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A 15 ft. tall sundial, made of concrete, limestone and metal, dominates this small site on the western end of Waukesha's Main Street. Created and installed by Ken Saiki Design in 1998, the functioning sundial overlooks the Fox River. In addition to honoring Waukesha's veterans, the park marks the western end of the city's riverwalk, a mulit-use leisure trail that connects several recreation areas in downtown Waukesha.

Veterans' Park

A heritage trail comprised of original research by Carroll University history majors, in partnership with the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum

Waukesha World War II Heritage Trail

The Fox River has been a major economic corridor for the City of Waukesha since it's founding. At the turn of the 20th century, it was home to several industrial sites that helped reshape the labor force and economic character of the city. 

Fox River Industrial Corridor

Dr. Kimberly Redding and her Carroll University created this tour to highlight Waukesha County families' WWI era experiences. We started our research at the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, housed in the 1893 courthouse. Here, you can find the selective service records (aka draft cards) that jumpstarted our exploration of the local homefront during "the Great War."

Waukesha World War I Heritage Trail

The heritage trail tells a story about one community's involvement in World War I. The trail was created using a new feature within Clio that empowers universities and organizations to create a single entry that includes multiple contributing sites. While most walking tours and heritage trails in Clio consist of individual landmarks that also appear on Clio's main map, this new feature allows the sponsoring organization to create a tour using "contributing entries" that might not be individual landmarks Clio users would expect to see on an application they use for heritage tourism. It also allows organizations to create walking tours of historic districts, parks, cemeteries, and other places where there might be multiple "pins" for each contributing feature without overwhelming Clio users with large clusters of entries. Finally, as we see with this example, it also allows a university or organization to utilize a map to help tell a story about history.

This heritage trail was created by Dr. Kimberly Redding and her students at Carroll University. The trail includes entries for individual veterans that have been placed on the map at the places where they lived prior to entering the service. The trail also includes local landmarks related to the history of World War I.

Founded by one of the last bills to be signed by
President Abraham Lincoln, the National Asylum (changed to Home in 1873) for
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was designed to provide housing and medical
treatment for Union soldiers suffering from wounds or sickness and unable to
care for themselves.&nbsp; By the end of the 1860s, branches had been
established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (the Northwestern Branch); Dayton, Ohio
(Central); Togus, Maine (Eastern); and Norfolk, Virginia (Southern). Five more
were added by 1900.

Partly funded by the $100,000
raised at the Soldiers’ Home Fair held in Milwaukee in the summer of 1865, the Northwestern Branch opened in May 1867 on
a 400 acre site west of Milwaukee.&nbsp;
It would later be connected to the city by a short train ride.&nbsp; By the 1890s, over 2000 men lived at the
home.&nbsp; In 1930, Congress combined the
NHDVS system with the Veterans Bureau to form the Veterans Administration.&nbsp; The Northwestern Branch, National Home for
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Historic District was placed on the Federal
Register in 1994.

In
addition to caring for the growing number of elderly and disabled veterans of
the Civil War, the Northwestern Branch entertained tens of thousands of
tourists every year.&nbsp; The three man-made
lakes and shaded drives provided popular outings for residents of Milwaukee, and
the grounds hosted Milwaukee’s July Fourth celebration for a number of years.&nbsp; Yet tensions between the Home and nearby
communities were created by the numerous saloons established near the northern
and southern entrances to the home (and the disorder drunken soldiers sometimes
caused), and by occasional disputes over legal jurisdictions. &nbsp;&nbsp;

More than twenty buildings
erected between the late 1860s and the 1920s still exist; some are still used
by the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center; others are in
various stages of disrepair. Restoration plans for several of the major
buildings have been developed, however. &nbsp;Wood
National Cemetery, established the Soldiers Home Cemetery in 1871, is now the
resting place of over 10,000 veterans and family members. National Avenue, which runs along the southern edge of Milwaukee and past the Home, was named for the soldiers home.

As part of the system of National Homes created by Congress in 1865, the Northwestern Branch became home to thousands of men disabled by service in the Union army during the Civil War.  Many of the buildings--including Main, the Ward Theater, and the Chapel--still stand.  The grounds were made into a Historic District in 1994. They can be accessed through the main entrance of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center at 5000 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI.

Northwestern Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Historic District

What is today West Milwaukee Park was once a cluster of single-family homes and small farmsteads. Laurie T. Leonard was likely born in one of them, as at-home births were the norm in the 1890s. Quite possibly, parents Thomas and Sarah Leonard enjoyed taking their young son on walks around the neighborhood. The Leonards moved to Muskego, in Waukesha County. Growing up, Laurie worked on his father's farm and secured an eighth grade education. He went into the U.S. Army when he was 21 years, and was assigned to the artillery. He trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, Camp Logan in Texas, and Fort Sill in Oklahoma. Laurie served as a supplier in the 8th brigade. At some point, likely because of his farming background, Laurie became a Wagoner. In this role, he was responsible not only for transporting supplies, but also grooming and feeding the horses, maintaining harnesses, wheels and other equipment, and overseeing all loading/unloading.  The highlight of Laurie's military carrier was being selected as a guard for President Wilson's party during an official state visit to when to Brest, France. Unfortunately, Laurie was not among the members of the party named by first-lady Edith in her recollections of the trip. Laurie Leonard came back to Wisconsin in Jan. of 1919. He married Bess E. Leonard and had three children, Kennith, Jeanne, and Duane. Thereafter, like so many veterans, Laurie's life blurred with that of his neighbors and coworkers. Records from the 1930s list his as a wage worker at an unnamed auto-accessory factory in Milwaukee, and by the 1940s, he had become a qualified machinist. West Milwaukee also changed during that time. In the 1930s, the street name was changed to Summit Avenue. In the 1940s it was renamed W. Lapham Stree, likely in honor of local engineer Increase Lapham, longtime deputy surveyor for the WI territory, whose 1844 Geographical and Topical Description of Wisconsin drew many immigrants to the region. Both Laurie Leonard and Increase Lapham would likely be pleased to know that the neighborhood is now a well-kept county park, where local residents play baseball, tennis and soccer--or just enjoy the outdoors.

