirky, it’s a combination of a lot of stuff and its very exciting then. I don’t think anyone who comes to walker’s point would be disappointed in what they find, you can find food, you can find activities, you can find great non-profits doing wonderful things, it’s a diverse group and its great. The first walker’s point association meeting was wonderful because there was a broad base of individuals there from residents from businesses so we are excited about that.
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Threads of Walker’s Point
What do you see as a challenge of the neighborhood? Letting the residents know that their voices matter, they are part of the community that without them the businesses would flounder.
How do you see the neighborhood changing? I’ve lived in Milwaukee myself for a long time and it seems that recently in the last year or 18 months when there’s a new restaurant or new activity that’s opening and taking place, its usually happening in walkers point. It seems to be a hub for innovation and creativity.
Resilient cities
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Featured Thread
Pedro Sandoval and Margarita Díaz de Sandoval
Unos de
Los Primeros Milwaukee, WI
Our papá, Pedro Sandoval was born on September 6, 1906 in Alamogordo, Otero County, New Mexico, United States. At that time, New Mexico was a United States territory that became a state in 1912. So our papá was born a United States citizen. His parents were Isidro Sandoval (1868-1911) and Martina Sanchez de Sandoval (18771911). On papá’s Delayed Certificate of Birth record, both parents were born in Nochistlan, Zacatecas , Mexico. Isidro was 39 years old and Martina was 30 years old when Pedro was born. His birth certificate lists Isidro’s occupation as “Laborer” in the industry of “Lumber”. Martina’s occupation was given as “Housework”. The family crossed the border as migrant workers and would return to La Estancia de los Delgadillos in Zacatecas, Mexico. Other prominent families from La Estancia have the surnames of Delgadillo, Sanchez, Jauregui, Gonzales, and Ruano. Pedro’s parents died when he was only four years old, taken by the influenza-yellow fever or “la plagatifo” as it was called. Well Pedro had a sister Fidela and brothers Francisco, Vidal, and Gonzalo who died as a child. As orphans, Francisco, Vidal
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Threads of Walker’s Point
and Pedro, were raised for a time by Fidela their sister until her early death, at the age of seventeen. Many relatives died during this epidemic that swept Mexico and the United States. Starvation also ran rampant in Mexico. Potatoes were planted and kept the orphans from starving. As soon as Francisco was fifteen he gathered his younger brothers and decided to run away from the poverty of La Estancia. The three brothers left La Estancia and traveled to California to find work. After two years, Vidal and Pedro decided to go Up North to Milwaukee Wisconsin to find jobs in heavy industry. They heard that industrial jobs paid better. Francisco decided to work and remain in California. Thus we have the start of the two branches of the Sandoval family. In the early 1920’s, Congress closed the door to European immigrants leaving a great shortage of workers in the
United States. In Milwaukee, the Pfister & Vogel tannery would bring people from Mexico to work. They were promised housing, food, a cot to sleep on, and a good job. Little did these new recruits know that they would be strike breakers for the tannery and would be spat upon for crossing the picket lines. Vidal Sandoval was the first to come to Milwaukee and later brought his brother Pedro. Using FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com, I have found a variety of records including the U.S. Border Crossing records for Vidal and Pedro. The first border crossing that I found for papá is on March 24, 1924, at El Paso Texas, at the age of 18. The document states that he was single, accompanied by no one, could read and write, and his purpose was “to seek work”. His physical description includes black hair, brown eyes, a mole on his cheek, and that he was in good health. He paid his passage in the amount of $20.00. I know that papá came to Milwaukee as he is listed in the 1924 Milwaukee City Directory as a laborer living at 725 Kinnickinnic Ave. He moved often, renting at 913 Mound St., 227 Greenbush St. or present day
South 4th Street, and 310 Reed St. or present day South 2nd St., and 124 E. Washington St. working as a tanner. All of the addresses are located in the Walkers Point neighborhood. Using the 1930 U.S. Census for Milwaukee, I discovered that he was living with my relatives, the Ruano family at 227 Greenbush. After his work and hand injury at the Greenbaum Tannery on 32nd and Hampton, papá was hired to work at Allis Chalmers in West Allis in 1934. He was employed as an electrical
assembler and turbine copper winder and retired in 1968. Pedro worked at Allis Chalmers for 34 years. Pedro was an excellent Gibson and Martin guitarist, alto saxophonist, and banjo player from the “big band era”. He played with the Allis Chalmers Company band, Bill Carlson Band at the
Featured Thread
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Downtown Roof Hotel in Milwaukee, and the Jose Martinez band. He was a gifted natural musician who at the
danced at the Southside Armory Hall. At the age of 36, Pedro traveled to Aguascalientes, Mexico for a health
age of twenty studied at the Milwaukee
retreat and vacation. There he met
Conservatory of Music. Pedro was a musical perfectionist who wrote his own music and played the guitar
our mamá Margarita Díaz.
each evening as we the family sang the lovely Mexican “Rancheras”, and
January 3, 1920 to Miguel Díaz Tejada of Spanish ancestry, born in
practiced for the family performances at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church’s
Zacatecas, Mexico and Margarita Soto of Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, Mexico.
