Pass the Compass (Line 12)

Lake Park has a lot of compasses. 

I mean, a lot of compasses. 

In fact, each lamp post in Lake Park has exactly two compasses.  They look like this.

This is what one of the entire lamp posts look like. 

You will notice the two compasses and the "G" between them at the base of the lamp post.

This symbol is actually very common, as it is a symbol of the Freemasons.  Some Masons call this the "square and compass" and others call it the "square and compasses", so the fact that there are two (and only one mentioned in the Milwaukee verse) doesn't exclude any of them.

Here is an example of the "square and compass" symbol of the Masons.

You can read about the symbol's history here.  I'm not sure how accurate the website is, as I haven't had the opportunity to do additional research.

This makes line twelve pretty simple, right?  You "pass the compass" that will ultimately help you to reach "the foot of the culvert". 

However, there are literally dozens of the lamp posts throughout the park.  Also, I haven't been able to confirm that these lamp posts existed in the 1980's.  I've found vintage post cards online of Lake Park in the 1950's and 1960's that have distinctly different lamp posts. 

The compass may also refer to the North Point Lighthouse,  which served as a sort of "compass" to ships trying to find the shore along Lake Michigan. 

Has anyone been able to confirm how long these lamp posts have been in Lake Park?  If not, I will be going to the Milwaukee Historical Society soon to do some research!

Going to Lake Park (Confirming Lines 1-8)

Here are photographs of my walk from Mitchell Hall to Lake Park, including the corresponding lines of the Milwaukee verse.

"View the three stories of Mitchell"

Mitchell Hall, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

"As you walk the beating of the world

From three who lived there"

NOTE: I forgot to photograph the street sign for Downer Avenue, the first of the three.  I will next time I go to Lake Park.

Note: As I researched in an earlier post, Summit Avenue is not named after someone who "lived here", but you still have to walk past this street.

"At a distance in space
Past woman with harpsicord,
Silently playing"

Again, as I mentioned in a previous post, the "woman with harpsicord, silently playing" is likely a reference to Marietta Robusti, the painter.  Her self-portrait was with a harpsicord.

"Step on nature

Cast in copper"

Lake Park is right past Marietta Avenue, and this photo clearly illustrates how you can "step on nature" (Lake Park) that is "cast in copper" (the Lincoln Memorial is printed on the back of copper pennies).  

This little plaque is right near this entrance to the park.

This is what the entrance to the park looks like.  

Once you are in the park you will see that all of the lamp posts have this "Masonic G" symbol.  More on this later.

Also, if you try to enter the Locust Street Ravine Trail or cross the bridge from this entrance, please note that they are closed to the public.

But you can walk right around the fence and go down the trail anyway.  

This is the bridge that is closed, after I went passed the fence telling me it was closed.

Unfortunately I had to cut my exploratory search short before arriving to the Grand Staircase (more on that later), as it looked like the rain we were expecting was finally happening.

A few notes:

• I waited by the "closed" entrance to the Locust Street Ravine Trail for a half-hour, and three different people emerged from the trail.  All of them told me they didn't know why the trail was closed, as it was perfectly safe to walk if you are wearing proper shoes.
• Also, I noticed some poison ivy by the entrance, and one of the guys mentioned that he noticed some along the trail, too.  If anyone goes looking, wear long pants and be sensible.
• Wear bug spray.  Mosquitoes!

Woman with Harpsicord, Silently Playing

Many people online have stated that they think lines six and seven of the Milwaukee Verse are abstract, and a bit of a stretch if you follow people's logic online.  The lines are...

"From woman with harpsicord

Silently playing" 

According to people online, this is a reference to Marietta Robusti, and thus Marietta Avenue, which is located between where you "View the three stories of Mitchell" (line one) and when you "Step on nature, cast in copper" (lines eight and nine).

Marietta Robusti was a painter, and her self-portrait is of her with a harpsicord.  

I am inclined to believe this is exactly what Byron Preiss meant.  The Chicago casque was buried within walking distance of the famous Chicago Art Institute.  He dedicated much of his professional life to the publication of graphic novels.  I would be surprised if Byron didn't have an interest in, and knowledge of, art. 

Decoding The First Five Lines

I had always wondered about the first five lines of the Milwaukee verse...

 

View the three stories of Mitchell

As you walk the beating of the world

At a distance in time

From three who lived there

At a distance in space

 

 

The three stories of Mitchell are likely Mitchell Hall at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.  It is only a few blocks away from Lake Park.  I will be taking photos of Mitchell Hall next week.

 

But after you "view the three stories of Mitchell", you are supposed to come past the "three who lived there".

 

But there are five street blocks you must walk to get from Mitchell Hall to Lake Park, where you can "step on nature, cast in copper". 

 

Those five street blocks are:

 

• Downer Avenue
• Hackett Avenue
• Summit Avenue
• Shepard Avenue
• Marietta Avenue

Marietta Avenue is explained in lines six and seven.  But what of the other four?