World War I veteran Laurie T. Leonard's home stood in what is now West Milwaukee Park, one of two parks in the Village of West Milwaukee (just east of the better-known city of West Allis).  Leonard was nine years old when West Milwaukee was incorporated in 1906. Both the neighborhood and Leonard's life story exemplify the rapid economic transformation of metropolitan Milwaukee in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Laurie T. Leonard Home/West Milwaukee Park 

James Harold Dance would be selected for service in World War I, just like many brave young men of his time period. The Veteran trained in Chicago, Illinois as part of the Field Artillery Central Officers Training school, but never reached the battlefield. Dance was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin to farming parents Sarah and George Dance in 1893. James’ family connection with farming was abundant, with one of the most important being his grandfather John Dixon. Dixon’s land was most likely where James would have received his initial farming experiences. 	James’ grandfather John Dixon had strong ties with Brookfield, Wisconsin. Dixon became an original investor of 160 acres of land, in Brookfield, near the current intersection of Pilgrim Road and West North Avenue. That land is where James would have worked and even went to school. The school he would have attended was called “Dixon Elementary” and was built in 1850 named after the donor of the land: his grandfather John Dixon. That school is presumably where James would have developed a passion for education in agriculture. The first Dixon Elementary that was built in 1850 was ruined due to a fire, but was rebuilt at the same site in 1870 and used as a school till the 1950’s. The school's current location is now home to the business “Cream City Yarn ''.	Education was clearly a large part of James Dance’s life. He would have been one of the lucky Americans of his time period to receive a college education. James received a Bachelor of Science in the field of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin. James’ timeline in the field of agriculture allowed him to see some amazing changes. Before World War I, when James was growing up, he would have been used to farming and the intense labor that came with it. Including tending to the field with tools by hand and using animals as power to plow the fields. Farms in the early 20th century needed a high quantity of workers to keep them running, and smart products like fertilizer were likely not used. Almost all of what farmers needed to live and work was produced on that said farm. 	After World War I and onward, most of these things would change for James. In fact, farming would begin to look a lot like how we see it today. Farming would become more mechanized to make labor less intensive, and tractors and other machines would become essential for farming lifestyle, allowing many jobs to be done in a more efficient way. Farms would no longer produce everything James would need, instead James would most likely have bought the products he needed elsewhere. Eventually by 1950, electricity would have likely been available to James, as well as helpful vehicles like trucks. Fertilizers would become a commodity for farmers, helping them grow their crops much more efficiently. Overall, James Dance got to experience the boom of mechanization in agriculture, making his story unique.


James Harold Dance, a World War I veteran and a hard working farmer, got the golden ticket in the agricultural experience. Dance’s deep family ties with the city of Brookfield is what allotted him this opportunity. Beginning with his grandfather in the mid-19th century, Dance and his family helped to reshape agricultural advances that would impact Wisconsin forever. Dance’s personal experiences allowed for a unique opportunity to see how agriculture changed before and after World War I.


James Harold Dance: The Agricultural Experience

Born to German immigrants Augusta and Frank Erdman on April 7 1894, Arthur “Art” Erdman was raised in heavily German-populated, and highly anti-German Waukesha, Wisconsin. His Lutheran parents raised him to speak both German and English, and he received an eighth-grade education. The family seemed to have struggled financially, and Art left school to work as a shop clerk and supplement the family income. He later became a bartender at Waukesha's Fox River Hotel (227 Madison Street).In 1917, hoping to do something more for his country, 23-year-old Art enlisted in the army alongside his father Frank. After training at Camp Douglas and in Waco, Texas, Art was assigned to Company E, First 32 Division of the 107 Ammunition Train. He was transported to France on February 1st, 1918. While actively serving in France, he was promoted to Corporal, then to Sergeant; incomplete records suggest he also earned additional honors. Upon returning to the United States, Art Erdmann moved to 825 South St. in Oconomowoc Wisconsin with the rest of his family. His father, also a veteran, lived in Oconomowoc until his death in 1936. Frank Erdmann is buried in La Belle Cemetery. From the year of his birth to post-WWI, the spelling of the veterans' last name has fluctuated from the more Americanized single ‘n’ of “Erdman” to the Germanic double ‘n’ of “Erdmann.” Most likely, Art and his German-born parents did this to avoid the well-documented discrimination against people with German ties. During the Great War, of course, people in the United States identified Germans as the ‘enemy.’ Because German immigrants often continued speaking their native language, they often formed German churches and--particularly in Wisconsin--German-language newspapers and cultural organizations. This made them easy targets for harassment and discrimination. As the United States became more involved with the war in Europe, tensions grew between "native" (i.e. Anglo) Americans and the naturalized German-Americans.Using a more Americanized form of their name, may have helped the Erdmanns appear more American and more patriotic. Contributing two men to the war effort was another way of deflecting antagonism.

Art Erdmann was a decorated war hero and American patriot. Born to German immigrants, he faced the anti-German discrimination that was common in the American Midwest during the early 1900s, and even changed the spelling of his name in order to avoid persecution. Art Erdmann spent his whole life proving what a true American he was. He enlisted in World War I in 1917 and was deployed to France with the 32nd Division less than a year later. Only the allies' victory over the Central Powers in Europe allowed Art to return home and change his name back to its original spelling. 