“jamaicas and fiestas”. We also sang on the Saturday morning Mexican Radio
Margarita was the 17th child, born to Miguel and her mamá Margarita.
Program hosted by Dante Navarro and
There were three set of twins that
Margarita Díaz was born on
died and the only living siblings as listed in the 1930 Mexican Census (Ancestry.com) are Rafael, Manuel, Gabriel, Maria de la Luz, Trinidad, Margarita (second youngest), and Maria Guadalupe. Miguel’s age is listed as 70 years old and Margarita is listed as 40 years old. They were married on October 18, 1901. Margarita met Miguel when he and his brother had come to her wealthy family’s ranch to buy cattle. Margarita liked the looks of Miguel’s younger brother, Jesús. She started to correspond with who she thought was Jesús. Well the correspondence progressed to a marriage proposal and she accepted. The wedding day arrived on October 18, 1901, at the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Los Milagros in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas Mexico. Once at the church altar she realized that she was not going to marry the younger Jesús, but the older brother Miguel. There was nothing that she could do to stop the marriage as it had been arranged!
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Threads of Walker’s Point
Miguel owned Rancho San Pablo in beautiful young lady combing and Zacatecas, Mexico and later a large drying her hair at the window of her city home in Aguascalientes, Mexico family home in Aguascalientes when as well. The large rancho consisted a handsome man driving a model “T” of 500 head of cattle, and sheep, Ford passed her street. He asked to chickens, Arabian horses, corals, be introduced and they courted with corn silos, and buildings for their an aunt present at all times. They operations. The hacienda was selfattended parties, walked the plaza, sufficient with maids and servants to listened to outdoor concerts, visited do all the chores. The ranch hands were families, and enjoyed one another’s paid their wages in gold coins. Miguel company. Their respective families and his brother Jesús are credited did not know one another. Therefore, with raising the economy for the when Pedro requested Margarita’s region. After the Mexican revolution hand in marriage, Margarita’s mother of 1910, the new constitution required hired a detective to confirm that that large land ranches and estancias Pedro was a single, decent man, with be divided and sold. I have a document a job in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was stating that on January 6, 1923, the investigated and then given approval state and government of Mexico to proceed and pay for the wedding. divided and sold There was a civil they returned to the United wedding held on parcels of Miguel Diaz’s property States by train and settled in A p r i l 1 2 , 1 9 4 1 He retained his Milwaukee on the south side, followed by the home and a small church wedding or “Little Mexico”. parcel of land on April 14, 1941 surrounding his at the Cathedral – Margarita Diaz de Sandoval home. At the age of the Assumption of 72 he no longer in the Plaza de owned his land and could no longer Armas in Aguascalientes, Mexico. own cattle, nor his beloved Arabian Using FamilySearch.org, I was able horses. to find the original church wedding entry with many details, including During and after the turmoil of their signatures and those of the the revolution, which lasted many wedding attendants. Margarita wore many years, Miguel needed to assure a beautiful off white gown that she the safety of the family. The children designed and had made of velvet were raised outside of the hacienda. with a very long train. She held a Margarita was nursed by Carmelita and bouquet of calla lily flowers. Her later raised by her aunt, Tia Polita, tiara and papás boutonniere were at her home at 217 Juan de Mone, in made with a wire frame supporting Aguascalientes, Mexico. many tiny droplets of candle wax. The honeymoon hotel was the Hotel The story of how our mamá La Francia at Madero Street Plaza Margarita and papa Pedro met is Principal, Aguascalientes, Mexico. most romantic. The story tells of a After a one month honeymoon in Mexico
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they returned to the United States by train and settled in Milwaukee on the south side, or “Little Mexico”. I was also able to find her border crossing record at Laredo Texas on June 14, 1941, stating that she, Margarita Diaz wife of Pedro Sandoval, was going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her description is listed as having a fair complexion, brown hair and eyes, and that the $20.00 fee was paid by her husband. Their first home in Milwaukee was a small place next to the Jose Cardenas Mexican Grocery Store South of 5th and National. She did have a difficult time adjusting to the weather, the size of the home, and not having servants to rely on. The next home was a duplex located at 306 West Washington Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Elvira, Gloria, Margarita, and Rosamaria were born there.
mission became the spiritual, social, and cultural hub for the community. A Spanish speaking priest was found so that they could worship in their own language. As the community grew larger, the congregation needed a larger building. On September 15, 1944, the former Hanover Telephone Exchange building at the corner of 3rd and Washington, was purchased, refurbished and the first mass was said on May 26, 1946. Years later, in 1966, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church merged with Holy Trinity Church. Pedro was active in all aspects of the church’s relocation to 3rd and Washington and took his position as church usher seriously. Because we lived across the street on 3rd and Washington, we were very involved with all of the church religious and fiesta activities.
