Cream City office includes glimpse into Bay View history

The Cream City Real Estate Company’s new Bay View office, 3474 S. Pennsylvania Ave., northeast of the intersection of Morgan and Kinnickinnic avenues, is set to open June 18. It will display Bay View-related antiques and memorabilia from the collection of company owner Joan Sliker.

Sliker grew up in Baltimore, but has lived in Bay View for nearly 25 years.

Years ago, Sliker took an interest in researching the history of the “Cream City” and specifically the Bay View neighborhood. “As I met older people while selling their homes, I heard a lot of stories about what Bay View was like in the past,” said Sliker.

She started collecting items she found at area estate sales, rummages, and on eBay.

But one of Sliker’s favorite items came from her neighbors, whose grandparents had owned The Glow ice cream parlor and candy shop, formerly at 2646 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. “I bought the little ice cream table that kids used to sit at,” she said. “I felt it was really important for it to stay in Bay View.”

She hopes her collection will bring back memories for those who lived here during that time period and also connect with those who are new to the area. “Bay View draws people now because of the great neighborhood they built back then,” Sliker said.

Designed by prominent local architects Peter Brust and Richard Philipp and built in 1923, the building originally housed St. Francis State Bank. After the bank left in 1934, it was rented out to Beyer Printing. “I met the owner’s son who worked at the print shop as a child,” said Sliker. “His dad paid him to glue calendars together.”

Sliker recently obtained a small portrait of Frederick Lochemes, the former postmaster of St. Francis who was also founder and president of St. Francis State Bank. His framed photograph is now displayed prominently on the building’s fireplace mantel. “It feels good to kind of have him back here,” said Sliker. “He loved and promoted local history, so it’s only right to have this displayed in memory of him.”

Over the course of the next half century, the building was used as the Knights of Pythias Lodge, Polish Legion Hall, and eventually the Ace Homing Pigeon Club.

Sliker said residents in the area have fond memories of the building and its former occupants. “Somebody came by and said that their brother’s wedding reception was held here,” said Sliker. “One woman in her 90s remembers bringing her pennies to the bank as a little girl. And I know the Groppis had Communion parties here, so this building was really a center of activity in the neighborhood.”

One of the many remaining features of the original building is the bank vault, which has 18-inch-thick reinforced concrete walls. And though the original vault door was removed when the bank moved out in the 1930s, Sliker has found a creative use for the space as a media center.

During the demolition of the deteriorated walls along the vault, Sliker found a little piece of history. “It was above the safe,” said Sliker. “We found a tin shield that I believe was from the Knights of Pythias.”

The majority of the restoration has been going on for almost two years. “I’ve heard from several customers how excited they are to see what we’ve done with this building.”

The Bay View Historical Society’s Kathy Mulvey is glad the real estate company will showcase mementos of Bay View’s past. “We’re tremendously aware of how important it is to remember past businesses and where they came from and where we came from,” said Mulvey.

Mulvey said the historical society plans to have a representative on hand during the real estate company’s open house and celebration 4-8pm Thursday, June 18. The community is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Matthew Sliker is the nephew of company owner Joan Sliker. He’s a UW-Milwaukee journalism student who grew up in the Bay View area.