 

I had an opportunity today to visit the library and do some research about Milwaukee street names.  In fact, there is an excellent reference book by Carl Baehr (a local historian) entitled "Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names". 

 

 

It was an excellent book.  And it is where I learned that Byron Preiss was right.

 

Downer Avenue was named for Jason Downer, former member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Hackett Avenue was named by Edward Hackett, a real estate mogul.

Shepard Avenue was named by Clarence Shepard, who owned a hardware business.

 

And Summit Avenue?  It was named because it overlooks Lake Michigan.

 

So, when travelling from "the three stories of Mitchell" to Lake Park, you will only walk past three street blocks named after those "who lived here".

 

Here are copies of the pertinent pages from Carl Baehr's book...

 

 
 

Citation: 
Baehr, C. (1994). Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their
Names (1st ed., Wisconsin). Milwaukee, WI: Cream City Press.



Milwaukee Parks are Getting Some Press!

The Shepard Express published an article this week about Milwaukee's Parks and the work that has been done to protect them and maintain their beauty.  Both Lake Park and Mitchell Park are mentioned.

Here is the front cover.

And here is the link: http://shepherdexpress.com/article-29911-the-legacy-of-milwaukee-county-parks.html

Nothing specific to Byron Preiss, but worth the read.

Maps of UWM (Mitchell Hall)

I wanted to quickly upload these maps of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Mitchell Hall (Milwaukee verse, line one) is a part of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Also, the third and fourth images give you a sense of where UWM is located in relation to Lake Park and Lincoln Memorial Drive. 

 

Laureate

I also had an opportunity to stop by Laureate.  Laureate is a public art piece in Milwaukee that seems to appear in the Milwaukee image, in the juggler's brown hair. 
 
A few quick notes about the statue, and its history:

• The statue isn't actually in Pere Marquette Park.  It's just over the river, behind the Marcus Center.  Some people in the online forums have said that they think the treasure might be buried in Pere Marquette Park because Laureate is there, but it isn't.  It is within a five minute walk though.
• Laureate was commissioned in 1969, and would have been present when Byron Preiss buried the casques in 1981.  I can see Byron taking in a show there, as the Performing Arts Center that the statue is by has long been the home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.  We know Byron mentioned two famous classical musicians in his Chicago verse ("Where M and B are set in stone" is a reference to Mozart and Beethoven). 
• Laureate has always been in the spot it is currently in.  It was commissioned to enhance the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, and is located right behind the Center. 

I took photos from several angles. 

Additionally, you can see Milwaukee City Hall if you are standing by Laureate.  Just barely.  Just one of the domes.  In the background. 

See anything I don't see?

The Old Mitchell House

Earlier today, I had an opportunity to briefly photograph the outside of the Old Mitchell Mansion.  Today, the house is known as the Wisconsin Club. 

Alexander Mitchell (A prosperous business owner and politician in the 1800's) lived here, and as you can see, there are three stories, per line one of the Milwaukee verse (View the three stories of Mitchell).

Sorry the photos are kinda lopsided.  I had to loop my hands through the automated gate that members can use to enter and exit to get a clear shot. 

I am not inclined to believe that this is the Mitchell in which Byron Preiss is referring, and neither are others that are searching for the treasure.  But what I do find fascinating is that before it was known as the Wisconsin Club, it was known as the "Deutscher Club" or "German Club".  They changed their name in the 1940's due to anti-German sentiment at the time.  And each image and verse has an immigration reference.  Milwaukee's immigration reference is Germany. 

Some people have said that Milwaukee's German Fest is another reason to point to Milwaukee's immigration reference being Germany, but I'm not so sure.  We also have an annual Polish Fest, Greek Fest, Bastille Days, Irish Fest, Indian Summer (Native American), Festa Italiana, Mexican Fiesta, and a few others I'm sure that I can't recall at the moment. 

But we do have a strong German presence in Milwaukee, far more so than other cities where Byron Preiss likely went digging.

Here is a link to learn more about the history of the Wisconsin Club: http://www.wisconsinclub.com/fw/main/History-4.html 

Lake Park Trails

Also, check out this map of the different trails in Lake Park. 

 

The treasure is most likely somewhere near or along the Locust Street Ravine Trail.  You will notice there is an outline of a Locust in the Milwaukee image, and there are several other references to this trail.

 

 

 

Confirming Clues: Milwaukee City Hall

I had an opportunity to stop by Milwaukee City Hall today and take a few photos.  I think these do in fact confirm that the background in the Milwaukee image is a match for an outline of City Hall, when viewing it from the Marcus Performing Arts Center, which is right across the street from Red Arrow Park. 

***Note: If you have heard of Red Arrow Park but can't place how you have heard it, you likely heard it in 2014, as it is the park where Dontre Hamilton died.  Dontre was a man with mental illness who was shot and killed by a police officer in a highly contentious shooting.

See anything I don't?