In 1924 the small Spanish speaking As the family was growing, Mr. Wm. Mexican community petitioned the Bruce, owner of the Bruce Publishing Catholic Church for a building to Company would take his daily walk hold masses in Spanish. The Knights in the neighborhood. He noticed that of Columbus and others began work the Sandoval girls were attending on their behalf. Up to that time the View Elementary School, a Milwaukee community was attending masses Public School. He had a talk with papá at St. Stanislaus Hall, in Holy and papá agreed that his girls should Trinity School. In 1926, community be relocated to St. Patrick’s Catholic leaders Frank Elementary Our Lady of Guadalupe and the S c h o o l . A s t h e Gross and William Bruce, secured mission became the spiritual, family grew larger a storefront social, and cultural hub for papá purchased a building on South duplex home at the community. 5th St. It was 3113 West Lapham refurbished and St. This is where – Margarita Diaz de Sandoval named the Mission Peter Jr., Anna of Our Lady of and Michael were Guadalupe. The mission was dedicated born. We lived in this home from on December 12, 1926 on the feast day June 17, 1955 to October 1988. We of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the all attended St. Lawrence Catholic Elementary School on 27th and
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Greenfield. Elvira, Gloria, Margarita and Rosamaria attended Our Lady of Mercy High School and Peter, Anna, and Michael attended Pius High School. We are most thankful that we received excellent educations that allowed us to advance to attend universities and community colleges that led to successful and fulfilling careers. Mamá, Margarita was a wonderful cook of Mexican dishes that she would also share with the tenants of the duplex and neighbors when we lived on Lapham St. Her education in Mexico consisted of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Her finishing school education focused on the art of running a wealthy household with servants and the responsibilities of raising a family in the Mexican traditions. She accomplished all of this in addition to taking a job at St. Mary’s Hill Hospital from 1966 to 1979 as Director of Housekeeping. On July 10, 1974 she obtained her American Citizenship and passed the question that the officiating judge asked her. The judge asked her who the first President of the United States was and she correctly answered with pride, President George Washington!
Margarita died of complications from a brain tumor and Pneumonia on November 9, 1993 at the age of 73. She is buried at Forest Home Cemetery, 2405 West Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee, WI. Grotto Crypts 22 & 23 G - Chapel Gardens. We are most proud of the love that surrounded our family, the immersion in our Mexican traditions, the gift of the Spanish language, and are very proud of the accomplishments of our parents. MIL GRACIAS MAMÁ y PAPÁ!!!!
Con mucho carino y amor. Prepared by Margarita Sandoval Skare 414-476-6702, skaremm@milwpc.com
Pedro and Margarita’s last home was at Clement Manor Nursing home, from 1988 to 1992. Pedro died Sunday, December 6, 1992 at the age of 86 of Pneumonia and Parkinson’s disease. He is buried at Forest Home Cemetery, 2405 West Forest Home Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin . Grotto Crypts 22 & 23 GChapel Gardens.
Featured Thread
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Threads of Walker’s Point would not have been possible without the help and receptive nature of the community. Not being residents of the neighborhood we came in to this with reservations about the community response. The acceptance and response has been nothing but positive willingness to help us. To every individual or business that contributed in one way or another we at Threads of Walker’s Point sincerely say thank you. To Margarita Sandoval Skare, Elvira Sandoval Denk and Peter Denk for their gracious family heritage contributions. These stories in particular really speak to the history of Walker’s Point and the publication would not have been the same without. We cannot express how amazing all of these stories are. Thank you so very much.
Local business partners Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, The National cafe, Clock Shadow creamery, Blue Jacket bar, El Jalapeño, La Perla, Fat Daddys, Antiques on Second, Walker’s Point United Community Center, Live Artists Studio, Team Nerd Letterpress, and The Walker’s Point Association, Botanas, La Fuente, El Jalepeno, Stennys, and Brenner Brewing.
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Threads of Walker’s Point
Live artists studio has offered a place for our team to foster and build this event. Without their help, there would not have been a space for us to showcase the beauty of the threads that we have collected and compiled. We would like to give a special thank you to the individuals at Made in Milwaukee. Without them our space would not have been possible to obtain. Made in Milwaukee has offered us council for this endeavor as well as a plug into the community through artist meet-up talks and help us promote through social media outreach.
Thank you to partners
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Vinny Kanack
Lindsey Hynek
Josh VandenAvond
414.426.6942 chenz92@me.com behance.net/ thebigbadwolf
920.973.5197 lhleah3@gmail.com behance.net/lhleah3
920.680.8523 joshvandenavond@gmail.com joshvandenvond.com
Joe Massanisso
Rob Vela
630.709.6656 Massani2@uwm.edu massanisso.com
608.234.1699 rrveladesign@gmail.com behance.net/rrvela
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Threads of Walker’s Point
The creative team behind Threads of Walker’s Point has pulled together to create a voice for a neeighborhood that deserves a voice. All of the planning, deployment, promotion, branding, and space design have all been executed by our team and would not have been possible without the equal contribution of each member of our team.
threadsofwp.org
The Team
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