On the shores of Lake Michigan, and with over 600,000 residents, it is the largest city in Wisconsin.
Famous Milwaukee-ians.....
Father Jacques Marquette (early settler), The Harleys and the Davidsons (George's Dad grew up with them), Harry Houdini, Spencer Tracy, Pat O'Brien, Gene Wilder, David and Jerry Zucker (remember Airplane?), Golda Maier (early prime minister of Isreal) William Renquist, and noted electrical engineer, Robert W. Smeaton. |
Suds City....In the late 1800s Milwaukee became famous for brewing and became known as Beer Town. Four famous Milwaukee brewers were Fredrick Miller, Frederick Pabst, Joseph Schlitz, and Valentine Blatz. To this day, the smell of yeast permeates the city. Tours of the Miller Brewery, and beer-newcomer, Lakefront Brewery are conducted daily.
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Baseball, brats, & beer! After losing their beloved Braves to Atlanta, Milwaukee became the home of the Brewers in 1969. Go Brew Crew!!!
Above: Milwaukee Brewer fans in full regalia standing outside of Miller Park.
Above Right: Susan and George Smeaton, and Susie and Ed Ritz enjoyed dinner at Wolf Peach (Middle Ages expression for tomato). A wonderful Milwaukee restaurant not to be missed.
Usinger's Sausage of Milwaukee is known as "the Tiffany of Sausagemakers." All varieties of German Sausage (including blood sausage, head cheese, and my personal favorite, braunschweiger) can be purchased online (Usingers.com) or at their shop at 1030 Old World Third Street.
Lucky for them, the Trenkle Sausage Company of Dubuque, Iowa closed in 1969.
Above Right: Susan and George Smeaton, and Susie and Ed Ritz enjoyed dinner at Wolf Peach (Middle Ages expression for tomato). A wonderful Milwaukee restaurant not to be missed.
Usinger's Sausage of Milwaukee is known as "the Tiffany of Sausagemakers." All varieties of German Sausage (including blood sausage, head cheese, and my personal favorite, braunschweiger) can be purchased online (Usingers.com) or at their shop at 1030 Old World Third Street.
Lucky for them, the Trenkle Sausage Company of Dubuque, Iowa closed in 1969.
In Maine they have a saying, "Just because your cat had kittens in the oven, it doesn't make them biscuits." In their opinion, you couldn't be from Maine if your grandparents weren't born there. By that logic, George is a true Milwaukee-ian because his father, Robert Smeaton, and his father's parents, Ella and Clarence Smeaton, were born in the city. Clarence's father, Robert Gray Smeaton, was a Scottish immigrant, and Ella's father, a prominent Milwaukee architect of Dutch descent, built the family home where Robert and his sister Luenda grew up.
As a child, Robert curled with the St. Andrew's Society, and won a dog sled championship with his dog Shep. Later, at the Milwaukee wedding of a friend, he met his bride to be Joy Authier. Before they wed, they enjoyed ice skating down the Milwaukee River, playing tennis, and having malts together. After they married, they lived in Milwaukee for 18 years and raised 5 children before moving to Neosho, Wisconsin (George's birthplace). George's Aunt Luenda and his Grandmother Authier lived in Milwaukee for nearly all their lives, so to this day, the smell of yeast brings him fond memories of visiting the home of beer.
As a child, Robert curled with the St. Andrew's Society, and won a dog sled championship with his dog Shep. Later, at the Milwaukee wedding of a friend, he met his bride to be Joy Authier. Before they wed, they enjoyed ice skating down the Milwaukee River, playing tennis, and having malts together. After they married, they lived in Milwaukee for 18 years and raised 5 children before moving to Neosho, Wisconsin (George's birthplace). George's Aunt Luenda and his Grandmother Authier lived in Milwaukee for nearly all their lives, so to this day, the smell of yeast brings him fond memories of visiting the home of beer.