January 5, 2020 – West Bend, WI – It looks like neighbors and armchair historians from West Bend are honing in on the timeline of the aerial photo overlooking Regner Park and N. Main Street.
The huge framed photo is sitting in the building inspection office at City Hall in West Bend. The picture measures about 5 feet x 6 feet.
Some of the input so far includes:
- The old pearl button factory is still standing. That’s on the far right side of the photo on Washington Street.
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Photo courtesy the book, “Washington County’s Aluminum Industry” - The building was razed in 1997. Neighbors said it was constructed around 1890 and home to a number of businesses including the West Bend Plating Company, West Bend Knitting Mills, the A. H. Dennhardt Knitting Company, the Silver Lake Ice Company. Today the location is a park just south of the dam.
- Andrew Gonring I see Glenn’s Grill in the area where the skateboard park currently is. Also open dressing rooms at Regner Park. I am saying early 1960s.
- Ed Tennies Pre 1958, Tennies Buick showroom is not yet built.
Neighbors in West Bend will easily recognize the old West Bend Company. Anything you notice? Where is the elevated tram tunnel that ran out the back of the building. When was that added?
The current bridge running over the Milwaukee River to Silverbrook Drive hasn’t been built yet.
Kuester Island has an interesting look and no parking lot or bridge.
On Highway 33 is that the old monument building in the upper right hand corner?
Any help appreciated. Have fun and thanks for disregarding the glare off the glass.