Arthur "Art" Erdmann: German-American Hero

Born February 18th, 1888 in Elba, Wisconsin, Ernest Gerald Kline was the son of two German immigrants Charles G Kline and Augusta Kline. As a young child, Ernest and his family (except for his father) moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin where he received an eighth-grade education (which was normal at the time). Afterward, Ernest went to work for the cement company C A Dailey &amp; Son where he became a cement finisher. Ernest was affiliated with the Methodist church where he likely attended camp meetings at the Metropolitan Church tents in Waukesha. Most German-Americans were not affiliated with the Metropolitan Church so it is possible that Ernest assimilated into the Metropolitan Church. Being a German-American, Ernest would face harsh discrimination due to the tensions between the United States and Germany. Xenophobic citizens of Waukesha would be suspicious of people who they suspected were German when they heard an accent or saw any German cultural characteristics. This is partly because of the 1913 German law that gave citizenship to Germans living in other countries. German-Americans were both citizens of the United States and of Germany which highly increased the suspicions of German-Americans. Due to increasing suspicions, it is very possible that most people within Ernest’s community accused him of being a spy for the Germans. Xenophobic citizens of Waukesha verbally abused German-Americans by accusing them of being “slackers” which was used to describe them as disloyal to the United States and slackers were reported to the public officials. The term “slackers” is not used as a serious insult today but in the 1910s, it was a very strong and harsh insult. Like many Germans and German-Americans were doing during WWI, Ernest enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 26th, 1918 possibly to prove his loyalty to the United States. Ernest Kline traveled to Louisville Kentucky, presumably by train, where he trained at Camp Zachary Taylor which housed over 60,000 other soldiers. During Ernest’s time at camp, he underwent very demanding training. Every morning, he would be abruptly woken up at 5:45 am by a blaring horn, go to an assembly at 6:00 am, and eat breakfast at 6:30 am. The remainder of his day at camp was tough training where he would learn how to march and salute, use guns (using wooden bayonets instead of real guns), and use hand grenades until 10:30 pm. Ernest enjoyed foods like steak, beans, pork, corn, bread, greens, potatoes, and much more. He was able to enjoy these foods because families around the United States changed their diets to provide more food for soldiers. Outside of training, Ernest was able to take advantage of the YMCA which offered religious, educational, and physical services for soldiers. Ernest passed time by doing anything from reading and learning about the war, health, and science, to playing sports like football and baseball. Ernest was able to take advantage of the Soldiers’ Club in downtown Louisville where he could go bowling, play pool, watch silent films, and reconnect with family and friends if they were to visit him. After Camp Zachary Taylor, Ernest was appointed to the Infantry branch where he served in Company 12, 1st Wisconsin Regiment. Although it is unclear exactly what Ernest did as he did not go overseas to fight in the war, he more than likely served in the National Guard. In the National Guard, he would have prevented enemy invasion, stopped people from rebelling, and/or being an enforcer of the law. It is unclear if Ernest was promoted during his service but it seems like he remained a private throughout his military career. Ernest’s service ended on June 12th, 1919 as he was demobilized at the end of the war. After the war, Ernest moved in with his brother-in-law Joseph Kramer and reconnected with C A Dailey &amp; Son where he continued with his career as a cement finisher. Ernest didn’t live long enough to start a family of his own as he died on May 10th, 1930 at age 42. He was buried in Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Ernest Kline might not have become famous but he was still a very brave and influential man. Despite being German-American and facing discrimination, Ernest stayed loyal to the United States and proved his loyalty by enlisting and serving in the U.S. Army in WWI. He continued to work after the war as a cement finisher until the day he died. Through all of Ernest Kline’s accomplishments, he has proven loyalty to the United States and lived an inspirational life that inspired the people he knew and loved.

This house, located on Maria St., was the home of the WWI veteran Ernest Gerald Kline. Born to German parents in Elba, Wisconsin, Ernest moved to Waukesha, where he likely faced discrimination for being German-American. Becoming a cement finisher after school, Ernest would eventually find his way into enlisting into the U.S. Army during WWI. Although forgotten, Ernest was a perfect example of a first-generation German-American proving his loyalty towards the United States despite facing discrimination in Waukesha.

The Childhood Home of Ernest Kline

In 1844, Rev. Kundic was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Church, and that year, the corner stone for the little stone church was laid out and completed in 1848. In 1883 St. Joseph's was incorporated under the laws of the state of Wisconsin. One month later, the Reverend G. Miller arrived and stayed for 47 years. The present gothic stone church was built in 1888. Architect Adolphus Druidlng of Chicago designed it in High Victorian Gothic Style with its emphasis on the vertical. The exterior is rock raced, randomly coursed limestone, with multiple rose windows, lancet windows, and multiple gables and spires. Each gable is topped with a cross. The layout is asymmetric, with a large tower on one side of the main entrance, rising to a tall steeple toppled by a cross. The old stone church was remodeled into a parish hall.According to church records, in 1920, three families of Mexican decent arrived in Waukesha and became the first Hispanic members of St. Joseph's Church. These families were Jose and Antonia Melendez, Merced and Nicolas Gonzalez, as well as Ursula Melendez and Leonardo Banda, whose subsequent marriage became the first Mexican American marriage at the church. Today the Hispanic presence has grown to include Puerto Rican, Nicaraguan, and people from many Lain American countries.Father Dulek established a regular mass in Spanish at which time Our Lady Guadalupe's Statue was installed, and th Guadalupe Society was formed. December has come to be the month for celebrating Catholic Hispanic Heritage at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

The Reverend Martin Kundic was the first priest to hold regular services in Waukesha. Mass was celebrated in the house of John Gaspar on Main Street and the current gothic stone church was completed in 1888 under the guidance of Father Wm. G. Miller. Solomon Juneau of Milwaukee donated the land to St. Joseph's Church in 1843. There was a log house built by Mr. Juneau on the property and it was converted to a church.

