Tag Archives: walker’s point

Engine Co. No. 3, Milwaukee

Historic Photos of Engine Co. No. 3 Milwaukee

The Hipstory

The Engine Company Number Three firehouse was built in 1904 in a Milwaukee fur trading quarter called Walker’s Point. It was built in a time when mustachioed firemen perched in the lookout tower to spot blazes for miles around. They slid down a copper pole to harnessed horses ready to pull both men and steam pumper swiftly to the site of the flames.

Engine Co. No. 3 Milwaukee History

Milwaukee firemen served the Walker’s Point neighborhood from the brown brick building at 217 W National Ave for 25 years until its tower was dismantled in 1930 and its doors were shackled shut. Over the next 84 years, the brown brick building sat vacant, floor rotting, ivy vines crawling across crumbling brick, fireman’s pole sold for its copper. It sat lonely and deserted, like a broken toy soldier.

Abandoned Firehouse Milwaukee

Until in 2013, when Peter and Sonia Sandroni blew the dust off the old firehouse and breathed new life back into it.

The Rebirth

Peter and Sonia opened their international tapas restaurant, La Merenda, in 2007. They drove by the firehouse every day, and finally, following six successful years at their first restaurant, they rescued the firehouse that had rescued so many before.

Engine Co. No. 3 Historic Restaurant Milwaukee

The structure of the building was in good shape– the Sandronis just had to patch a brick here and there– but they were starting with a skeleton. “There were no stairs,” remembers Sonia. “You had to jump to get to the second floor.”

Historic Firehouse Memorabilia Milwaukee Engine Co. No. 3

The Sandronis went to work restoring the original wood floors, brick interior and charming facade of the building. Reclaimed wood from throughout the building was used for the rebuild and will be used on the restaurant’s new outdoor deck, opening in 2017.

Inside Engine Co. No. 3 Hipstorical Restaurant Milwaukee

The original pulley door was replaced by a shiney new black glass door that now opens to the front patio on warm, sunny days. Though the lookout tower was gone when they arrived, the base of the original shaft can be seen from inside the front door.

The Tower Shaft at the Hipstorical Engine Co. No. 3

The Sandronis’ hard work paid off, and the new-old restaurant– Engine Co. No. 3— opened on September 9, 2014.

The Details

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: when it comes to Hipstoricals, it’s all in the details.

Engine Co. No. 3 teamed up with the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society to give the place its finishing touches. Framed badges are hung above the bar, and behind it on shelves are rusty lanterns, axes, hoses, bells, boots, and helmets. A focal point of the room is a 12-foot life net, hung on the wall that evokes images of a cartoon fire brigade rescue.

Life Net at Engine Co. No. 3 Milwaukee Hipstorical

At the back of the restaurant is half of a 400-pound, 30-foot fireman’s ladder; the other half is upstairs in the private party area. All of the items have either been donated or are on loan from the museum. Photos from the museum’s archives hang in frames on every wall, including one of the original crew from Engine Co. No. 3.

Hipstorical Firehouse Restaurant Milwaukee

The Menu

Sonia Sandroni is a native of Colombia, her husband has Italian and Irish heritage, and their butcher is South African. Combine those diverse backgrounds with the success of La Merenda’s international menu, and it only made sense for the team to create a new menu for Engine Co. No. 3 inspired by flavors and dishes from around the world.

Sonia Sandroni International Restaurant Milwaukee

My visit was during brunch, and so I had the difficult job of choosing between the South African Queen Brekki, the Quiche Lorraine from France, the Kolbasz and Paprika Krumpli from Hungary, and the Wisconsin Omelet, just to name a few.

Brunch Cocktails Milwaukee Restaurant
A Company Beermosa, made with New Glarus Spotted Cow and fresh-sqeezed OJ

Sonia and her team use farm-to-table ingredients from Wisconsin farmers. Engine Co.’s locally sourced meats are prepared by Engine Co. No. 3’s in-house butcher, Matthew, and the menu changes each season based on what’s fresh.

Best Restaurant in Milwaukee Engine Co. No. 3

“We tried to create a very unique menu, and it took a little time for people to get used to it,” says Sonia. “But La Merenda welcomes curious visitors from all over the world, and that’s what we wanted to do here too.”

Best Brunch in Milwaukee Engine Co. No. 3

My friend and I decided on the Hungarian dish– smoked Hungarian sausage, Bryntag Farms sweet potato puree, and three Brothers Farm sunny eggs– and the Colombian Patacon con Huevo– smashed and fried plantains with cilantro rice, Flyte Family Farm beans, hogao (a spiced tomato sauce), and fried sunny side up eggs. The latter was also enjoyed by President Obama who stopped by for a bite to eat when he was in town, and both were inexplicably delicious and unlike anything I’d tasted before– exactly what I’m looking for on my hipstorical travels!

International Cuisine Milwaukee Engine Co. No. 3

***

The old-school neighborhood of Walker’s Point may have been shy at first– unsure of the international flavors on the menu at Engine Co. No. 3. But I think it’s places like these are exactly what we need right now. Engine Co. No. 3 didn’t go running. They stayed put and were true to their uniqueness. They didn’t try to change who they were to fit the neighborhood. They waited for their neighbors to come around and become comfortable with the different.

Embrace the different. Be open to newcomers and new flavors from around the world. Be your unique, delicious self.

Engine Co. No. 3 Milwaukee

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The Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee

Venture off the beaten path to Milwaukee’s historic Walker’s Point neighborhood. First founded in 1835 as a fur trading post, Walker’s Point saw massive development from the 1800s through the turn of the century as the industrial revolution swept through Milwaukee. Today, abandoned buildings are being adaptively reused for loft apartments like River Place Lofts, office suites like the Tannery, event space like the Pritzlaff building and hotels like The Iron Horse.

