History

The stone lion gates erected in 1911 at Lake Drive and Fairy Chasm Road which marked the original Donges and Usinger estates are reminders that Bayside was once an area of a few large homes, summer cottages and farms. In 2007, the Lion's Gates were recognized for historical designation. Before that, however, Native Americans fished and hunted here. The Sauk Indian Trail (now Port Washington Road) was the closest major trail. Chief Waubeka and the last of the Potowotamic Indians left the area in 1845.

In 1953, a small group of residents living in part of the former Town of Milwaukee met to discuss independent incorporation or annexation by the City of Milwaukee. The step into the future was made when 467 persons incorporated the Village of Bayside, with just under a square mile, on February 13, 1953. Growth continued and in 1955 the Fish Creek area in Ozaukee County was annexed.

Today Bayside comprises approximately 2.39 square miles. About 81% of the total acreage is zoned for residential use; 15% is natural conservancy (the 225 acre Schlitz Audubon Nature Center and the northern ravines of Nature Conservancy); and 4% comprises commercial, recreational and transportation use. There is no industrial property in Bayside. In 2005 there were 4,329 people living in approximately 1,611 homes.

The first village office was located in the original wing of Bayside School. In 1955 the first municipal building, usually called the Village Hall, was constructed. It was torn down in 1998 and a new Village Hall and Public Safety department was built in 1999. You will find this building at 9075 Regent Road, just north of the railroad crossing. The Village Manager form of government was adopted in 1956.

A popular Bayside attraction is the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, which has a history dating back to the turn of the century. The center formerly was known as the Nine Mile Farm (nine miles from the Schlitz brewery downtown or nine miles from Wisconsin Avenue depending on which story you believe). The farm land was accumulated by the Uihlein family (owners of Schlitz) in a series of purchases beginning in 1885 and was in the beginning a working farm supplying food for the family, hay and grain for hundreds of brewery horses used to deliver beer by wagon, and a pasture and hospital for the horses in later life. After the 1930's when horses were replaced with trucks, the area remained undeveloped and was given to the Schlitz Foundation. In 1971 the Foundation donated the two hundred plus acres to the National Audubon Center for a nature center. Today the center offers many programs for the public.