St. Joseph's

<blockquote>To old timers, this is the old "new courthouse." Waukesha County completed construction on its first courthouse in 1849, after numerous delays and disputes with Contractor John Gale, Jr. The 70-42 ft. two-story Greek Revival structure stood on a small rise (later identified as a native American effigy mound) on the east end of Main Street. By 1893, the growing county needed a larger judicial seat; Milwaukee architectural firm Rau &amp; Kirsch responded with this turreted Richardson Romanesque structure, wrapped in local Lannon stone and decorative masonry. The 130 foot central tower, topped with both a 7 foot clock and a statue of Justicia (Justice) dominated Waukesha’s modest skyline.</blockquote><blockquote>Inside, county residents documented key events and personal dramas. Many paid taxes, registered births, deaths and marriages in offices on the first and second floors. Some citizens stood trial or served jury duty in the third floor courtroom. And a few, like school teacher Grace Lusk, served time in the adjacent jailhouse.</blockquote><blockquote>Between 1915 and 1918, several thousand young men stopped by to register for Selective Service. It’s easy to imagine secretaries updating these draft cards, as information trickled back from Camp Douglass (Illinois), Quantico (Virginia), or posts in France and Belgium. Sixty years later, local activists secured the preservation of the complex by adding it to both the Wisconsin and National Historic Registries.</blockquote><blockquote>Today, even though county officials work in a modern facility on Moreland Boulevard, the historic courthouse is still worth a visit. In addition to records of the Lusk trial, Selective Service cards, materials from many local civic, religious and educational organizations, and travelling exhibits from across the country, visitors can peruse more than 18,000 artifacts and 250,000 visual images in the Waukesha County Historical Society &amp; Museum. The rehabilitated courtroom offers a spacious venue for catered receptions and other gatherings, and more than a half dozen local contractors have converted both the jailhouse and a 1938 addition into two dozen luxury apartments.</blockquote>

This imposing limestone edifice was built in 1893-94, on the same site of Waukesha’s original—and more modest—1849 courthouse. It dominated the city skyline, and housed county offices, records depositories and—up on the third floor—a large, wood-paneled courtroom, where schoolteacher Grace Lusk stood trial for the 1917 murder of Mrs. David Roberts, wife of renowned veterinarian Dr. David Roberts. Today, the historic courthouse is home to Waukesha's vibrant County Historical Society and Museum. You'll also find a beautiful event venue (in the fully restored courtroom) and--in the former jailhouse--luxury apartments.Between June 1917 and September 1918, young men from across the county lined up in the first-floor hallway to register for Selective Service. Carroll University's WWI Heritage Trail tells some of their stories, beginning wth the County Museum's collection of WWI service records.A quarter century later, a new generation climbed the stairs to register for service during World War II. Starting in 2023, Carroll's WWII Heritage Trail will help local residents and visitors explore connections between Waukesha families and "the good war."

1893 Waukesha County Courthouse

Frank and Emil Olshefski were born in the mid-1890’s--Frank in 1894 and Emil in 1895--to German immigrants named August and Gustie Olshefski. The family seem to have been active members of Trinity Lutheran Church, which was located just down the road from where they lived. Trinity's congregation had included huge German immigrant population since the 1860s, but never held German-language religious services till 1886. It was even called the First German Lutheran Church. As time went on, the German influenced waned. Once the primary language in Trinity's elementary school, German was considered to be a foreign language (second to English) in both educational and worship settings by 1912. Use of the German language was discontinued completely in 1947.  After leaving school (8th grade?) Frank worked in machinery at the Waukesha Motor Company, while Emil worked at the Spring City Foundry. When war broke out in Europe, the Olshefski brothers likely had many conversations with their peers about the pros and cons of military service. They both joined the Marines on May 8th, 1917, just a couple days after Emil’s twenty-second birthday. The brothers were registered in the 6th Marine Regiment, 80th Company. They trained at the United States Marine base at Parris Island, South Carolina.Frank and Emil departed the U.S. with their company on January 18th, 1918, and arrived in Europe about 2 weeks later, on February 2nd, 1918. It was not a moment too soon. British losses were high and could not support the AEF at all; French forces were also weak. The Olshefskis' company saw brutal action and even participated at the Battle of Belleau Woods. This battle led to the notion that the AEF "saved Paris," Belleau Woods was just thirty-nine miles away from the "City of Lights;" it was the closest the Germans ever got the French capital. Ultimately a U.S. victory, this intense battle brought fame to the U.S. Marine Corps, and helped secure the place of the US in narratives of The Great War.  Frank Olshefski was wounded in combat in July 1918, about a month after Belleau Woods. Did stretcher-bearer Emil carry his brother to the field hospital? It's not clear, but luckily, Frank got treatment and recovered from his wounds. We don't know what else Frank and Emil did in Europe, only that they were back in Waukesha sometime in 1919. Like many veterans, the brothers returned to their prewar employers, and resumed their daily lives. Within just a few years, only local friends and family knew that 1108 Whiterock Avenue was home to two brave German-American soldiers.

This rambling building was the childhood home of two Waukesha veterans. Frank J. and Emil A. Olshefski lived in this roomy two-story house along with their German immigrant parents and with four other siblings. As young adults, the two brothers seized the opportunity to see the old country--and assert their American identity--in The Great War alongside each other. Frank and Emil joined the A.E.F. (American Expeditionary Force) and deployed to France. They fought against the Germans, and helped restore peace to Europe. 

