By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Feb 08, 2019 at 1:26 PM

After two false starts, the rustic-looking "Tosa Log Cabin" at 2515 N. Wauwatosa Ave., is slated to be moved to its new home on the northwest corner of 64th Street and North Avenue overnight on Wednesday, Feb. 27, as long as the weather cooperates.

It is being moved to make room for construction of a new three-story, 27-unit residential building, called Gallatin Apartments, designed by Kahler Slater Architects.


(PHOTO: Kahler Slater Architects)

The developer of the new apartment building, Chris Houden, said last year that the cabin was being given to Galbraith Carnahan Architects, 6528 W. North Ave., for use as office space.

According to the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Architectural Inventory, the cabin was erected in 1921 to plans drawn by Scott & Mayer at a cost of $15,000, by railroad executive Frederick D. Underwood.

The cabin was initially on a nearby site called Few Acres Farm, a 7.5-acre plot on the northwest corner of Wauwatosa and North Avenues, where the two-story Underwood mansion also stood.

Research by Charles Mitchell suggests that it might have been built much earlier than the 1920s. Mitchell says Underwood, "moved the old farmhouse where he was born to a position near his retreat and maintained the interior just like it was when he was a child. He lived in this small house instead of the mansion when he visited Wauwatosa."

He references two sources that suggest the log cabin is actually that childhood home, which would place its construction, Mitchell says, between 1838 and 1859.

But, Mitchell adds, "An article in the Milwaukee Journal of July 28, 1955, a tribute to Underwood and his estate in Wauwatosa, states that the log house was built in 1926 by Underwood for his son."

What’s not debated is that the cabin was moved to its current site, across the street from the Wauwatosa Cemetery, in 1955 after the city bought the land for its new Longfellow School. In recent years, the cabin was used as office space.

In December, crews could be seen readying the 5,000-square foot cabin for the move, including excavating around the foundation. In the meantime, excavation and the building of a new foundation at 6404 W. North Ave. was being completed.

Scheduled overnight moves in mid-December and early January were postponed.

Now, the plan is to make the move later this month, according to a post on the City of Wauwatosa portal.

"The log cabin is being moved to 6404 W. North Avenue. It will be in position before the morning commute," notes the web site. "If you haven't seen a move like this before, it is quite a sight to see. The cabin ... will be moved in its entirety.

"You can anticipate a rolling street closure on North Avenue, but our Fire and Police Departments will still be able to get to you if needed. You can expect to see work crews in the weeks following the move as they secure the foundation and building in its new place."

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

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.