The Milwaukee Leader

Casino hall, for many years the scene of various entertainments, socials, political gatherings and later of church services, is no more.

Its wreckage, such as has not already been carried away, lies in a sorry mass at the southeast corner of State and 7th Sts. It has departed unwept and unsung, as it has been some years since it cut a figure in local affairs.

As nearly as can be ascertained, the structure, with the saloon building adjoining on the east, was built in 1877. It was originally the home of a Casino social society, it is claimed, of which a hatter, Robert Harpke, was a leading spirit. The property originally belonged to a family named Schoenfeld, and is said to have been built as a dance hall, and later on conducted by a son-in-law, George Stoerzer.

Political meetings of almost every shade and description were held in the old hall and in the eighties the Socialists used it for a meeting hall for a number of years. At this time Michael Biron was editor of the Socialist paper and an active leader in the Socialist ranks. At the time of the eight-hour day agitation in 1886, at the time and prior to the so-called May day riots, many of the labor meetings were held there.

In 1878 the Cigarmakers' union used the hall as a headquarters and from it conducted a strike, said to be the first eight-hour-day strike to take place in Milwaukee.

The Casino hall will make way for the temporary parking field, which will be conducted by the city, the present owner of the properties in that block, which is part of the civic center tract.

Various old buildings in the block are being razed, one of the most notable structures still remaining being the Hoffman foundry at the other end of the block. It is a curious fact that 40 years ago, when Hoffman was about to build, he was warned by then residents of the city that he would do well not to go in on too large a scale, as in time the property would be wanted by the city.