Frank and Emil Olshefski's Childhood Home

Nicknamed the “Keystone Division” for its blood red keystone insignia patch, the 28th Infantry was known to the Germans as the “bloody bucket” for the shape, color and bravery in battle. Frederick Vergenz was one member of this highly decorated division, climbing to Private 1st Class. Along with his many comrades, he helped uphold the Western Front lines in France before the rest of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) arrived in 1918. The division held the second line of defense on the Marne River and the Chateau Thierry when the Germans heavily advanced during the 3rd battle of the Aisne to 30 miles of Paris.May 27th, 1918 was a bloodbath- the third battle of the Aisne-River. Frederick and the 28th Infantry were present to hold off the German offensive of 17 divisions, with the help of British and French Infantry divisions. The morning started out with the ground shaking and the noises of machine gun fire, tanks and shelling. The Germans would fire over 2 million shells in the first four hours and shatter the allied lines in one of the biggest advancements on the front. This battlefield became the location that would be Frederick's last day alive. He was sadly shot and killed at 20 years old. The Waukesha Freeman narrates “The day began on May 27 by listening to French guns batter the Germans at Cantigny on the Somme River. Maybe to calm himself he reread the letters he had gotten from Waukesha just three weeks before. The letters were his first news from home since he had reached France. But the waiting ended, as Vergenz must have known it would. After the guns had roared for two hours, the order came. The American Infantrymen, each with a rifle, 220 rounds of ammunition, three sand bags, two hand grenades, a rifle grenade, two canteens, iron rations, two cakes of chocolate, a lemon and chewing gum, rose and followed French tanks into the smoking village”. The devastation left over 200,000 men dead. Despite heavy losses, luck was on the side of the 28th as the Germans ran out of supplies and troop reinforcements. General John J Pershing, leader of the division famously said the men were made of iron. On May 28th, the 28th Infantry held off 7 German offenses on Cantigny, a German held French village, and captured an important outpost on the front which would further protect Paris and push the Germans out to the end of the war. Fredrick's body was buried at the Somme American Cemetery and his gravestone is located in plot C, row 10 stone #13. He was awarded the purple heart and a citation of bravery followed in his death notice home. He left behind a mother, father and an older brother.Frederick was German American and had an occupation as a machinist before he enlisted at the age of 20. German Americans were well known in the field of trades that included machinists and carpenters. He was sent and trained at Camp Douglas and Waco, Texas where he was assigned to Company L 4th Regiment Wisconsin National Guard. He sailed out to Europe in February of 1918 and arrived in early March. During his time in the service, he earned the rank of Private First Class and he would be transferred twice to Company E 128th Infantry then to Company H 28th infantry 1st Division. He is remembered in the Waukesha Freeman for being the first Waukesha resident to die during the war. He used to live in the Waukesha area with his mother and father. They lived with their children at 810 Arcadian Avenue here in Waukesha with their other child, a brother by the name of Everett and unlike Frederick, Everett married and died at the young age of 48. Frederick’s family are buried together at Prairie Home Cemetery off of south Prairie Avenue here in Waukesha. Frederick's father was a carpenter and he worked in the area. He is recorded in the Wright’s Waukesha Directory to have worked in the Ray Biggs Company, D.F. Akins Plumbing and Carl H Sawyer Agency. Frederick’s father is one of 10 children and his mother is one of 8. His father died at the age of 79 in December of 1944 of an illness not specified which he had for over three years.His mother Bertha died younger at 57, cause of death is not known.Over time, the 28th Infantry continued their legacy of bravery, from storming the beaches of Normandy to dispatching to Afghanistan. Through it all, Waukesha is one out of thousands of places that house its own stories of hero's. Frederick is one of many hundreds that loved his home and country so much that even of German heritage, fought bravely for the allies. He laid down his life at such a young age to protect the world from fear and tyranny, and his story continues to echo around us.

One of the oldest and most decorated divisions in military history, the 28th Infantry had served as a huge line of defense for Paris during WWI. Led by the famous General John J Pershing, he would say his men were made of iron. Frederick Vergenz from Waukesha was one of those many brave men. Many people don't know his name, but his sacrifice must not be forgotten. 

Frederick Vergenz and the 28th Infantry Division 

Clinton Samuel Breese was born on October 17th, 1894 in Waukesha to Richard and Mabel Breese. He had two siblings, Gertrude and Richard Jr, himself being the oldest of his siblings. As a young child, Breese became a member of Waukesha’s Congregational Church in 1907. Breese lived with his parents until he went off to college, attending Carroll College, now called Carroll University. He majored in history and economics, and was very active in extracurricular activities on campus. He was a member of the Beta Phi Epsilon Fraternity, the Glee Club, served as a cabinet member of the Y.M.C.A. and a member of the Hinakaga board that was in charge of the yearbook as well as the Oratorical League, just to name a few. Breese graduated from Carroll in 1915 and subsequently went to the University of Wisconsin Madison for a year. Clinton returned to Waukesha and was working as a cost accountant at a local Waukesha when the United States entered the war in 1917, cutting his career short.Breese’s family had a long history of serving in the nations military in times of war. His great grandfather, Orson Clinton, fought in the Civil War and was present when Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America was captured. With such a lofty history no doubt in mind, Breese was inducted into the army on May 15th, 1917. After his training, he initially served as a 2nd lieutenant in the artillery battery of the 328th Infantry Regiment. He spent many months serving as a trainer for incoming recruits at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. However, he soon grew bored and desired to get into the action. It just so happened that he was in luck, the newfound Army Air Corps was looking for recruits, and Breese, desiring to get in on the action, joined up as soon as he could. After being trained in the arts of aeronautics, he was sent overseas as part of the 12th Aero Squadron in August of 1918 during the closing months of the war.Though he was only in combat for two months, Breese made quite the name for himself during his time at the front. He served as a navigator and gunner aboard a reconnaissance plane, tasked with reconnoitering the German front lines and relaying information back to his superiors. It was on November 2nd, 1918, that Breese would acquire his most lasting fame. While flying over German lines reconnoitering their positions, he was set upon by four German aircraft. He was forced to retreat, however he realized the importance of his mission and he turned back to face his pursuers. He managed to shoot down one aircraft and scare the others off. Afterwards he flew for an hour over enemy lines, all the while under fire, before returning to base to deliver his valuable information. For this bravery he would be awarded both the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross. In the closing days of the war he would be shot down while on a reconnaissance mission, but thankfully , he was able to land behind allied lines with no injury to himself.Breese came back to Waukesha to a hero’s welcome. His heroics had been heard by the community and they regarded him as one of Waukesha’s most famous veterans from the war. Part of this honor included giving a speech at the dedication of a monument memorializing all of Waukesha’s World War I veterans. Following the war, Breese remained in Waukesha and acquired a job at Waukesha Savings and Loans Association, which was ran by his father. He used his knowledge of economics and personal charisma to rise through the ranks, eventually becoming the head of the company. He would subsequently work there for there until his retirement in 1964. During his time out of the army, he got married to his first wife Charlotte. He also had multiple children, Charlotte, Robert, John and Margaret. Breese would continue to be a integral part of Waukesha’s community, serving as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Waukesha, the Waukesha Masonic Lodge, chairman of Waukesha’s Police-Fire Commission and president of the YMCA board. He also served as president of the Wisconsin Savings and Loan League and a director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. His first wife Charlotte would pass away in 1966, his 2nd wife, Iniz would pass in 1971 and he eventually married his 3rd wife Helen. Breese would pass away on April 24th, 1975.Clinton Breese was an interesting man in every sense of the word. He came from a humble background but through his deeds he was able to make his mark on Waukesha. Unlike many born during his time, he was able to not only attend college but he was able to graduate as well. He gained fame by being one of a select few to become an aviator and served with valor and heroism during the First World War. Upon coming back to Waukesha, Breese was able to establish himself in the community through his business ventures and by actively participating in community groups and organizations. Clinton Breese accomplished much during his life, he was a loving son, father and husband, and through his actions and contributions he helped make Waukesha into what it is today.

