Perry Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin): Difference between revisions

 

==History==

The location of Perry Avenue originated from the property line between two farms west of Racine, which in 1858 were recorded as belonging to N. A. Walker (in the east) and "Heath" (in the west). The line between these properties defined what became Perry Avenue from [[Washington Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|Washington Avenue]] south to [[16th Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|16th Street]].<ref>[http://racinecounty.net/Redding%20and%20Watson/Redding%20and%20Watson.htm "Redding & Watson's Map of Racine County - 1858"], racinecounty.net.</ref> By 1893, Walker's farm was owned by M. George, and part of a property previously belonging to A. B. Crane had been added to it in the south. George's 65-acre property was bounded by what is now [[Washington Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|Washington Avenue]] on the north, [[Ohio Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Ohio Street]] on the east, the [[Racine County Bike Trail]] (formerly the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad]]) on the south, and Perry Avenue on the west.<ref>[http://racinecounty.net/East%20End%20Racine%20County/East%20End%20Racine%20County.htm "Map Drawing - East End of Racine County - 1893"], racinecounty.net.</ref> In 1930, this same area was owned by J. E. Rowland & Sons, a local real estate company, and residential development was underway.<ref>[https://online.flowpaper.com/7695073a/MapBook/#page=5 "Racine County Map Book - 1930"], racinecounty.net.</ref>

 

The first known reference to Perry Avenue in the Racine newspapers is a classified advertisement from 1927, offering two newly-constructed houses on the street "just west of the city limits, close to school, bus service, large lots."<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43962569/the_journal_times/ Classified advertisement], [[Racine Journal News]], June 21, 1927, page 15.</ref> The 1931 Racine city directory listed seven houses on the street, five of which were inhabited, all located just north of Washington Avenue.<ref>[http://racinecounty.net/1931-3/index.html#page=77 "Racine 1931 City Directory"], page 718.</ref> In 1940, Perry Avenue north of Washington was included in the West Terrace Sanitary District, at that time still outside the Racine city limits and considered part of [[Mygatt's Corners, Wisconsin|Mygatt's Corners]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43962860/the_journal_times/ "Mygatt's Corners"], [[Racine Journal Times]], May 15, 1940, section two, page 6.</ref> In 1959, the city of Racine planned to annex an area that included 700 through 1200 Perry Avenue. Twenty-eight residents of the street protested the area's planned annexation into the city of Racine, calling for the first annexation referendum in the city's history.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43963125/the_journal_times/ "28 Demand Vote to Annexation on West Side"], [[Racine Journal Times]], April 7, 1959, front page.</ref> In the referendum, held less than two weeks after the petition, the annexation was approved by a 25-to-16 vote among Perry Avenue residents.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43963222/the_journal_times/ "Referendum Clears Way for Annexation to Racine"], [[Racine Journal Times]], April 19, 1959, pages one and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43963222/the_journal_times/ six].</ref>

 

By 1955, aerial imagery of the area shows that Perry Avenue extended both north and south from Washington Avenue, with none of what would become its other cross streets having been built that far west yet. In the north, Perry had several houses on either side and ended south of where Kinzie Avenue would later be built. In the south, it ran behind the back of the [[Westgate Drive-In Theater (Racine, Wisconsin)|Westgate Drive-In Theater]] and ended at the [[Perry Avenue Water Tower]]. Meanwhile, Graceland Boulevard extended east from [[Green Bay Road (Racine, Wisconsin)|Green Bay Road]], and a small branch that extended south from that street would also later become part of Perry Avenue.<ref>[https://www.historicaerials.com/location/42.718295157135984/-87.84240286750975/1955/16 Historic Aerials - Racine, Wisconsin, 1955].</ref> By 1971, Perry Avenue had taken roughly its current route and form.<ref>[https://www.historicaerials.com/location/42.718295157135984/-87.84240286750975/1971/16 Historic Aerials - Racine, Wisconsin, 1971].</ref>