Spot a Clock: St. Casimir Church

This month’s ‘Spot a Clock’ is St. Casimir Church, 2600 North Bremen Street, Milwaukee. In the 1870’s Polish immigrants settling on the east side of Milwaukee established St. Hedwig’s Church.

By the 1890’s, the Polish community had spread north and west of Brady Street. A new parish was subsequent established to serve this area. A school was first constructed. Designed by Henry Messmer, the school was completed in 1894. Due to the subsequent growth of the parish, fundraising began to build a church. The building was designed by Erhart Brielmaier and Sons. The cornerstone was set in 1899, and the building was completed by 1901. The church is of Victorian Gothic style, and is constructed with cream city brick.

As with many of Milwaukee’s churches, the movement in the four-sided clock tower was manufactured by Mathias Schwalbach. According to Fredrick M. Shelley’s database, this movement has been electrified. The church is well-appointed with beautiful plaster-work and stained glass.

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Next meeting is May 18, 2025.

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Presidents Message,
We will continue to need some help setting up and taking down.  So arrive at 9:00 and help setup and stay after the educational talk to help return the room in the condition, we found it in.  Thank you for your help in this.
Doors open at 9:00 for setup and mart. Mike Dempsey will talk about assembling a clock movement beginning at 10:00 during the mart.  The educational talk at 11:00 is by Craig entitled “Isaac Rogers Turkish Dial Lantern Clock Restoration”.  Replacement of bell spider is explained and side fret repair and more.

Patrick Hansen Jr. is a new member and has volunteered to be our new secretary.  Thank you for joining and volunteering to help, Patrick. 

Mike Demsey gave a demonstration of tools used for watch hairspring and staff Thank you Mike for Part 1 and we are looking forward to Part 2 soon. Part 2 will show the replacement live. 

Danno thank you for your presentation on disassembling a Schwalbach tower clock.
Schwalbach was the founder of the Star Tower Clock Company in Milwaukee.  His firm is known to have installed between 55 to 70 tower clocks during its 42-year existence.
Schwalbach first established his own business in 1873 after having been an important contributor to the invention of both the typewriter and the sewing machine. Schwalbach built and installed tower clocks in 11 states from Oregon to New York.

Elections for Officers and Directors
Mike Dempsey will take the lead as our as chairperson of the nominating committee.  The election will be held at our November meeting.  The nominating committee will also invite suggested names from the floor. Please contact him if you would like to run for one of the positions.  

We still need some volunteers for talks for 2026.  Please contact Harry Schulz or myself with ideas or suggestions.
Educational Talks Planned for 2025:
May 2025      Isaac Rogers Turkish Dial Lantern Clock Restoration, by Craig White
Sept 2025     Gear Cutting, by Mike Demsey
Nov. 2025     Battery Clocks, by Mike Demsey
Free tables!!  A free silent auction table will also be available. 

Hope to see you all there. 
Thanks,
Craig

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  6. Our next Mart will be on March 10th, 2024 Comments Off on Our next Mart will be on March 10th, 2024
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  8. Our next Mart is Sunday February 11th, 2024 Comments Off on Our next Mart is Sunday February 11th, 2024
  9. Our next mart is November 12th. Comments Off on Our next mart is November 12th.