This Garden District Place History was created by cross-referencing addresses, names, and businesses in Wright’s City of Milwaukee Directory, Polk’s City of Milwaukee Directory, Town of Lake Directory; Archived Milwaukee Journal articles and records at Milwaukee’s Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS).
The People and the Place of 312 W. Plainfield Avenue
Currently known as the Day Drink Inn, the building at 312 W. Plainfield Avenue has persisted for nearly one hundred years as a home, a business and a community gathering spot.
The building is nestled in a neighborhood that was in the Town of Lake (TOL). The town merged with Milwaukee in 1954. Built in 1928 as a store with a second-floor apartment the original address was 310 W. Plainfield Avenue. In 1930 the action-plan to unify the Greater Milwaukee Area streets and addresses was initiated and the building’s numerical address was changed to 312. For brevity, this story will refer to the business, the second-floor apartment and a behind-the store dwelling as “312.”
Joseph Kazmierowski, who was a tailor, and his wife Lillian are the original owners of 312. In 1931 they acquired a permit to build a two-room dwelling onto the back of the store. The dwelling was a kitchen and one bedroom. For approximately 30 more years, the, “dwelling attachment,” which could be accessed through the store (tavern) served as a home to many men and women who were often the operators and or license holders of the business, while the building owner(s), sometimes lived in the second-floor apartment.
It is important to this community history to point out that the stock market crash of October 1929 rapidly spun into the Great Depression. It quickly devastated small businesses and catapulted the U.S. unemployment rate to 24.9% by 1933. Previously the Kazmierowskis lived at 3405 S. Clement Avenue, before moving above the store. It could not be determined if Joseph ever ran a tailor shop at 312.
In 1932 an Albert Janz, began operating a Soft Drinks business at 312. When prohibition ended December 5,1933, Eugene Kazmierowski, Joseph’s brother began operating a tavern there and also living in the building.
Day Drink Inn 1
Tragically on June 20, 1934, the 73-year-old Joseph Kazmierowski, while riding a streetcar in Downtown Milwaukee died of heart disease, “superinduced,” by the 95-degree heat. He was the one weather related death during that hot day in Milwaukee when dozens of people were injured when an abrupt and violent windstorm blew 52 miles per hour for 8 minutes. The Milwaukee Journal story indicated that Joseph Kasmierowski lived at 3660 S. Kansas Avenue, Town Of Lake while other sources have his wife Lillian living at 312.
Another important historical context regarding the people in this story who were trying to secure a life in the 1930s is that Social Security wasn’t signed into law until 8/14/1935. Original payments were a few small, lump sums. There were many eligibility exclusions and much skepticism about the program’s future. A recession in1937 was attributed to the steep reduction of Federal Depression era spending. The first monthly SSA check wasn’t issued until January 1940.
Returning to 1935, Eugene Kasmierowski, Joseph’s brother is residing or rooming at 3438 S. Howell and is working as a laborer. The tavern operator is Walter Badzinski. However, a year later, 1936, Eugene returned to living at 312. He is recorded there by name, by street address, and as the tavern operator. But that seems to not be for long as another year later in 1937 a Frank Inda and his wife Frances run the tavern and are also residents. They still live there in1938, which is the first year that instead of 310 W. Plainfield the place is listed as 312 W. Plainfield Ave.
Frank and Frances’s, occupancy ends in 1939 when Eugene Kazmierowski, now working as an auto mechanic is once again listed at 312. A deeper search reveals that a John Niewinski and his wife, “Helen,” are operating the tavern business. The name “Helen” will persist at 312 for the next 40 years. This writing does not investigate whether the pre-WWII Helen is the same as the post war Helen that appears in this story. Hopefully, some other community writer will pursue that missing history. Following John and Helen’s names in the directory is an entry “4” which usually indicates that 2 adults with 2 children. In this case it might mean there are a total of four adults living in the building and also there are no indications that Lillian Kasmierowski ever moved out during these years.
The United States of America entered WWII on December 8,1941. That same year Roy W. Januz is running the tavern. There is also a Frank Nowak living at 312 and a “2” after his name indicates someone else is occupying with him. Lillian Kazmierowski is still a resident and is still the owner. Forward to1942, Januz’s name no longer appears at 312, but Lillian is listed with her brother in-law Eugene Kazmierowski at 312A. S. 3rd Street, the “South” in the address indicates the entrance is facing South 3rd street, but the three-digit address doesn’t correspond to the 4100 block of S. 3rd St, a rare occurrence in Milwaukee
Advance to 1944-1945, Frank Nowak is still recorded as a 312 resident and for the first time the tavern business is not listed by an operator’s name. It is listed as, “The Plainfield Inn.”
The 1946 Town of Lake Directory cites that the address is Case’s Plainfield Bar, phone number HU9942, Stanely Case operator. The Milwaukee Directory confirms Frank W. Nowak and his wife Sylvia are still residents, and that Stanley B. Case, a welder, and his wife Helen, are dwelling at 312. Stanley is still the operator three years later in 1949.
