 Picture
this: A photographic history of Ozaukee County. The Ozaukee County
Historical Society did, and the result is a new book featuring 225
black-and-white photos from days gone by.
Titled "Ozaukee County, Wisconsin:
A Photographic Journey into the Past," the 128-page book was
released in December, said Curt Gruenwald, director of the society.
Proceeds will benefit OCHS’ renovation project at Pioneer Village as
well as ongoing educational efforts.
Gruenwald says the book has been in the
works for more than two years. The photographs span more than a
century — the oldest is from 1839 and the latest are from the 1950s.
Gruenwald says it was important that
the entire county was represented in the publication. Photos from
smaller communities like Holy Cross and Belgium are included in the
pictorial. "There’s really a good mix, and we did that
purposely. As an overview, if you just look at the pictures, it just
gives you a perspective of what things were like."
Besides pictures, local writer Laurie
Arendt researched the photos and wrote accompanying text explaining
their significance. "There’s such a personal touch with this
publication," says Gruenwald, who saw the county in a new way
after viewing some of the photos. For instance, he said the old
lighthouse in Port Washington is featured — but not in any way he
saw it before. "The first time I saw it, it showed the water, but
people were walking on the water," he says. A miracle? No, just
lower temperatures than in recent history, freezing Lake Michigan
enough to walk on.
There’s also a photo from 1915 of
floods in Sauk Creek and Port Washington. "There are just some
things you wouldn’t expect to see," he says.
There are shots of the toll road —
yes, toll road — and a picture of Mequon Road before the high school
was built. "You can see in the horizon the land where Homestead
High School is," he says. "There’s nothing there. Ties are
made in the book so people can visualize what was there and what is
there today."
The book, which costs $20, is available
through the society’s Web site, www.co.ozaukee.wi.us/ochs.
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