#2: Museum to visit within Milwaukee neighborhoods-Charles Allis Art Museum
Ever hear of Allis – Chalmers Corporation? Well Charles Allis was the first president of the company and him and his wife Sarah built a home at 1801 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee. The Allis’s were avid art collectors and throughout their marriage they collected paintings, ivory, sculptures, ceramics, pottery, etc. Per the brochure provided at the Mansion: “It is largely intact with original furnishings and a rich and diverse art collection spanning nearly 2,000 years beginning with ancient glass objects blown in 1 B.C. and ending with the painters of Charles Allis’ day.” (For additional information, times, admission prices and other activities at the museum, please go to:www.cavtmuseums.org or call 414-278-8295.)
This home was designed by Alexander Eschweiler, a well known American Architect, who built both residential and commercial buildings. He had his business in Milwaukee and there are many fine examples of his work in the area. (I will definitely be speaking about him again in future blogs.)
You enter this magnificent mansion and you feel like you are going back to the early 1900’s. The Allis’s, as I stated above not only bequeathed their home, but also the contents. This home was built between 1909 and 1911. Concrete, Ohio brick and Lake Superior sandstone is what the home was built with and it states in the brochure this was one of the first homes in Milwaukee to have electricity! As you go through the home, one will be amazed at the beautiful woodwork (Circassian Walnut, Mahogany, etc.) and the many hand carved marble fireplaces throughout. There is also a Marble Staircase. An exceptional stain-glass window is at the first landing of the staircase.
Each room has a type of theme. The living room is called the “French Parlor” due to the room having most of it’s furnishings from France. There is also a beautiful Steinway piano which Sarah apparently played on a regular basis.
Sarah’s Bedroom has watercolors by Bruno Ertz and just outside Charles’s Bedroom there is a large display of Greek artifacts.
The Library is called the “American Room” due to the amount of 19th century American painters art which is displayed. These artists were from the Hudson River School. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hudsonriverschool)
There are stories within stories as you go through the home and read about the Allis’s life. It is a really great way to spend an afternoon and learn about a couple who appreciated art, but also understood the necessity to leave it to the public, so everyone can learn and appreciate the past. The mission statement for the Charles Allis Art Museum and the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum says it all, per the brochure provided at the Charles Allis Art Museum: “To fully utilize both historic house Museums, gardens and their art collections for education and community enrichment. As part of the Milwaukee County War Memorial Corporation, the Museums honor the war dead by serving the living.”
After leaving the museum, make sure to visit the garden. Also, peruse the neighborhood and check out the other homes and condos in the area. Don’t forget to eat!! There are many fantastic restaurants in the area:Comet Café, Pasta Tree, etc.
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Nancy Neylon
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