The 1919 home of Clinton Breese conceals the importance of one of Waukesha’s most prominent men. Breese was born in 1894 and would become one of the most well known figures 20th Century Waukesha.  Breese first gained fame as a pilot during World War One, becoming a local hero in the process.  He would later serve as a valuable member of the community, holding a variety of positions and various memberships during the course of his long life.  Clinton Breese was a loving father, husband, and an integral part of Waukesha’s history.  In part because of his legacy, Clinton Breese’s home is now a part the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places.



Clinton Breese: Son, Father, Hero

Aaron W. Rhodes was barely an adult when he enlisted in the Army National Guard in May of 1917. Having lied on his draft registration, he left his home at 523 College Avenue, soon to be renamed 511 W. College Avenue, in Waukesha just shy of his eighteenth birthday. A member of the 107th Supply Train, he was assigned to the 32nd Division of the Army National Guard. The Division would begin their training at Camp MacArthur in Waco, Texas. However, they would be unable to finish their training before they were deployed. Unfortunately for Rhodes, he would experience the worst the war had to offer before he ever even joined his division in France to finish training. 	Along with other miscellaneous members of the 32nd Infantry, Rhodes boarded the S.S. Tuscania, a luxury cruise liner that had been converted to a military transport ship. And on January 27, 1918, the ship departed from Hoboken, New Jersey. The Tuscania entered the so called ‘Danger Zone’, the German war zone surrounding the British Isles, on February 4, 1918. It would be the next night that they would enter the crosshairs of UB77. Spotting the British ship, Kaptain Wilhelm Meyer gave the order to fire two torpedoes at the convoy of fourteen transport vessels and eight British destroyers. Only one of the torpedoes would find its target, recording UB77’s only successful sinking of an enemy ship in its roughly year long service. 	Private Rhodes would survive the sinking of the Tuscania, and go with his unit from Islay, Scotland, where a mass amount of the Tuscania survivors had been shuttled to from the crash. By February 15, the men of the 32nd Division had reached England, leaving for France a few short days later.  Beginning as a replacement unit, the Division would go without official orders until May of 1918. As summer rolled around, the men were instructed that they were to join the 40th French Corps on the front lines in Alsace, making the members of the 32nd Division the first American soldiers to step foot on German soil during the war. 	Over the next few months, the ‘Les Terribles’, so nicknamed by the French for their determined fighting style, would help push the front lines further into Germany. Moving from Alsace, the unit briefly fought in Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, and Meuse-Argonne. It was their ability to pierce through every enemy line they faced that earned the 32nd Division their famed ‘Red Arrow’ moniker.	After a brief stint occupying the Rhine, the men of the 32nd Division were relieved from duty in April of 1919. By May 1, 1919, a majority of the Division’s soldiers had departed Europe, and were bound for home.  Corporal Rhodes and a majority of the 107th Supply Train reached Camp Morrison in Newport News, Virginia, aboard the battleship U.S.S Virginia on May 21. Upon their return to Wisconsin, the members of the 32nd Division were greeted with Red Arrow day. June 6, 1919, was set aside to honor the heroic men of the namesake division, and involved a parade, a public welcome to Milwaukee, and an evening ball. 	Upon returning home to Waukesha, Rhodes moved back into the family home at 511 W. College Avenue, with his father, Dell, mother, Mary Elanor, and little brother, Harley. Spending a small stint as a machinist at the Waukesha Pure Foods Co., Rhodes worked in the Jiffy Jell Factory. When the factory closed down in 1921, Rhodes and his new wife, Ida, moved to Rockford, Illinois. For the next two years, they would both work at Keeling Drug Company. However, Corporal Rhodes would pass away on March 23, 1923. 	While little is known of the man that was Corporal Aaron W. Rhodes, his legacy as a member of the famed ‘Red Arrow’ Division will live on forever. A legendary tale of American patriots who help the people of Wisconsin remember the importance of World War I, and the sacrifice their fellow man made to preserve the American Dream.

The Iron Jaw Division. Les Terribles. The Red Arrow Division. The men who made up the 32nd Infantry Division of the Army National Guard have been called many things. While Corporal Aaron W. Rhodes was simply a member of the 107th Supply Train, he followed his fellow soldiers to the front lines, and helped cement the legend of the Red Arrow Division in the memory of Wisconsin natives.