Historic Iron Horse Hotel | Milwaukee

The building that’s now home to The Iron Horse Hotel was originally built in 1907 by the architectural firm Buemming & Dick as a factory and warehouse for Berger Bedding Factory. Before it opened as the Iron Horse Hotel eight years ago, it was being used as cold storage.

Walker's Point Milwaukee History | Iron Horse

The hotel’s name pays homage to the railroad nearby and to the Harley Davidson museum across the bridge (“Iron Horse” is a Victorian term for a steam locomotive and a nickname for motorcycles). The facade is original, including this capital detail that inspired the hotel’s logo.

Iron Horse Hotel | Historic Architecture
Iron Horse detail on the building’s facade

Nearly all of the decor throughout the hotel is recycled, reused or repurposed. The bar, lined with 1920s drafting chairs, is made from the building’s original doors, and a giant copper mirror that hangs behind it has been repurposed from a stained glass church window in Pennsylvania.

Iron Horse Hotel | Repurposed
“Branded,” The Iron Horse bar

Developer and  carpenter by trade, owner Tim Dixon kept as much historical detail throughout the building as he could, including the boiler room door on the lower level that hides a private office.

Iron Horse Hotel History | Milwaukee

The Iron Horse is the last original timber-beamed building in Milwaukee, and the 300-year-old pine beams throughout the lobby give the room structure and strength.

Iron Horse Hotel | Adaptive Reuse
The lobby

The lobby’s wrought iron chandeliers are made from motorcycle parts, light fixtures are made from baked bean cans, and there is an enormous flag on a nearby wall made from 32 ½ pairs of Wrangler Jeans.

Upcycled Decor | Iron Horse Hotel
Upcycled chandeliers

Milwaukee’s famous Cream City Bricks that once protected the Berger mattresses from fire now separate the cozy lobby from the hotel restaurant, Smyth, which pays homage to the blacksmith. “Since we have a lot of motorcycle enthusiasts, we want someone to be able to step off their Harley and feel comfortable eating next to someone in a business suit,” says McGinnis.

Smyth Upscale Restaurant | Milwaukee
“Smyth,” the Iron Horse’s upscale restaurant

Photos tell the story of a local blacksmith’s work, and tables built with reclaimed elm are wrapped with copper to give the restaurant an industrial feel.

Smyth Gastronomic Restaurant | Milwaukee
Blacksmith art at “Smyth”

The menu is upscale casual and honors “the blacksmith and his craft by creating cuisine that reflects the handcrafted, soulful trade of transforming raw materials into works of art.” Try the Spanish octopus for starters, then choose between entrees like lake trout or duck breast with baby leek.

Smyth Restaurant | Iron Horse Hotel
Everything is hand crafted at Smyth

The hotel is also home to The Yard, an outdoor bar and restaurant with a more casual atmosphere and menu.

The Yard Bar and Restaurant | Milwaukee
The Yard patio

Cozy up in the working library, where tables are made from reclaimed factory parts and well-worn bucket chairs from the bank of London surround what once was a money vault and now acts as a fireplace.

The Library | Iron Horse Hotel | Milwaukee
The Iron Horse’s working library

The same artist who created the denim art, Charles Dwyer, is a childhood friend of The Iron Horse’s owner and created most of the art throughout the hotel. He even mentored a homeless man he encountered on the street, Jerry Pfeil, and taught him how to draw. Jerry’s art hangs in the hotel bar: Branded.

Local Art | Milwaukee Hotel
Funky art by Jerry Pfeil in the “Branded” bar

The Iron Horse loves out-of-town visitors, but they also work hard to cultivate a community space for locals, with activities, events and workspace for Milwaukeeans. “Local is really important to us,” says Iron Horse Senior Sales Manager Katie McGinnis. That’s why the hotel bar features local beer, and their Friday happy hour offers discounts on local drinks.

Bittercube Bitters | Cocktail Elixirs
Custom cocktail elixirs made for Iron Horse by Bittercube Bitters, a Milwaukee company

A local company makes cocktail elixirs, available in your room’s mini fridge, and local artist Charles Dwyer created murals for the guest rooms that depict the beauty of Milwaukee women.

Charles Dwyer Murals | Iron Horse Hotel
Charles Dwyer murals in Iron Horse’s guest roomsEach of the boutique hotel’s 100 rooms features a desk, chair, table, and big, roomy bathrooms with walk-in showers.

Boutique Hotel Rooms | Iron Horse Milwaukee

To cater to the motorcyclists the hotel welcomes from the Harley Davidson Museum across the river, the custom-made, Iron-Horse-shaped hooks along the wall hold up to 80 pounds for motorcycle gear (or wedding and bridesmaid dresses–whatever you need!)

Iron Horse | Milwaukee Motorcycle Hotel
Custom Iron Horse hooks to hold biker gear or bridesmaid dresses

When it comes to recreating a thoughtful and inventive new space from a priceless piece of history, it’s all in the details. Iron Horse does details. From the original timber beams to the Cream City Brick, and the hand-crafted, repurposed tables and chandeliers, Tim Dixon and his team have perfectly combined history and creativity to create a cozy and inviting space for everyone from a blushing bride to a badass biker. Book a room for your next visit to Milwaukee, enjoy a meal at Smyth, or a drink at Branded or The Yard. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from– stop into the Iron Horse, and you’ll feel at home.

History of the Iron Horse Hotel | Milwaukee

As featured on Nick and Danielle’s Milwaukee date on The Bachelor.

Suggestions for more hipstorical places in Milwaukee? Email me and help me build my archives!