Speaker: Pippin Michelli
Topic: How About North Beach?
Location: The Main Project and Cafe, 1014 State Street, Racine, WI
Printable Meeting Notice: March Preservation Racine Membership Meeting
Preservation Racine President Pippin Michelli has put together a wonderful presentation on the history of the North Beach area of Racine. You’ll learn about the erosion of the lake shore that was caused by early construction along Lake Michigan and about some of the people whose businesses and dealings contributed to this debacle. There was a bit of skullduggery (imagine that) involved also. You’ll want to learn all about it.
Thank you to Janet Carter for discovering and recommending a new venue for this meeting. It’s Deontrae Mayfield’s Main Project and Café on State Street, across the street from the old Dania Hall. There’s parking on the north side of State Street, as well as, in the public lot across the street. The café is located at the front of the building. The café opens at 5:00 PM for those people who would like to try their menu before our meeting. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase. We encourage you to support our host.
Our Tour of Historic Places is planned for Sunday, September 25, 2022 (last Sunday in September). The theme this year is An Eclectic Collection, and the tour will include the new apartments at the old Horlicks Industrial Plant, and another apartment at the old Gold Medal Plant. Another previously industrial site is the former First Class Seats premises, which is now a beautiful bed and breakfast. Houses on the tour include two beauties on College Avenue and a third equally beautiful house on Wisconsin Avenue, and the public building this year will be St George Serbian Orthodox Church on State Street. In addition, Jim Mercier will be displaying part of his collection at the church. A wonderful mix with much to see and discover!
Tickets include entrance to three houses, three former industrial or commercial premises, and one church, and an exhibit at the church. Prices are $20.00 on the day of the tour, or $15 in advance.
Advance Ticket Outlets:
- Borzynski’s Farm and Floral Market, 11600 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant
- Milaeger’s, 4838 Douglas Avenue, Racine
and 8717 Highway 11, Sturtevant - Miller’s Flowers, 219 Sixth Street, Racine
- O & H Bakeries, 4917 Douglas Avenue, Racine
and 4006 Durand Avenue, Racine
and 5910 Washington Avenue, Racine - Personal Touch Flowers by Julie, 5445 Spring Street, Racine
- Racine Heritage Museum, 701 Main Street, Racine
- Uncorkt, 240 Main Street, Racine
- Wilson’s Coffee & Tea, 3306 Washington Avenue, Racine
Day of Tour Tickets
- Horlicks Industrial Plant, 2200 Northwestern Avenue
Join us!
Speakers: Carol Burow Gianforte, Jim Mercier, Helen Horlick Pugh
Topic: A Return to Kiddieland
Location: Living Faith Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Avenue, Racine, WI
Printable Meeting Notice:
Remember Kiddieland, the well-loved amusement park near Horlick Dam in Racine? Perhaps it was before your time (1950s and 1960s). Either way, you’re in luck, as Carol Gianforte and Jim Mercier will present its story with slides and memories. Helen Horlick Pugh, daughter of Kiddieland’s owner-operators will join our presenters with additional slides and memories. This presentation also functions as a sneak-preview of one part of a presentation series planned for the Golden Rondelle theater in 2023.
Parking is available adjoining the church on the wouth and west sides. Entrance from the south parking lot, with an elevator if needed to the lower level fellowship room. Light refreshments will be served ahead of the meeting.
Speaker: Debbie Yale
Topic: Lost Architectural Treasures
Location: The Lee Room, Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh Street, Racine, WI
Printable Meeting Notice: Meeting Notice
Some years ago, Preservation Racine presented a talk on some of the many mansions and other noteworthy buildings that were lost to posterity through razing, fires, and other disasters. Our historian, Debbie Yale, has researched these lost treasures and updated the list with more of their stories, and she has added other buildings that also met a sad fate.
Please note the change of meeting day (this meeting is on Tuesday, June 7). This is because the program is being presented in conjunction with the Racine Public Library. Please enter through the north east lower-level doors. The Lee Room is on the first floor. Parking is free after 6:00 pm.
Speaker: Gerald Karwowski
Topic: The Story of a Passionate Racine Collector
Location: St Edward Church, 1401 Grove Avenue, Racine
Printable Meeting Notice: Meeting Notice
Additional Information:
We are pleased to have Gerald Karwowski as our guest speaker for the April Membership Meeting. Gerry retired after a 30-year career at the J. I. Case Company and has served as a Racine Landmarks commissioner and a trustee of the Racine County Historical Society. He has written numerous books and newspaper articles about Racine’s past and has entertained hundreds of groups with his presentations on Racine history, as well as being featured on the American Pickers television program.