From 1950 through 1954 there is no information in the TOL or Milwaukee directories regarding the Plainfield Avenue address. This writer postulates that the proceedings prior to the 1954 merger of the Town of Lake and the City of Milwaukee prompted officials from both municipalities to clear up address, residence and business occupancy discrepancies. This property has about 90 permits, applications and license reports still in its current file at DNS, however there is a note in the files indicating that during transfers of the files between Lake storage and Downtown Milwaukee DNS many of the reports disappeared. So, there are few records from before TOL and Milwaukee merged.
In the year 1956 Stanley B. Case is still operating 312 but it is now named “Club Scenic Tavern.” There are no listings for Eugene or Lillian Kazmierowski. From 1954 onward it appears that only the second floor is used as a residence.
Day Drink Inn 2
In 1957 Club Scenic is still listed under Taverns. However, searching for last names indicates that only Mrs. “Helen” Case is in the tavern business and living on the premises. In 1958 the address is still Helen Case’s home but mysteriously in 1959 a James Mauch and a wife named “Helen” operate, Club Scenic, and live in the building. Then in 1960 James is found residing at 2325 S. 11th St., and only Helen L. Mauch is listed as owner and resident at 312.
Proceeding to 1961, a permit for plastic illuminated bar sign was sought for Club Scenic. That idea was rejected. Then in 1965 an application for an illuminated sign was successfully requested by Stanly Case. That permit indicates Mr. Case is then living at 3681 S. Ahmedi. The 1964-65 Milwaukee Directory lists Mrs. “Helen” L. Case as the proprietor of Club Scenic and her home remaining at 312.
In 1973 a permit is sought to replace a Blatz sign with a Pabst sign. Also in 1973, Helen met with the City Inspector and her 13th district Alderman, Robert A. Anderson. She got an extension to the demolition order to tear down the “sagging” and “rotting,” two-car-garage built1931. She was sincerely encouraged to do it as soon as possible.
The tavern remained Club Scenic until 1976 when Helen changed the name to, “Helen’s Club Scenic.” That name would represent only a few more years of her ownership. In 1980 Milwaukee denied an application of occupancy to a Lynn Jacoby. “Non-conforming occupancy,” was cited.
The following year William Didynski secured occupancy and by 1983 a new name for the establishment was created by making a portmanteau of the new owner’s names William and Ann, “Billannie’s Inn.” They were living at 200 E. Gaur Circle in the Bay View, but they soon made 312 their new residence.
The Dedynskis had previously retired from the tavern business. Their former place was also called, “Billannies.” It was located at 2422 S. Howell Avenue. At their new establishment friends and neighbors visited at the bar and Bill and Annie’s grandchildren visited them in the upstairs apartment.
As the 1980’s was ending, an obituary in the Tuesday December 12, 1989, Milwaukee Journal, indicated that Helen Skowronski (Case) (nee Pestka) died on December 10,age 76. Funeral Services were held at St Veronica’s Church with interment at St. Adalbert Cemetery. She was a mother. Her children carry the surname of Case. She was a grandmother. She grew up with siblings having the last name of Petska. There was no explanation for her various married names. The obituary states that she was the former owner of Club Scenic. She shares a double headstone in St. Adelbert Cemetery inscribed: Skowronski, Stanley 1933-2006 and Helen 1913 -1989.
Advancing into the 21st Century, this historical investigation indicates that residing at 312 is Damiano Maniscaico. He purchased the building in 2000. “Dominic’s,” is then the name of the bar. Domiano’s wife Debra Maniscaico and his mother Rosalia Maniscaico, also live at the residence. The business claims three employees who are likely this family. According to Debra Siebel the next owner of 312, Damiano’s wife left him and his mother went back to Italy. Alas, Damiano could not make a go of it and the history of this place proceeds to 2003 when Debra and husband John Seibel purchased the building.
John and Debra rebranded the establishment as the “Plainfield Pub.” They invested a lot in the premises and are responsible for improvements to the HVAC, much of the current look and infrastructure and exterior including the large garage and the cement patio between the tavern and the garage. Debra revealed thxat customers have many questions and anecdotes concerning the building including possible teeth marks embedded into the bar rail, or if the downstairs was ever used as a stable. Debra and John filled the Plainfield Pub with Green Bay Packer memorabilia that customers donated to them. Debra was fond of a young man who last name was Kasube. She remembers he donated a Packer’s lunch box to the tavern and she also recalled that he was researching breweries and taverns because he wanted to start a Milwaukee Beer Museum. Debra was saddened that Kasube died very young before he could make that dream happen. Debra’s sister helped by bartending on Saturday nights. A friend, Sharon Ward of the tavern, “Wardski’s” bartended on Saturday afternoons. Unfortunately, John Siebel became ill. So he and Debra decided to sell the Plainfield Pub. In 2018 they sold the bar and moved to Oak Creek to manage John’s health. John died September 9, 2019. Debra now lives in Caledonia, WI.
Proceeding from 2018 to the present the place is reimagined as the Day Drink Inn with a happy hour that ends at sunset. It is owned and operated by Mario Mussatti, his daughter Gina Marie Mussatti and Jake Szcyech. Under their ownership the second-floor apartment was expanded with a dormer creating a new silhouette of the roof for the first time in over 90 years.