Although the Erie Railroad terminated 90 miles south of Milwaukee, WI, there are links between the Beer City and the Good Old Erie. The Erie's first presence in the city was in 1862. Later on, the Erie maintained a sales staff in Milwaukee located in the Majestic Building at 231 W. Wisconsin Ave. A sample of Traffic Department listings through the years (issue dates in parentheses) shows the following General Agents: Harvey D. Pheatt (1907); F.J. Fitzgerald (Asst. Gen. Agent, 1911); R.L. Gainer (1922); C.E. King (1925, 1929); H.A. Wilson (1937, 1938, 1940); L.T. (L.E.) Coulston (1947, 1950, 1952); and C.O. Ewing (1960).
Traveling Agents in Milwaukee included: E.F. Bilo (1909), H.S. Waltermire (1909). Contracting Agents included Frank Luick (1911).
Commercial Agents in the city included: Bryant B. Kimball (appointed Travelling Freight Agent in 1920, and Commercial Agent in March, 1922), H.G. Feth (promoted in March, 1922 from General Clerk, Chicago Freight Traffic Manager's office and returned to that position in 1923) and C.C. Nelson (beginning in 1923 and continuing through 1929, 1937, and 1940). Alfred J. Farber was Chief Clerk of the Milwaukee Agency in 1947. Upon Bryant Kimball's retirement Dec. 31, 1949, Charles L. Smith took over as Commercial Agent.
The staff of the Erie-Lackawanna immediately following the 1960 merger were: District Sales Manager C.O. Ewing, Asst. District Sales Manager G.C. Howe, and Sales Representatives W.R. Levine, E.L. Pingel and J.G. Steger.
Being a Great Lakes port, Milwaukee also saw ships of the Erie Steamship Line. Charles Cottrill was the Milwaukee Agent in 1890 for Union Steamboat Co. and Erie Dispatch, with offices at the foot of Water St. W.B. Wetherell transferred to the position in 1907.
A 1927 view of the city, by C.E. King:
On the west shore of Lake Michigan, near the mouth of three rivers, there was once an Indian village, known as Mahn-auau-kie or "Good Lands." With the advent of white men into the Northwestern territory, the village became a trading post from which has developed the present city of Milwaukee.
The city was incorporated in 1846, its first mayor being Solomon Juneau. By 1860 its population had increased to 45,000. Twenty years later it had grown to 115,000; in 1890 to 204,000. By the last federal census it was 457,000. The estimated population now is 550,000. In industrial importance the city in 1926 ranked twelfth among the cities of the United States.
Milwaukee is a city of picturesque parks, beautiful boulevards, attractive homes. It is noted for its gracious hospitality and its spirit of friendliness and good will to strangers.
It is located on one of the best harbors along the Great Lakes. Its transportation facilities include fourteen steamship lines, two car ferries, three steam railroads, electric railways and buses. Two of the steam railroads are transcontinental lines.
Diversity is the keynote of Milwaukee's industries and the secret of its satisfied labor conditions. Prosperity follows a city which makes a wide variety of products and Milwaukee is first in more than twenty lines of manufactures in the United States. Iron and steel, leather, heavy machinery, steam and water turbines, soap, silk hosiery, shoes, boat motors, cement and sawmill machinery are some of the city's products. They are widely known and nationally advertised. In fact, Milwaukee manufacturers are said to lead in the volume of national advertising.
And then there's this from the August, 1939 issue of Erie Magazine:
"Marion Division News, 14th Street Freight House, Chicago:
The Erie 14th Street Soft Ball Team traveled with their families and sweethearts in eleven automobiles to enjoy a fine day of outing in Milwaukee, July 9 (1939). They were formally greeted by our traffic club, headed by Mr. Nelson and Mr. Wilson of the Erie staff and the 14th Street boys were accorded a cordial welcome. A soft ball game had been arranged by E.C. Wise of the 14th Street Chicago team and by Mr. Wilson, of the Milwaukee Traffic Club. The teams played a double-header at the Shorewood High School grounds and diamonds, and our boys had use of the school washrooms and locker rooms.
Both games were won by Erie 14th Street boys, scoring 21 to 4 in the 1st -- 16-inch soft ball, slow pitching game; and 11 to 2 in the 2nd -- 12-inch soft ball, fast pitching game. It was agreed that the first game was won through the superb hitting of Michael Krawchuk, who netted three home runs and a triple.
Lady spectators were plentiful. Some of our 14th Street Erie boosters were: Mrs. E.C. Wise, Mrs. Paul Thompson, Mrs. William Super and sister, Mrs. William O'Neill, Mrs. P.J. Wall, Mrs. Mac E. Donovan and sister Myrtle Sanders, Mrs. Michael Krawchuk, and Mrs. Louis E. Gausselin.