on/tyrone dumas

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Urban spelunking: Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Steeple chasing has become something of a hobby and it has led me from St. John's to St. Francis to Trinity to another Trinity and beyond. For a long time I've had my sights set on St. Michael's on the West Side -- and I'm still planning on getting there -- but one day I noticed a sleek little church tower just south and I decided to investigate. What I found was that in true small-waukee style, the history of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2466 W. McKinley Ave. -- is entwined, at least initially, with the history of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, 1046 N. 9th St., and other 19th century Milwaukee notables.