I don't pretend to know everything about this town, but after more than 30 years here, I admit I was a little surprised I'd never heard of Ross Lodge, 6750 S. 92 St., before yesterday.
When some friends suggested meeting for a nature walk at the lodge, which is across 92nd Street from Whitnall Park, we said, "where?!"
Turns out the lodge and its grounds -- owned by Milwaukee County and run by the Parks Dept. -- have a long history.
According to a plaque erected in the lodge by The Park People, the building was built as a farm house by John Burke about 1857. The county bought it 98 years later and offers it to non-profits -- like scout and school group -- for meetings and overnight stays.
It was remodeled in 1986 with funds provided by the Will Ross Memorial Foundation and it now bears the name Will and Cava Ross Lodge.
This weekend, a group had occupied the lodge -- which has bunk beds for about 18 -- a great high-ceilinged fireplace room, bathrooms, a full kitchen and more. A smaller house, with a great old stone foundation, is a few dozen yards north, next to a fire pit that looks like it saw some action Saturday night.
The land has a series of rolling trails that are perfect for family hikes and for mountain bikers. There's one trail that follows the ridge of a small esker, making for an especially fun walk with kids.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