Rhodes' Family Home

The first clue to Harold Junemann's story starts with his last name, which suggests his German heritage. The Junemanns, like most German immigrants, likely found in Wisconsin a climate and terrain much like what they'd left in the "Fatherland." They also found cheap land, economic opportunity, and less discrimination than on the East Coast. German immigrants often brought useful skills, as well as (more often than not) extended family members. Harold Junemann's draft card, in fact, has two addresses, including not only his home in Waukesha, but also that of uncle Fred Junemann in Milwaukee, which of course was a booming epicenter of for turn-of-the-century German immigrants. Harold's parents, Martin and Caroline Juranson, were born in Germany, and had anglicized the family name to Junemann by 1900. Martin worked as a carpenter for the Wilbur Lumber Company, which owned a mill in Waukesha, as well as at least eighteen lumber yards in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. The Junemanns lived at 606 Hamilton Avenue--which became 614 Hamilton when the city renumbered the street around 1920. Harold seems to be the third son; older brother Elmer was born in 1892, four years after another son died in infancy. Being a German-American, even in Wisconsin, couldn’t have been easy during the war years. That may have influenced Junemann's decision to join the war; fight for the American side would show his loyalty to the United States over his German roots. This may also explain why he joined up in the last months of the war. Harold Junemann enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps at Carroll College, where he studied Economics and History. Already in Spring 1918, he is listed as Assistant Business Manager for The Carroll Echo (student newspaper). The 1920 Hinakaga yearbook notes, "This man has brains... He uses his brains for affairs of the heart--which may seem incongruous, but don't you think every man must?" (Hinakaga, 47) Perhaps, but "Hal" Junemann also kept his brain busy. In 1918-19, he made the Honor Role of the Student Army Training Corp. As a junior in 1920, he managed the business side of The Carroll Echo and was a founding member of the Mu chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon. There are few clues as to Harold's adult life following the war and his graduation from (then) Carroll College. By 1931, he was married to Myrtle and lived on Third Avenue in Wauwatosa, where he worked as a saleman in the metal stamping industry. Per the 1940 census, Harald and Canadian-born wife Myrtle lived with their ten-year-old daughter Natalie at 4417 N. Murray Avenue in Shorewood (Milwaukee).

This modest, well-kept neighborhood is pretty quiet these days, tucked in between West College Avenue and Waukesha's Fox River Sanctuary.  A hundred years ago, though, the German-American Junemann family called it home. Son Harold Junemann, born on January 9th, 1899 spent most of his childhood here--a stone's throw from Bethesda Spring Park--before registering for military service at the county courthouse about a mile away.


Harold Junemann's childhood home. 

Dr. Joseph Henry Evans was born on May 8, 1891, in Genesee, Wisconsin to Henry Owen Evans and Elizabeth Jones Evans. Joseph was one of six children, and one of five that lived to adulthood. His parents, like many people in Wales, were Presbyterian farmers. We know, thanks to the 1900 United States Census, that as a child Joseph attended school with his siblings where he learned to read and write.He likely earned his degree in veterinary surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. After graduating he most likely returned to Waukesha county to find work, as that's where he met his future wife Edith L. Trakel who lived in the apartment above her father’s business, Charles J. Trakel &amp; Son, Mason Contractors on 410 St. Paul Ave.When the United States joined the war in Europe, Joseph, like many proud Wisconsinites, probably felt that it was his duty to enlist. So, pushing back his engagement he enlisted on June 16, 1917. Joseph, a 25 year old, was older and more educated than the typical 12-23 year old recruit. And thanks to his veterinary skills, Joseph was given the rank of second lieutenant and sent to California, most likely by train, where he worked as a horse inspector on a cavalry training grounds for the entirety of the war. Although Joseph didn’t travel as far as other soldiers, he did leave both his fiancee and the state called home. This could have been the first time he saw the ocean.Physicians and ministers also enlisted as officers, and like them veterinarians played an important role in the war effort. We can assume, for example, that Joseph’s work made sure that trainees' horses that were healthy and fit. In Europe, Veterinary Corps accompanied both Cavalry and Artillery regiments. Without the vets' work, both types of units would've been less effective. Six months after Joseph's enlistment, and despite the ongoing war, Edith Trakel and her father Charles joined him in Los Angeles, and on January 14th, 1918, the couple married in what was probably a small ceremony. After the war, Joseph and Edith returned to Genesee, Wisconsin. Joseph joined the Veterinary Surgery practice of Drs. Downing and Lothe at 211 Street in Waukesha. Joseph and Edith lived in the same house for thirty-six years, raising three children: Bernice, Mary and Harry Joseph Evans died at the age of 66 and was buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha.

What does it mean to serve? To fight on the front lines; to engage in trench warfare. These are ways many U.S. soldiers served in World War I. But what about soldiers who never left the United States? What about nurses who tended the wounded and the dying? These brave men and women also served our country, and Dr. Joseph Evans is an excellent example of this.

