The oldest building in Wauwatosa affected by last weekend’s devastating flooding was the Little Red Store.
Built in 1854, the red frame building in a big open parking lot next to the train tracks could be seen engulfed by water.
On Thursday afternoon, Amanda Saso, Executive Director of the Wauwatosa Historical Society, which manages the building, shared this update:
“Dear Members and Friends of the Wauwatosa Historical Society, I’d like to share an update about the Little Red Store following this weekend’s severe flooding in the Village.
“Early Sunday morning, we began monitoring the security cameras at 3 a.m. and watched as water continued to rise around the store. At 7 a.m., I contacted a trusted water and disaster mitigation company to put us on their list for assistance.
"By 4 p.m., after floodwaters began to recede and with the help of the Wauwatosa Police Department, we were able to access the building. Upon entry, we found the basement completely flooded, with water reaching the landing on the first floor. Water also entered through the back door, making its way down the hall and into the kitchen.
“By 5 p.m., a full mitigation crew was on site. Submersible pumps began removing water, and at the peak, more than nine feet had filled the basement. As of today, all water has been pumped out, the basement has been cleared, and sludge has been removed from floors and walls. Next steps include power washing, sanitizing, running air movers and dehumidifiers, and finally using ozone machines to eliminate any lingering odors.
“Unfortunately, all contents stored in the basement are a total loss. The City’s Department of Public Works completed removal and disposal today. We remain hopeful that the first-floor wood floors can be saved, though several areas – especially near the basement landing and back hall – show significant cupping. The front porch stairs and back ramp sustained structural damage, and our gardens took a heavy hit. The good news: nothing irreplaceable was lost, and most importantly, everyone is safe.
“While we have a bit of a road ahead to restore the Little Red Store, all scheduled rentals for August have been relocated, and we are hopeful to reopen in early to mid-September. Throughout this week, every crew – from the mitigation company and their contractors to the City of Wauwatosa Public Works, city officials, and CP Rail Police and maintenance teams – has been friendly, responsive, and committed to the well-being of our historic building. We are deeply grateful for their dedication.
“I also want to thank you – our members, neighbors, and friends – for your outpouring of support. Your texts, emails, calls, and check-ins mean so much to us. In the coming days, we will share ways you can be part of the recovery effort – whether through helping with the final interior clean-up, lending a hand in the gardens, or assisting with exterior repairs.
“The Little Red Store has stood for more than 170 years, weathering challenges and serving as a beloved landmark for our community. With your help, she will stand strong for many more.”
A little history
The so-called Little Red Store was build by Dr. Levi Halstead as a blacksmith’s shop but it never actually housed one. Instead, it served briefly as Halstead’s residence before being sold the following year to Thomas Riddle, who opened a general store there. Later, a library and post office were there and Halstead even later returned and ran his medical practice upstairs.
It was bought by Leander Gridley and his son Lysander ran the store and served as railroad station agent and postmaster.
The place had numerous operators from 1892 until 1955 when it was bought by Wauwatosa Fuel and Supply Co. Though they considered tearing it down, President D.C. Jacobus chose to move it slightly to the west and offered up $14,000 to restore it.
The building was made a Tosa landmark in 1978 and Jacobus’ son Charles donated it to the city nine years later when the latter purchased the land around it for a parking lot.
For the next decade, the city rented out the space, though it finally sat vacant for a few years before the Historical Society worked with Wauwatosa to raise money for a renovation that was completed in 2008.
Now the building is open for special events and as a rental.
Saso hopes to get the building repaired and restored again now after the terrible flooding.
“We found the original Milwaukee County Historical County landmark sign way in the back of the storage unit,” she says.
“It was never put up after the restorations for some reason! We plan to install her when we are ready to open back up!”
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press. A fifth collects Urban Spelunking articles about breweries and maltsters.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has been heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
