early 20th century custom-designed ornamental cast bronze milwaukee electric railway and light company doorknob and matching backplate

the beaux-arts neoclassical public service building (herman j. esser, 1905) functioned as the milwaukee electric railway and light company main office, central terminal, and training facility. the company’s horsecar and electric streetcar network served milwaukee’s neighborhoods and suburbs until the 1950s. the rectangular building occupies the whole city block between third and second streets on michigan street, and features distinctive ornamentation comprised of limestone. the structure’s interior features a marble walled lobby, oval-shaped stained glass skylights, and a copper relief of a buzzing beehive meant to symbolize the building’s relentless activity.