| Whitefish Bay Community Interview Project |
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The Village of Whitefish Bay has a storied past that is often most evident in the memories of residents who recall events and their own experiences that have shaped its history over time. During the 2010-11 school year, we were fortunate to lead a group of Advanced Placement U.S. History students in an oral history project that asked them to find members of our community who have lived in Whitefish Bay for an extended period of time and document their stories of living here throughout the years. The students’ videos can be viewed by clicking on the name of each person or couple who was interviewed.
We are extremely grateful to both the students who dedicated significant time and effort in making these video documentaries and to all of the individuals who were willing to share their stories and memories of life in Whitefish Bay with the public. We are also very grateful to Thomas Fehring, the Whitefish Bay Historical Society, and the Whitefish Bay Public Library for their assistance with this endeavor. The dedication of everyone involved in this project clearly highlights a tradition of excellence that has endured in this community for generations.
Dr. John DeRose, Ph.D. Cassie Medved
Social Studies Instructor Library Media Specialist
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Video created by Ali Stewart and Audrey Schmid
Tom and Judy Schmid moved to Whitefish Bay 45 years ago after a relative convinced them to buy a friend’s old house. Tom and Judy love how community oriented Whitefish Bay is and they also enjoy the convenience of the close proximity to shops. Both Tom and Judy have been actively involved in the community and they take pride in Whitefish Bay.
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Video created by Ali Chmiel and Bridget Whaley
Midge Chmiel has lived in Whitefish Bay for about 33 years. Midge grew up in Bay and after leaving for college she came back to raise her family here. Midge believes that Whitefish Bay is a good place to live because of the quality of education and the safety of the community.
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Video created by Emma Fallone and Shannon O'Connor
Mr. George Hanneman is a former 5th grade teacher at Cumberland Elementary School and a current Whitefish Bay resident. Mr. Hanneman began living in Bay after a fellow teacher asked him to housesit and then later asked him to rent. Eventually, Mr. Hanneman bought his own house in Bay. Mr. Hanneman believes that any change that has occurred here has been in the best interest of the children.
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Video created by Brien Behling and Mitchell Yurkowitz
Mary Jean Caraway has lived in her current home for 55 years. Mary Jean believes that Whitefish Bay hasn’t changed much over the years, besides additions to homes and the replacement of stores. Mary Jean appreciates the fact that the Bay has not deteriorated over the years, like other neighborhoods. She would describe Whitefish Bay as a nice residential area to live.
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Video created by Katherine Giesa and Elena Beckman
Mary McIntyre, born in 1940, lived in a house that her parents built on Berkeley Boulevard for 30 years. During her time in Whitefish Bay, she worked at the Whitefish Bay Library as a reference librarian for 36 years. She attended St. Monica’s and Whitefish Bay High School and discusses her schooling experience as well as the changes she has seen in the village.
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Video created by Katie Bentley and Martha Vandemortel
Mr. Jack and Mrs, Susan Kesslers have lived in Whitefish Bay for 38 years. Mrs. Kessler has taught at Whitefish Bay High School for over 40 years. The couple views Whitefish Bay as a snow globe because many of today’s adults grew up in Whitefish Bay and live here today and try to preserve the past.
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Video created by Andrew Goitia and Thad Bruno
Cissie and her husband moved to Whitefish Bay after her husband got a job at UW-Milwaukee. Cissie and her husband were both actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement and they used to walk around Whitefish Bay asking citizens to sign petitions. In her experiences, Cissie says she found Whitefish Bay to be an accepting community and a pleasant place to live.
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Video created by Kelly Danek and Maggie McNally
Jeanne moved to Whitefish Bay in 1946. She has lived in the same house for 65 years. Jeanne grew up during the Depression and so when she came to Whitefish Bay, she viewed it as a “fairyland.” Jeanne has been very involved in working with citizens with disabilities.
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Video created by Brendan Demet and Jordan Lester
Ann Piehl, who worked at the Whitefish Bay Library for eight years (1990-2008), reflects on her experience as a librarian while witnessing the changing community. She notes many people support the library and reveals the values of the community remaining somewhat unchanged as she observes the library being a center of the community through the years. She hopes the library will continue to support future generations just as it has in the past.
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Video created by Costanza Generali and Clare McKinley
Dr. Anderson has been a podiatrist on Silver Spring Drive since 1960 and comments on the wonderful school system that has always been present in Whitefish Bay. He explains the cooperation and friendliness of the community as well as the happiness that he has possessed while working in Bay. He specifically discusses the impact of Bayshore Mall on the community as well.
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Video created by Christopher Fuda and John Platzer
Bonnie Thinnes has lived in Whitefish Bay for over 60 years and is mother to Mary Fuda, who has been in Bay for over 40 years. Both agree that Whitefish Bay has been a very positive residential environment. Although their perceptions of schooling in the community have changed, their sentiments towards the schools have always been positive. In addition they talk about the 1960’s riots in Milwaukee, changes in Silver Spring Drive, and even how the Schoolhouse Park pumpkin carving began!