Joseph Evans: A Veterinarian Veteran

Many young men were thrust into World War One without a say or clue as to what was to follow. &nbsp;One young man, Earle Hardy, volunteered for the service in the Marine Corps with a full knowledge of what was expected. &nbsp;One of the many Marine mottos, “First to Fight”, fits with Earle’s character. Maybe it was luck, or maybe it was calculated risk that led Earle to join after the Marines’ fight was almost over in France, but he still joined the fight in America’s toughest fighting force. &nbsp;He was a man of action, decision, and leadership. He used his experiences in the Marine Corps, even though they may have been a little underwhelming, to help shape his life, even though he never seemed to talk about his service. Earle William Hardy was born in chicago on September 5, 1896. &nbsp;When he was eight years old, his family moved to chicago and lived with his paternal grandparents near Cutler Park in Waukesha, Wisconsin. &nbsp;Sometime between 1905 and 1915, Earle moved with his family to a residence on East Avenue. In 1915, Earle’s parents built a house at 102 South Grand Avenue in Waukesha until he started college. &nbsp;On the cusp of the Great War, in 1917, Earle started classes at UW Madison.After completing his freshman year at Madison, Earle enlisted in the Marine Corps in June of 1918. &nbsp;For eight weeks, received his boot camp training at Parris Island, South Carolina. From there, Earle transferred to Quantico, Virginia for further training. &nbsp;At Quantico, the Marines were provided with training that simulated the experiences the Marines would encounter in France as a part of the AEF (American Expeditionary Force). &nbsp;He qualified as a rifleman with score that earned him the title of sharpshooter. He also received training for open warfare more than trench warfare. This training prepared marines for breaking through the german lines to suggest that the United States military leadership did not intend to engage in prolonged trench warfare. &nbsp;Privates like Earle also received advanced training at Quantico in combat areas such as bayonet use, bombing, automatic rifle firing, machine gunning, and mining and sapping (engineering). When Earl completed his training, he was placed into his unit, E Company, Thirteenth (Lucky) Battalion, Fourth Marine Brigade. The Thirteenth sailed to Berth France, leaving on 13 September 1918, aboard the USS Henderson, &nbsp;and arriving on 26 September 1918. While on Board, Earle became sick with both the mumps and influenza. &nbsp;The influenza pandemic started in the spring of 1918 and raged on between globally until 1920.&nbsp; Earle's luck&nbsp;struck again when&nbsp;he survived his bout with influenza. &nbsp;This strain tended to attack the immune system and turn the victim’s body against itself. &nbsp;Usually illnesses tend to be deadliest to those with weakened immune systems, the very young, and the very old, but the influenza strain of the autumn of 1918 feasted on the healthy immune systems of young men and women.&nbsp; Military life&nbsp;in World War 1 life proved to be very conducive for the spread of airborne diseases, with troops living in close quarters in ships and trenches while often being to the elements and unhygienic living conditions. The chance for a young man of Earle’s age dying from influenza during this time was far higher than any other age group.By the time Earle arrived in France, his unit the fourth Marine Brigade, had already engaged in many tough battles and had earned the name of “Teufel Hunden” or “Devil Dogs” from the Germans after their tenacious fight in the Battle of Belleau Woods. &nbsp;At this time, the Marines were fighting alongside the Army in a joint unit called the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) led by General Pershing. Pershing and many of the other Army top brass bemoaned the presence of the publicity grabbing Marines and tried to prevent more Marines from joining the fight in France. &nbsp;Pershing was unable to stop the second brigade of Marines from reaching the fighting France. Most of the the second wave of Marines were used in rear echelon duties such as supply or as replacements for the Marine Brigade at the front. &nbsp;This would explain why Earle never made it to the front line. His military records show that he mostly did supply work in Berth, France. He spent his time working with detachments of Marines along the coast of France in the St. Nazaire and Nantes areas. &nbsp;On July 31, 1919 the men of the Thirteenth regiment sailed home from Brest, France on board the USS Siboney. In early August, 1919, Earle was discharged with excellent remarks from the Marine Corps although never having engaged in front line battle during the war. &nbsp;This leads one to wonder if this is the reason he never spoke about his service publicly. Many veterans who “miss out” on the action feel as though their time in service did not count or isn’t worthy of mentioning because so many other men did so much more. After his honorable discharge, life smiled on Earle. &nbsp;He worked hard, earned a degree and built a life for himself, but it almost seems as though his path in life was smoothed over. &nbsp;Earle moved back in with his parents on South Grand Avenue in Waukesha and prepared to resume his studies in business and commerce at the University of Wisconsin Madison. &nbsp;He led an active student life on campus and joined a variety of clubs and societies including the yearbook staff, commerce club, and two fraternities, Phi Delta Theta and Beta Gamma Sigma. Earle graduated in 1922. 	Earle did not have to search for a job because he was able to join his father’s Abstract firm. &nbsp;Abstract companies deal with any paperwork that involved the sale of land or buildings. In June of 1926, Earle married his wife Ethel. The birth of their two children followed over the next few years. &nbsp;In 1927, Earle and Ethel built their first home at 122 South Grand Ave in Waukesha, just down the road from his childhood home. 	From the time Earle entered civilian life, he was an avid bowler and golfer, making the news paper for well played games. &nbsp;Earle was a member of the Westmoor Country Club in Brookfield Wisconsin. He, along with 200 other members set out to find land to start a new golf course that was closer than the Milwaukee courses they had to travel to play. &nbsp;Earle found the ideal spot for the sought after golf course when completing an insurance claim for a cow struck by lighting. Over the next few decades, Earle and his wife built a summer cottage near the Merrill Hills Golf Course they referred to as “the shack”. &nbsp;Later, in 1952, the Hardy’s built a larger house in the nearby&nbsp;vicinity. In 1932, Earle took over his father’s position as head of the Ryan-Hardy Abstract Company. Later he also took on a job as the vice president of the First National Bank of Waukesha. &nbsp;At this time, Earle was also Earl spent most of his later life indulging his passion for golf and bowling. His wife, Ethel died in May of 1989. Earle died on January 11, 1992. Husband and wife are buried next to each other in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha.Earle seemed to be in the right place at the right time for much of his life. &nbsp;He was born into a family that had wealth and owned a business in an area that was immune to the effects of the depression. &nbsp;Even when he signed up for the toughest branch of the armed forces, he entered the war theater just after major engagements and decisions to hold a majority of Marines off the front lines. &nbsp;After the war, Earle’s extracurriculars put him in the path of other community leaders. He was able to set up Waukesha’s first premiere country club by the chance that a cow was struck by lightning on the land ensured by his company. &nbsp;Maybe it was luck, or birthright, or hard work and determination, but Earle led a life that was full of experiences and blessings that could only be dreamed of by most of the world. <div> </div>

Until a cow was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning in 1929, Merrill Hills Country Club was traditional rolling farmland in southeastern Wisconsin.  The club was founded by World War One, United States Marine veteran, Earle William Hardy and a group of avid golfers from the area.  Earle discovered the perfect place for the 54-hole golf club by coming to the farm that originally sprawled there to investigate the death of the aforementioned cow that was struck by lightning.  This stroke of luck and timing was indicative of Earle Hardy’s life.  He was born into a family of relative wealth and opportunity.  Earle served in France during The Great War in the finest fighting force, but rarely, if ever, saw the brutality of ferocious fighting experienced by many in the Marine Brigade.  This in not to say that Earle was handed everything in his life, but one can conclude that Earle, like the Merrill Hills Country Club, encountered many strokes of luck that led to a lifetime of prosperity.

Waukesha World War I Heritage Trail

Veterans' Park

Introduction

Images

Additional Information