BEACH HOUSE HISTORY
Shortly after the park was transferred to what is now Milwaukee County Parks System, Doctors Park, along with many other parks in the system, benefited from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) depression-era employment project. The bath house on the beach, built in 1939-40 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, served as an office for lifeguards and provided a place for swimmers to change clothes and shower off sand before heading for home. Besides looking out for those swimming in Lake Michigan, lifeguards sold concessions from the front window.
The structure still carries a sign in recognition of George A. Tietjen, founder of the Milwaukee County Lifeguard Corps. The lifeguard program ended at about the same time the bath house was shuttered in 2000, after a storm caused significant damage to sewer infrastructure but not to the structure itself. You can read a few lifeguard stories.
Built with care
The quality of craftsmanship that was taken in construction of the bath house is remarkable. Beautiful joinery techniques are easily observed. For almost 100 years the Beach House has been a witness to a century of stories of days spent on the shoreline and in the water. Historic features of the WPA design will be preserved as the building is given new life as an open pavilion.
TIETJEN BEACH
On March 2, 2001 the County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to name Doctors park Beach after George Tietjen. George Tietjen began his career in public service in 1937 as a lifeguard for the Milwaukee County Parks System and became the first Lifeguard Director for the Parks Department in 1946. He held this position until his retirement in 1977. through his vision and hard work, the Milwaukee County Lifeguard Corps became widely recognized as the premier lifegurd corps in the country. George Tietjen was instrumental in acquiring new resusitation equipment for the department and initiated innovative programs such as boat drills, life saving exhibitions, simulated rescues and water shows.
His commitment to public service and water safety carried on in his family. His son Jim Tietjen began as a lifeguard and became the Aquatics Director in the 1980s. Jim also served as football coach for Whitefish bay High School. Hundreds of lifeguards (and football players) have fond memories of being coached by both men.
Do you have a story about George or Jim Tietjen? Please share by emailing us.
ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT WPA PROJECTS?
While there is information in the Wisconsin and Milwaukee County Historical Societies about Milwaukee County Parks, there is not a lot of detail on the WPA projects and CCC camps that happened in the 1930s and 1940s as part of the New Deal. There is a very interesting initiative that is attempting to document New Deal projects in all 50 states. And the beach house in Doctors Park is now listed.
The Living New Deal has its roots in documenting WPA impacts in California, but soon outgrew the original intent as the vast extent of New Deal public works projects became clear. Since 2005, the project became a team effort to inventory, map, and interpret how the New Deal radically changed America.