Category Archives: Milwaukee

General Tom Thumb rescued from deadly Milwaukee hotel fire!

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

In doing some class prep I came across a book titled Vintage Milwaukee Postcards, by Larry Widen, which talks about, among other interesting pieces of Milwaukee history, the famous (in its day) Newhall House Fire. The Newhall House was a sprawling six-story, wood-framed luxury … Continue reading →

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Perspective

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

I definitely was paying attention at the Faculty Senate meeting this morning in the Schroeder Room of MSOE’s Walter Schroeder Library! But sitting in a different seat than usual led to a new perspective on a view that is normally at my back.  As … Continue reading →

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Intersections: old/new, vertical/horizontal

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

I attended a party/dinner downtown last night with my husband, and as he paid for our parking, I noticed the interesting juxtaposition of lines at the spot where a parking garage met an old office building. Night colors are always off … Continue reading →

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Lake Michigan, January

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

An old friend lives on Prospect Avenue, high on the bluffs overlooking Milwaukee’s lakefront.  I visited her today with another friend.  The day was gray, frigid and quite breezy.  But I pulled off my gloves and braved the wind—only for a minute—to … Continue reading →

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That winter quality of light

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

People who brave winter in the North know what I’m talking about: the strangely bluish quality of cold air and golden flash of low-angled sunlight.  When we say we appreciate the change of seasons, this “quality of light” is almost always … Continue reading →

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Christmas shopping in “The Village”

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Katherine Wikoff

I don’t like shopping malls at Christmas.  Too crowded.  Too many harried people with too many gifts to buy and too little time. My husband and my younger daughter don’t mind all that.  In fact, for years now they’ve had an annual … Continue reading →

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Urban gray fox

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Katherine Wikoff

This fox was hanging around the parking lot at my doctor’s office yesterday.  There’s something spooky about a wild animal that doesn’t have an appropriate level of wariness around humans.  The fox stared at us for a long time (somewhat balefully, I … Continue reading →

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Random thoughts on time, nostalgia and the human experience

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Katherine Wikoff

This photo taken on my way to work doesn’t do it justice. but the sun looked really eerie here, like a science fiction movie.  As you can see, the light was directed upward, while the ground below was in shadows.  And … Continue reading →

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The Art of the Fire Escape (Milwaukee’s City Hall)

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Katherine Wikoff

I had to walk past City Hall to a dentist’s appointment yesterday.  For months (actually, years off and on!) the Market Street shortcut behind City Hall has been blocked off by scaffolding erected to preserve/shore up the nearly 120-year-old structure.  I almost … Continue reading →

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Red Arrow “Slice of Ice” (plus “Hank” the Dog)

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Katherine Wikoff

The “Slice of Ice” skating rink at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee is nearly ready for skaters.  It opens for the season tomorrow (Thursday, December 4) at 4:00. Yesterday I noticed that the rink’s cement had been covered by … Continue reading →

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