Reading Journal 2024: Brewtown Tales: More Stories from Milwaukee and Beyond

Reading Journal 2024: Brewtown Tales: More Stories from Milwaukee and Beyond
Author: John Gurda

Bought this on my visit to Milwauke this past summer, and it didn’t disappoint. I was interested in learning about the character of the city as I was fascinated by its story and its uniqueness as a midsize city center existing in the shadow of its much more prominent southern neighbor (Chicago). It is designed so that you can start anywhere and pick up anywhere, serving as  collection of essays that travel through the different parts of the city and through his own personal family history. But it is also able to be read as a cohesive story that moves through time and development.

Given that I had visited many of the neighborhoods and got a decent sense of its city structure and geographical shape, it was both helpful and fun to be able to read and imagine those spaces’ development. I’m a sucker for a good story, and the author is a good storyteller, helping the different quirks and flavors come alive.

You not only get to see its innovations, but you also get to hear about the would have/could have/should have beens on the historical stage. Loved the transformation of the waterfront, its storied relationship with the railroad, its history with bikes and bike infrastructure, and its fascination with drama and its dark history. The city that it has become seems to see itself formed from the early divide that the river and its central bridge created, choosing to lean into that ethos of being a mix of dark and lawless underbelly and smart, innovative culture.

Looking forward to returning for another visit with greater awareness in tow.