One of the older surviving buildings in northeastern Waukesha County, this former residence was built circa 1858 for John Fehl, a German-born farmer. Among later owners were Charles Miller, Milwaukee businessman, and Mrs. Walter Davidson, widow of the president of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. In 1965, the house and property were sold by Emma Davidson to the Village of Menomonee Falls. The Menomonee Falls Woman's Club and Menomonee Falls Historical Society helped with the purchase. The home and property now serve as a living history museum.The home was built in 1858 in the Greek Revival style using locally quarried limestone with mortar lime coming from the nearby lime kilns. The house is truly one-of-a-kind, featuring an unusual arched foundation that sets it apart from the rest. The furnishings in the home span a period of 200 years.In 1935, it was selected by the Federal Government’s Historic American Building Survey. The National Register of Historic Places selected it for inclusion in it's register in 1973.and in 1989 it was selected as a Wisconsin Registered Landmark.
Sometimes referred to as summerhouses, gazebos look like bandstands. They are a free standing structure with a roof and all open sides. The word "gazebo" first appeared in England in about 1752. It is believed to be a combination of the word gaze with the Latin suffix ebo which means I shall, thus gazebo means, "I shall gaze". Gazebos have been in use as early as 1400 B.C.The Menomonee Falls Victorian gazebo built in 1979, is not just a structure near the Miller-Davidson House, but a symbol of the dedication and hard work of individuals from different backgrounds and organizations coming together for a common goal.The octagonal structure were the combination of two different designs mirroring the style of the Miller-Davison home. The two designs were submitted and the gazebo was built by senior shop class students at Menomonee Falls North High School and Menomonee Falls East High School. Flagstone for the floor of the gazebo was donated by the Halquist Stone Company. It took approximately three weeks to build the structure.
The logs of this primitive style home were produced in a local sawmill. Three years after its construction by August and Sophie Rakow in 1873, widow, Margaret Koch purchased the home for herself and her daughter, Mary. Soon after an addition was attached to the building and the entire structure was covered with clapboard. In later years, a wing was added to the back of the dwelling where a small bottling dairy, Koch’s Dairy was started.The decorative railing hanging above the front porch is not original to the building. Fifty-two old spindles were salvaged from a rummage sale and restored. Industrial arts classes from both Menomonee Falls and North high schools assisted in the restoration. A veneer of split stone leftover from the building of the gazebo near the Miller-Davidson home completed the exterior. It was formerly located near the corner of Shady Lane and Appleton Avenue on one of Frederick Nehs’ original properties. It was donated to Old Falls Village by the Koch family in the late 1970s and dedicated in 1983.
The Walker-Sparrow Cabin, built in 1849, was once hidden under clapboard siding on Silver Spring Drive. This historic gem is a true testament to pioneer craftsmanship, with its heavy Tamarack logs weighing in at a whopping 15 tons. The basement is made of full fieldstone, with the majority of the rocks being cleared from the fields and made of solid granite. The cabin's half dovetailed corners are a nod to the German-style of construction, adding a touch of old-world charm to its rustic exterior. In December of 2003, the Walker-Sparrow Cabin found its way to Old Falls Village, where it stands today as a testament to the early settlers of Menomonee Falls.
Similar in size and shape to red beets, sugar beets are harvested for sugar. The beets are peeled, sliced, dried, then ground into granulated sugar. Granulated white sugar purchased in the store can be made of beet sugar or cane sugar. Most people can not tell the difference, but there are some differences. The beet ordinarily ripens by mid-September, and until early November there is little danger from cold.In the late 1890s, early 1900s, Menomonee Falls boasted the first sugar beet processing plant east of the Mississippi. The Falls was determined to be an ideal place to build a large sugar beet manufacturing plant due to favorable local soils and accessible rail connections with Milwaukee's seaport.Laborers in the factory were paid between 16 and 25 cents per hour while beet farmers received from 6 to 8 dollars per ton for their beet crop.This garden was planted as a tribute to all the beet farmers and factory laborers that harvested beets or worked in the factory and helped Menomonee Falls become a thriving community.Also grown in this garden by Menomonee Falls Historical Society volunteers are squash and other vegetables which are donated to the Menomonee Falls Food Pantry at the end of season.
This charming dwelling belonged to the parents of Edward Steichen - a legendary photographer whose work has left an indelible mark on American art. This historic home was constructed in the mid 1800s. In 1904 Edward Steichen helped purchase the house for his parents and sister, Lilian. The house was owned by the Steichen family until 1915.The Steichen House holds more than just a connection to the famous photographer. It was here that Edward's sister, Lilian, met Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Sandburg through the Socialist Party in Milwaukee. They quickly hit it off and kept in touch through heartfeltSaved from the brink of demolition, the Steichen House was moved to Old Falls Village in December 2002. And now, after years of restoration and hard work, this historic gem has been opened to the public for all to enjoy.The interior displays taut information about the Steichen family and war memorabilia.
