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Historic Old Soldiers Home District

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - FEBRUARY 2024

Historic buildings on Milwaukee VA campus to be renovated for service of Veterans

PLANS ANNOUNCED TO REHABILITATE AND REUSE
THE CHAPEL / WARD MEMORIAL THEATER /  AND GOVERNOR'S MANSION

Buildings to be Restored to their Original Purpose - The Service of Veterans

In Spring 2021, Old Main and five other buildings across the Soldiers Home grounds were restored to
provide 101 housing units for veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
We are excited to hare that there is now a plan to restore three more historic buildings to the service of veterans:
The Soldiers Home Chapel, Ward Memorial Theater and Governor's Mansion. Upon completion, the three
buildings will provide over 35,000 square feet of community space and supportive services for veterans.

ALEXANDER COMPANY AND VA TO PARTNER ON PROJECT
The Alexander Company, which led the previous phase of restoration on the Soldier's Home grounds and
manages the restored buildings today, will oversee the financing, design, construction and property
management of the three buildings. in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
They have engaged key local partners, including the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI) and other veteran services
providers including The Wisconsin Veterans Network, Journey to the Light Ministries and Feast of Crispian.

We're thrilled about the continued efforts to Save the Soldiers Home and commend The Alexander Company
and the VA on their historic partnership that will save these iconic buildings and expand services for our community's veterans.
 

ABOUT THE MILWAUKEE SOLDIERS HOME
A month before his assassination, President Lincoln signed legislation to create a national system of homes for disabled veterans.
Established in 1867, the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home (Soldiers Home) is one of the three original Soldiers Homes in the country.
The 90-plus acre district rests on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki Medical Center and was designed to be a
place of refuge for Civil War soldiers and help ease their transition back to civilian life. One of only 43 National Historic Landmarks
in Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Soldiers Home contains some of the oldest and most historic buildings in the VA system.

The Soldiers Home Chapel
will become a nondenominational worship space and conference space for training and mental health sessions.

 The Ward Memorial Theater
will host community theater and musical groups and offer a destination venue for conferences and lectures for VA Medical Center staff.

The Governor's Mansion
will hold offices for supportive services providers as well as a technological training center to provide computer literacy training.