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Video created by Sofie Yang and Katie Saviano
Gary and Joan Weida have spent 40 years in Whitefish Bay. They decided to move to the community after having children because they wanted a good school system in a small community where they could walk everywhere. They reflect on the great choral program at Whitefish Bay High School as well as the changes in Fitzgerald’s Pharmacy, where Joan worked for 33 years. Additionally, they comment on the changing politics of the village throughout the years.
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Video created by Kirsten Edwards and Holley Salmon
Dave and Maicia Kaye, who have both lived in the community for over 70 years, have witnessed the Whitefish Bay Schools grow and expand. They have also witnessed Silver Spring Drive change as well. They explain that the 1950’s were a great time period to grow up and discuss the way began to date when they were only freshmen at Whitefish Bay High School! In addition, Dave observes changes from women staying home to them taking jobs outside of the home over the years.
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Video created by Alice Xia, Danielle Sidhu, and Lazura Krasteva
Rick O’Connor is a tennis player and President of the Whitefish Bay Adult Tennis Club who taught Physical Education at Cumberland from 1969 to 2001. He and his wife moved from North Avenue to Whitefish Bay, and he comments on the great school system that the community provides. He also discusses his draft into the Vietnam War, and he describes Whitefish Bay in one word: “community.”
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Video created by Kristin Enea and Elissa Maerklein
Jim Paschen was an administrator in the Whitefish Bay Schools. He arrived in Whitefish Bay in 1957 and has great memories of his students and community involvement with the help of the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay and the Whitefish Bay Women’s Club. He vividly recalls the conservative nature of the community and the school system and was shocked to see Whitefish Bay vote Democratic recently. Jim recalls historical memories of the JFK assassination and the Vietnam War during his teaching career along with older ways of schooling. Although Mr. Paschen originally had a preconceived notion that the people in Bay were snobby, he soon discovered that they were truly wonderful. He hopes that Whitefish Bay can maintain its goal oriented, great small town atmosphere in the future.
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Video created by Sophie Martin and Laurin Friedland
Lew Wasserman, a long time member of the Whitefish Bay community, has learned to love the focus on education in the community. He believes Whitefish Bay is a wonderful place to raise children. Mr. Wasserman recalls many physical changes in Whitefish Bay like the transformation of Silver Spring Drive, modifications to the high school, and changes in the community’s landscape. He also looks back on changes in the nature of the village, including the conservative atmosphere of the high school and the community. Mr. Wasserman says that although the community may have changed physically, the values and integrity of Whitefish Bay has stayed the same.
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Video created by Brendan Hanrahan and Quinn Beightol
Mr. Max Lange was five years old when he moved to Whitefish Bay, which would make this his 82nd year living in the community. When Max first moved to Whitefish Bay, many of the lots were empty and some of the roads were still gravel. Mr. Lange reminisces about playing childhood games such as hide and seek and going ice skating. He also recalls the value placed on education in the community and the wonderful education he received when he attended the district’s school. Mr. Lange remembers the impact that World War II and the Korean War had on the community. This video is dedicated in honor of what may be Whitefish Bay’s longest resident.
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Video created by Caitlin Gent and Sophia Lemaitre
Mrs. Louise Salscheider has lived in Whitefish Bay for 57 years, and she has seen it evolve into the vibrant community it is today. Her original impression of Whitefish Bay was that it was extremely clean and glamorous. She recalls the community’s responses to the first moon landing as well as the Vietnam War. Salscheider also reflects on the changes in Bay, including the community’s size and the amount of open space in the village. At the same time, she also focuses aspects of the community that have remained the same, like the school systems. She has had a wonderful experience in Whitefish Bay and hopes that the future generations can continue to enjoy the wonderful community she grew up with.
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Video created by Will French and Zach Richards
Donn Haglund moved to Whitefish Bay in 1959. He recalls the influence of the school system on the community over time. Mr. Haglund also discusses changes that have occurred physically in Bay including the transformation of Silver Spring Drive and other streets as well as the trolley system and resort area in Whitefish Bay. Donn shares his experiences at UW-Milwaukee during the Vietnam War and the impact that other historical events had on Whitefish Bay. Fundamentally, Mr. Haglund believes that Whitefish Bay has remained the same, and he hopes the community can stay that way. He hopes that the people in the community can take advantage of the opportunities they are given and cherish the memories they have had in the Bay.
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Video created by Kurt Witteman and Alek Wasserman
Gerry Steele has lived in Whitefish Bay for 30 years. She recalls the riots during the Civil Rights era in the Milwaukee area and early curfews at that time. She felt that she was lucky to grow up in the community and be insulated from some of the difficult events occurring outside of Whitefish Bay. Mrs. Steele remembers hosting a foreign exchange student living at her house and cherished that experience. She also shares her experiences going to school in Whitefish Bay and at Madison as well as her forestry department job in Bay. Mrs. Steele hopes that in the future, people can appreciate the lovely homes, the school system, and the overall beauty of Whitefish Bay as much as she has enjoyed these aspects of the community.
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