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Property Record

CATHEDRAL PARK

Historic Name:
Immigrant Mother
Other Name:
Reference Number:
17127

Property Location

Location (Address)
CATHEDRAL PARK
County
Milwaukee
City/Village
Milwaukee
Township
Unincorporated community
Town
Range
Direction
Section
Quarter Section
Quarter Quarter Section

Property Features

Year Built
1960
Additions
Survey Date
2004,2010,2021
Historic Use
Architectural Style
Structural System
Wall Material
Architect
Ivan Mestrovic
Other Buildings On Site
Demolished
No
Demolished Date
Additional Comments
Last surveyed in 1980 with a map code of 9/3 on LUQS 393. 2010: Occupying an entire block, Cathedral Square Park is bounded by E. Kilbourn Avenue to the north, N. Jackson Street to the west, E. Wells Street tot he south and N. Van Buren Street to the east. Dominated by vegetation, the park features concrete walkways that lead to a centrally located, circular, concrete fountain. A sculpted stone statue, resting on a granite base, of a mother and two children includes the inscription, "Dedicated to the Valiant Immigrant Mothers" is located on the west end of the park. Modern playground equipment and a long-term temporary stage also reside on the property. Originally known as Courthouse Square in 1837, the parcel once contained the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Cathedral Park was renamed as such for St. John's Cathedral located to the east and across N. Jackson Street. The 6-foot bronze statue was sculpted by Ivan Mestrovic, a Yugoslavian immigrant who came to the U.S. in 1947. As of 1961, he was a professor of sculpture at the University of Notre Dame. The statue was a $30,000 gift to the County from William George Bruce, founder of Bruce Pub. Co., who died in 1949. 2021 - A bronze statue on a marble pedestal is located near the southwestern corner of the park. Sculpted in 1960 by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrovic, the statue stands approximately 9 feet tall and depicts a woman holding a baby with a small child by her side. The pedestal is inscribed “Dedicated to the Valiant Immigrant Mothers by William George Bruce, Ivan Meštrovic: Sculptor.”
Bibliographic References
"Gift Statue at Milwaukee Park," Manitowoc Herald-Times, 25 July 1961, M-16.

National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings

National/State Register Listing Name
Not Listed
National Register Listing Date
State Register Listing Date
Contributing
Permalink
Permalink

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Attribution

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