Subscribe to RSSHistory of Cold Spring Park
Cold Spring Park has been around since the mid-1800s. It is
named for a natural spring that was found in the northwest corner of the
neighborhood (then bounded by 27th Street, 35th Street, West Juneau
Avenue, and Vliet Street).
In 1852, Cold Spring Park was the site of the Wisconsin State
Agricultural Society fair and exhibition.
During the Civil War, Cold Spring Park became Camp Washburn, housing the
2nd Calvary, 30th Infantry, and the 39th Regiment.
After the Civil War, Cold Spring Park once again became a race track.
A race that was commemorated by Currier and Ives depicted an 1871 record
breaking race by the mare Goldsmith Maid, with a time of 2 minutes and
17 seconds.
An 1888 race was reported in the New York Times:
Adjacent to Cold Spring Park was the Cold Spring House, a hotel which
housed visitors and drivers for the races. It was notorious for
its gambling, cockfights, courtesans and dances.
At the close of the 19th century, Milwaukee saw a population boom,
prompting two new streets in Cold Spring Park; Highland Boulevard (1896)
and McKinley Boulevard (1906).
Cold Spring Park initially drew German-American residents of the
moderate to upper income scale. The upper end residing primarily
on Highland and McKinley, while the middle to moderate income resided on
Juneau and the numbered streets.
Highland Blvd, Juneau Ave, and McKinley Blvd are designated as
historical streets by the city of Milwaukee.