Wisconsin Club hosts Court of Honor restoration fundraiser

The Wisconsin Club will host a History Night Fundraiser on Tuesday, Oct. 21 with proceeds benefiting the restoration of the Court of Honor monuments on West Wisconsin Avenue.

Just outside the front gates of the Wisconsin Club on West Wisconsin Avenue is a boulevard median called the "Court of Honor." The median is home to three priceless bronze monuments Those monuments include a bronze woman and child at the feet of George Washington dedicated in 1885. The boulevard became known as the Court of Honor after the erection of the bronze Civil War monument, the "Victorious Charge" in 1898. Later the area gained even more significance with the addition of a 65 foot stone column in 1900 and another bronze monument to a Spanish American War Hero in 1932.

These valuable monuments to United States history show the ravages of time and deterioration and need improvements to make them relevant to the 21st century and fit in with the planned redevelopment of West Wisconsin Avenue. The Westown Association, along with other key downtown stakeholders, is spearheading a campaign to raise $100,000 for restoration of these monuments.

On Tuesday, Oct. 21 the Grand Ballroom at the Wisconsin Club will be transformed into an evening filled with history to benefit the restoration of the monuments. Featured at the event will be:

Milwaukee-born writer, historian and eight-time winner of the Wisconsin Historical Society's Award of Merit, John Gurda will share interesting insights about Westown "the gateway to downtown" from its beginning until today.

Director of Development and Senior Historian of the Pabst Mansion, John C. Eastberg will take you down the avenue from its "Grand" days to when and why it became Wisconsin Avenue. Museum educator, Diane Buck will reveal the story behind the Court of Honor statues, the importance of retaining our community's history and culture through the monument, and the restoration needs.

The cost for this event is $100 per person, which is fully tax-deductible. 100% of the donation will go toward the Court of Honor Restoration Project-dinner is donated on behalf of the Wisconsin Club. Passed hors d'oeuvres & Cash Bar at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. with Guest Speakers at 7:15 p.m.

To learn more about or to donate to the Court of Honor Restoration, please visit westown.org/courtofhonor.

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Published Monday, Oct. 13

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Wisconsin Club hosts Court of Honor restoration fundraiser