History

In April of 1987 a handful of visionary women started operating in a small storefront gallery on South 5th Street, the heart of a working class Milwaukee neighborhood. Venturing into one of the city’s most historic and economically challenged neighborhoods, they pushed to serve those struggling to secure a better life for themselves and their families. With the generous financial aid of a number of donors, WPCA was under way.

Facts About Our Building

In 2010 we became the owners of a beautiful, 6,000 sq. ft cream city brick building at 839 South 5th Street, in the heart of the historic Walker’s Point neighborhood.

839 S. 5th Street is known as the M. Trock building. Constructed in 1885, this two-story brick building was most recently a home to La Causa Child Development Center. Renovated in 1997 by the Walker’s Point Redevelopment Corporation, the building was completely updated with new plumbing, electrical and HVAC system and is environmentally safe and sound. Over the years, the building has housed a number of retail and light manufacturing establishments including a sweet shop, a dentist’s office, Quality Store Fixture Co., Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., and the Metropolitan Gallery run by Kent Mueller, a prominent member of the Walker’s Point community.

WPCA offers a view of history through the preservation of its primary building material, creamy city brick.  This beautiful beige-colored brick, made from clay found in the Menomonie valley, was locally produced from the 1830s on, and quickly became a principal building material.  However, because the bricks were characteristically porous and soft, dirt and pollutants easily perforate the clay.  WPCA is working to restore the external structure of our beautiful building.  If you would like to support this effort, consider donating to our 2011-2013 Art Builds Community Capital Campaign.

Our purchase was made possible through financing by IFF, the largest community development financial institution exclusively serving nonprofit corporations in the Midwest, with below-market rate financing for organizations serving low-income and special needs populations.