Information Pages
Galleries
Links
Motley Crew Missing Members Sheridan Park Former pond sites Meeting Night
Motley Crew
The faces of the WSBA
Members who have passed on.
The sun always shines, the pond has no weeds, and the breezes blow gently.
Al Brewster John Horton John Jupp Bev Stokes Bill Hansen Chuck Kirsch Dave Braun Frank Peglow
Paul Littel Jim Wild Gil Wolta Maury Loebel Bill Ward Gordon Lewis Herb Blake
George Smukowski Bob Potrykus Doug Robichaud Gordy Kjer Roland Schaefer
No available photos: Carl Schaefer, Les Walczak, Steve Bellgraph, Gene Woods, Joe Williams.
Our home pond
Sheridan Park pond was originally constructed as a model boat pond for free sailing pond models in the 1920's. In winter it served as an ice rink. By the 1950's it had all but been forgotten by model boaters. It was rediscovered by us during a search for a new location.
Other ponds where we have run.
When the club first formed we ran in the ponds in front of Milwaukee County General Hospital. There was a significant slope down to the pond from Wisconsin Avenue. There were no facilities available. The club then moved to Juneau Park on the lakefront. Access was sometimes impossible at Juneau so the club move to Humboldt Park. When Humboldt pond weeded over the club again moved to McCarty Park. The pond is large and deep so weed were less of a problem. Access here was a problem (driving cars in with kids around). A survey of park ponds was made and Sheridan Park was chosen. After a few years the club attempted to run at Jackson Park but water quality was poor by mid summer. We then moved back to Sheridan Park.
Juneau (now Veterans) Park on Milwaukee's Lakefront. (mid 1980's to 1990)
The Parks Dept built us a dock at the pond made of railroad ties and gravel. The pond depth was keyed to the level of Lake Michigan so one year the water would be near the top and the next 3 feet away from the base. Access was always a problem as many events are staged at the lakefront and it is very popular on hot summer days.
Humboldt Park in Bay View. (1990 to 1993)
Nice park on the south side. The island caused a bit of trouble with geese nesting and the occasional boat stranding on it.
McCarty Park in West Allis. (1994 to 1996)
Big pond with pavilion right at the water's edge. The concrete slab got hot in the summer sun as it faced west. Pond was a fair distance from the street. we were allowed to drive in to unload and load but it was a safety issue as the swimming pool was behind the pavilion and kids were frequently near to the drive.
Jackson Park in Milwaukee.
A large pond in a busy park. By mid summer the water quality is poor. The shore is lined with granite blocks so damage potential was an issue.
The club holds monthly meetings in the classroom at GNH. Club business is dealt with first, then members talk about their current projects. We also take this time to help visitors with questions or problems with their builds.
Workshops
The club schedules workshops at the hobby shop covering various topics on model building. These include hull planking, resin casting, electronics, painting and others.
