South Milwaukee gets a $250,000 grant for its $4 million Bucyrus Club revitalization project
Erik S. Hanley
South Milwaukee is working to bring back the Bucyrus Club in June 2021 and the project just gained new funding through a state grant.
About a month after the Bucyrus Club celebrated its 100th anniversary, the South Milwaukee common council voted 6-0 (with two excused absences) to accept a $250,000 grant for the $4 million revitalization project at its Jan. 19 meeting.
The grant is coming from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). The money will be used for both external and internal improvements, according to South Milwaukee Assistant City Administrator and Economic Development Director Patrick Brever. Some of those improvements to the city-owned property include the installation of an elevator, plumbing improvements, exterior metal structure, concrete foundations, masonry block and restoration.
South Milwaukee already received a $2 million gift from the Bucyrus Foundation of which $1.5 million of it is going toward the renovation of the property at 1919 12th Ave. The remaining $500,000 will be used to develop a 0.75-acre city-owned space at 11th and Madison avenues. The city recently conducted community surveys to see what residents want to put there – which included options like an event stage, bathrooms, and potentially more space for the city’s farmer’s market which is already held there.
Additionally, the Bucyrus Club is part of South Milwaukee’s newest tax incremental financing district which will also help fund the project. TID 5 was established in 2018 and will be mandatorily terminated in 2045.
Secretary and CEO of WEDC Missy Hughes said the project is an example of how WEDC works with communities across Wisconsin to “enhance their business districts and in doing so, add to their quality of life.”
“A vibrant downtown is key to a community’s overall economic health, and this renovation is expected to bring more visitors to downtown, which will benefit other businesses and the entire community,” Hughes said.
Project progress
This is the first time South Milwaukee received such a grant. Despite a few reports of vandalism since the project began, according to South Milwaukee Police reports, Mayor Erik Brooks said there has been smooth progress on the "substantial remodel."
“We’re full speed ahead on the project,” he said.
Once completed, the Bucyrus Club will include a banquet facility operated by Skyline Catering, which can eventually accommodate events of over 400 people. Skyline is also funding some improvements and will be renting the space from the city. The owner of Skyline Catering, Ernie Wunsch, estimates 20-25 new hires Skyline once the building is renovated.
The Bucyrus Club will also include the volunteer-led South Milwaukee Industrial Museum on the second floor, which will feature about 5,000 square feet of rare artifacts, models, images and other items from a collection formerly on the Bucyrus campus. Bucyrus, formerly a South Milwaukee-based mining equipment manufacturer, famously built the shovels that dug the Panama Canal.
“This is a transformational project for our downtown and city,” Brooks said in a statement. “I can’t thank the WEDC enough for their support.”
Location history
South Milwaukee in February 2020 purchased the property – which sat vacant for over five years with water damage – to revitalize the Bucyrus Club. The building, parts of which date to 1892, was also home to South Milwaukee’s first manufacturer, Schutz Bros. Furniture Company, according to a news release from South Milwaukee and the WEDC.
Bucyrus purchased the building in 1910 to use as a machine and steam engine assembly shop. The building was reopened in 1920 as the Bucyrus Club for employees with a dining space, a bar, bowling alleys, a gym, stage and a handball court.
After Bucyrus operated in South Milwaukee for over 100 years, Caterpillar acquired the company in 2011.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at (262) 875-9467 or erik.hanley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.
