Industry

Industry

Industry
Industrialization in the 20th Century changed the face and nature of Waukesha. Realizing the need to diversify and grow as the Springs Era waned, city leaders sought to attract new industries to the Spring City. Bankers, industrialists, and financiers with names such as Frame, Estberg, Perkins, and Horning (to name but a few), worked with city leaders to spearhead the drive. Some recruited businesses were new to the city, while others relocated existing operations. Even the remaining beverage companies shifted from bringing tourists to Waukesha, to shipping products across the country, and world. 

The industries were lured by many factors. The city’s three railroad lines meant companies could scale their factories for regional or national distribution. Land for building was available along the rail lines. The abundance of clean water was another factor for some.
The new industries needed workers. Besides the strong local population, immigration brought an influx of foreign workers, new to the country and eager to improve their lives. This also created a need for both single family and duplex residences.  The Strand on Waukesha’s east side became home to a large Italian population, which later shifted to Hispanic families. An area on Hine Avenue  between Madison St. and Michigan Ave., known as the Eureka Heights Addition, became home to African American workers. The Westowne addition to the west of the city became a place for affordable homes.

Products manufactured in Waukesha can be found world-wide - and even outer space as parts of the Space Shuttle were made in Waukesha. Mergers and buyouts led to reductions, and ultimately closures, for many of the industrial sites. However, the 21st century has brought new or renewed investment in Waukesha’s industrial sector. The companies represented in this exhibit showcase the rise, impact, fall, and revival of industry in Waukesha.