Built: 1851 Dedicated: 1976Step back in time and experience a piece of history at the Old Falls Village School House!Built in 1851 for just $55, this one-room schoolhouse served as a hub of education for students of all ages. With only one teacher, all eight grades were taught in this charming building. You can still see initials and names etched into the walls, a testament to the memories created here. Imagine the crackle of the wood-burning stove as it provided warmth during long winter days, and the students pumping water from the outdoor well.In the restoration the walls were restored as they were originally with the original wood wainscoting still mostly intact. Of special interest on the wainscoting are the many initials carved in the wood by pupils.Part of the floor is original and the door is thought to be the original door. the furnishings and school furniture displayed span a period beyond that of the schools era.Sadly, in 1980 the schoolhouse was broken into and the historic school bell was stolen. Despite this setback, the School House still stands as a symbol of education and community.
Built: 1875Dedicated: 2018Step into the past and journey back to the late 19th century, where Sunnyside School proudly stood at the bustling intersection of Main St. and Menomonee Ave. in Menomonee Falls. With its distinctive one-room design, Sunnyside was a hub of learning, shaping the minds of countless students for over 80 years.Yet, even as the building was eventually slated for demolition in 2014, one integral piece of Sunnyside School's history was saved from the wrecking ball: the original Bell tower. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Menomonee Falls Historical Society member, Bob Cowan, the Bell tower was brought to Old Falls Village, where it became the model for a stunning replica that stands to this day.This school was also known as the Haylett School after farmer Theophilus Haylett who donated the land for the original school in 1851. The cream city brick school building attached to this belltower replaced an older red frame school.
Built: 1856Dedicated: 1982The Umhoefer Log Cabin, located in the Old Falls Village Historical Museum and Park, is characteristic of the first wave of settler dwelling architecture in the Menomonee Falls area. Constructed in 1856 by German immigrant farmer Gregory Umhoefer, the two-story log house (an evolved version of the earlier single-room log cabin dwelling type) includes two bedrooms on the second floor, one bedroom and one living room on the ground floor, a basement, and an attached kitchen addition. Another addition made to the house sometime during the early twentieth century consisted of three bedrooms upstairs, two bedrooms downstairs, and a large living room, but was torn down in 1965. Originally located on Gregory Umhoefer’s 80 acres of farm property on Fond du Lac Avenue near current-day Rotary Park, this modest yet undeniably robust home would go on to house Umhoefers continuously for over 100 years, until at last it was donated by Hugo Umhoefer (grandson of Gregory Umhoefer) to the Village of Menomonee Falls for preservation in the mid-1960s. Thanks to the efforts of the Menomonee Falls Historical Society, this historic cabin was saved and moved to its current location in Old Falls Village in 1967. The dedication ceremony in July of 1970 was a momentous occasion, featuring remarks by Menomonee Falls Village President, Dr. James D. Anthony, and many furnishings donated by Society members Elton Magee and Marion Brew.
Built soon after 1850, the barn is one of the two original buildings remaining on the farm site. Time honored pioneer craftsmanship can be seen in the framework of the building. The construction timbers were hewed and fitted by old-world hand-tools. Inside, the barn is home to an exhibit of small farm, industrial and household implements. A mural was added to the east side of the barn in 2021.
Dedicated:1980The Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls and Western Railway depot was built in 1890, the same year that the railroad came to Menomonee Falls. The Depot brought with it new commercial and industrial prosperity. It handled four passenger and freight trains daily, shipping local products such as stone, lime, ice, milk and sugar beets.In February 1973, the Menomonee Falls Historical Society assisted in acquiring the abandoned one-story depot from the Milwaukee Road. It was moved from its original site on North Water Street and restored. During the move, the shake shingle roof caved in and had to be rebuilt.
Originally donated by Mr. Harry Bruskevitz and transported to the grounds in June of 1972, the Carriage House at Old Falls Village was primarily intended to store antique carriages. The Village of Menomonee Falls contributed $600 to cover the expenses associated with its relocation.Within its walls, the society preserves and protects significant artifacts, including a horse-drawn carriage, showcasing the area's equestrian heritage. The Carriage House also previously housed one of the Menomonee Falls vintage fire engines, adding to its historical significance. Currently used for storage only, there have been intriguing proposals to use the Carriage House for other purposes. Ideas range from transforming it into a firehouse, a blacksmith shop, or even a distillery, highlighting the community's desire to breathe new life into this cherished building.
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Experience the charm of the past at Old Falls Village, nestled within a stunning 17-acre park in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This captivating living history museum offers a glimpse into life from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, with an array of historic homes and buildings to explore. Come travel back in time and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this picturesque village!