Speaker: Pippin Michelli
Topic: Finding Essential First Information
Location: Littleport Brewing Company, 214 3rd Street (Wisconsin Avenue and 3rd Street)
Printable Meeting Notice: Meeting Notice
Additional Information:
After a number of requests by Preservation Racine members, we are very pleased that our President, Perette (Pippin) Michelli has agreet to contact a series of meetings on the methods to garner the history of buildings. Our first meeting will present the first thing every researcher needs: to get the legal information. This is prerequisite for locating the property in the tax records, register of deeds, and historic maps. After this, we’ll take a look at a few significant building styles to show how they add to the information about the original property owners. This will be a multiple choice quiz-game, with shout-out answers.
Speaker: Steven Rogstad
Topic: Lincoln Among the Badgers, author presentation and book signing
Location: Kimissis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 1335 South Green Bay Road, Racine
Printable Meeting Notice: Meeting Notice
Additional Information:
If you have heard Steve speak before, you know that you’re in for a treat with this presentation. As one of our own past presidents of Preservation Racine, he has honored us with a number of very entertaining and informative talks with the Rogstad twist. In this program, Steve will present some highlights of his new book, Lincoln Among the Badgers, which will also be available for purchase. Afterwards, he will sign copies, whether already purchased or snapped up at the meeting.
Speaker: Rochelle Pennington
Topic: The Hidden Motivations behind Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Location: Racine Yacht Club, 1 Barker Street, Racine
Printable Meeting Notice: Meeting Notice
Additional Information: Rochelle Pennington joins us at the Rachine Yacht Club to hare her take on the hidden motivations behind Dickens’ writing of A Christmas Carol. If you have never heard Ms. Pennington speak, you’ve missed a tour de force of the spoken word. Her knowledge, research and enthusiasm always enthralls us!
We do ask that attendees wear masks (supplies at hand if you have forgotten your own). Light refreshments available after the meeting.
Speaker: multiple
Topic: Stories of First Presbyterian abolitionists
Location: First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Avenue (intersection College Avenue and Seventh Street), Racine
Printable Meeting Notice: Meeting Notice
Additional Information: Our first membership meeting for over a year, and unusually, this is on the SECOND Monday, November 8. 7:00 pm. The church was built in 1852, designed by Lucas Bradley with a spire inspired by England’s Sir Christopher Wren (note its distinctive slender grace and its fanciful juxtaposition with classical columns).
The easiest entrance is via the parking lot at the back of the church (on College Avenue), and there is an elevator.
We do ask that attendees wear masks (supplies at hand if you have forgotten your own). Light refreshments available after the meeting.
Our Tour of Historic Places is expected to go ahead this fall on Sunday, September 26, 2021 (that is, the last Sunday in September). The tour, on the theme of Modern Beauty, will be in Elmwood Park and nearby, and will show how a development with a view to the highest quality modern living came together during the first half of the 20th century. Using his own family land, the developer worked with some of Racine’s best architects (including J Mandor Matson and Hans Geyer), and the best building contractors to produce highly crafted houses with every modern convenience. Every house was different, each was built with attached single, double, and even triple garages, and the whole was set in the beautiful Elmwood, just south of the Taylor Children’s Asylum.
Tickets include entrance to five houses, one school and one church, and a talk at the Taylor Monument. Prices are $18.00 on the day of the tour, or $15 in advance.
Ticket Outlets:
- Borzyinsky’s Farm and Floral Market, 11600 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant
- Mileager’s, 4838 Douglas Avenue, Racine
and 8717 Hyway 11, Sturtevant - Miller’s Flowers, 219 Sixth Street, Racine
- O & H Bakeries, 4917 Douglas Avenue, Racine
and 4006 Durand Avenue, Racine
and 5910 Washington Avenue, Racine - Personal Touch Flowers by Julie, 5445 Spring Street, Racine
- Racine Heritage Museum, 701 Main Street, Racine
- Uncorckt, 240 Main Street, Racine
- Wilson’s Coffee & Tea, 3306 Washington Avenue, Racine
Join us!