The Wisconsin Historical Society marker for Dr. Nicholas Senn had a short life. The idea of the marker was first conceived in 1958, a marker was installed two years later, and eight years after that the marker was stolen, never to be recovered and never to be replaced. A life of only ten years. The memory of the marker occasionally surfaced when the Nicholas Senn building became a community issue, but that memory has been further buried with the demolition of the building in 2012. Now, this Wisconsin Official Historic Marker, which was similar to the many state markers you find around Wisconsin, may only be remembered when seekers of historical markers ask, “What happened to No. 96 of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Official List of Wisconsin’s State Historic Markers?”
Speaking to the State Medical Society of Wisconsin at their annual meeting on May 5, 1958, incoming president Dr. J.W. Fons proposed a suitable marker at the Nicholas Senn building “so that all who pass by might know the works of one of our great colleagues.” The Society adopted his proposal, and almost exactly two years later on May 4, 1960, Dr. Ulrich Senn (the nephew of Dr. Nicholas Senn) unveiled a Wisconsin state historic marker at the corner of W. Juneau Avenue and N. 3rd Street in Milwaukee.[1] The marker was mounted on the Senn building on the wall facing Juneau Avenue and commemorated Nicholas Senn at the site of his office and laboratory.
Nicholas Senn, M.D.
(1844-1908)
He was one of Wisconsin's greatest surgeons, physicians and medical pioneers, and the 49th president of The American Medical Association. Dr. Senn was a founder of the Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.A.
The marker stood here and informed the passing public of the achievements of Dr. Senn. The marker and the recognition it generated for the Senn building probably saved the building and the three adjoining buildings to the west. These four buildings were the only structures left on the block when the Parkway East Freeway was built in the 1960’s, which razed the rest of the block and other properties in the area.
In early 1969, however, the marker told its story no more. It was stolen.[2] Years went by, and although the marker was still noted on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s list of Wisconsin Official Historical Markers, the marker was not recovered nor replaced. By 1978 the marker was removed from the Official Historical Markers list, and all hope in replacing the marker was probably lost.
In the late 2000’s the Senn building and the adjoining three buildings were in danger of being lost too. A developer proposed to demolish the buildings and redevelop the property in accordance with the wishes of the Milwaukee Common Council, the decision-maker of such things. This threat galvanized community members in 2008 to save these buildings for the future. This threat also brought the Senn building and Dr. Nicholas Senn to the forefront of the city’s attention. The marker, which had been missing for almost 40 years, was resurrected if only in the memories of people and a photograph. The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission in 2009 prepared a historic designation report for the building, and on the cover of the report was an image of the missing marker.[3]
The efforts of the community to have the Senn building designated as an historic structure, along with an economic recession, delayed demolition for a few years. However, these efforts could no longer stall the progress of redevelopment. The State Historic Preservation Office found that the building was not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places—the building’s association with Dr. Senn was significantly and detrimentally altered by changes in the building made after Dr. Senn’s ownership. In July 2012 the Milwaukee Common Council took final action on the building and voted 13-2 to allow the demolition of the Senn building and the three adjoining buildings. By September 2012 nothing remained of the buildings.
Except in historical archives, there is no record of the historic marker for Nicholas Senn, M.D. The marker is conspicuously missing from today’s now named Official List of Wisconsin’s State Historic Markers. The list is arranged chronologically by the date the marker was erected with each marker given a number in chronological order. Marker Number 96 is missing from the list, and there is no reference as to what happened to this marker. Other markers that have been removed or are missing are still on the list referenced by their marker number. But not Marker Number 96.[4]
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| Courtesy of the City of Milwaukee |
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| The Nicholas Senn Building in June 2011 Google Street View (©2016 Google Street View), June 2011 |
[1] “Jaunts with Jamie: Marker’s Gone, Honored Doctor,” Milwaukee Sentinel, July 28, 1969, Part I Page 19.
[2] Harry H. Anderson, executive secretary of the Milwaukee County Historical Society confirmed that the marker was stolen in early 1969 and had not been recovered as of July 1969. “Jaunts with Jamie: Marker’s Gone, Honored Doctor,” Milwaukee Sentinel, July 28, 1969, Part I Page 19.
[3] http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cityHPC/StudyReports/vticnf/SennBuildingSydneyHih2009.pdf
[4] http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/pdfs/hp/hpr-marker-list.pdf
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