CONTACT:
Jerry Zimmerman
1000 So. 109th Street, West Allis, WI 53214
414-453-8621
jerdadzim at cs.com
Jerry Zimmerman will negotiate costs with you. Contact him directly to make arrangements. REGION:
Milwaukee County, Quad Counties WisconsinHUMANITIES EXPERTISE:
Mound building in Wisconsin, Aviation history in Wisconsin.
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JERRY ZIMMERMAN
Jerry Zimmerman, born in 1928 four blocks from the Wisconsin State Fair Park, is a life-time resident of West Allis. In 1947 he graduated from the Naval School of Photography as an Aerial Photographer. After his 1948 Honorable discharge he entered the Lithographic industry. He retired in 1980 and volunteered as Photo Editor and columnist for the Wisconsin VFW Newspaper. He continued in both capacities until 1996 when he “retired” again to volunteer as the first Wisconsin State Fair Historian, a position he continues to serve in today. In 2001 he authored the book, “150 Years of The Wisconsin State Fair – An Illustrated History.” He continues to enjoy photography and the preservation of historical pictures.
Public Presentations:
Wisconsin State Fair: How things have changed
Jerry Zimmerman, Wisconsin State Fair Historian, has witnessed many changes to the Fairgrounds and its expositions during the last half (80 years) of the Fair’s 158-year existence. Living four blocks from the Park in his early youth, it became his extended playground. As a teenager he worked in the Park selling “Three Balls a dime,” to knock down milk bottles and “win a prize every time.” In this presentation, Zimmerman draws on his own stories and extensive research to present the Fair’s fascinating history, starting with the first Fair in 1851 in Janesville. Over the years, there were important visitors to the Fair, such as president Abraham Licoln, celebrities like the Wright Brothers, and war generals including Grant and Sherman. Zimmerman will talk about the things that drew crowds, like famous racecar drivers, harness race horses, and Philadelphia Toboggan Company’s Carousel #15, while also explaining the industrial and agricultural histories of the state’s enterprise. He can bring a historical picture display to set up in the presentation venue to accompany his talk.
Other Public Program Ideas: Jerry Zimmerman enjoys sharing his experiences as a Naval Aerial Photographer and his collection of antique cameras. His past experience as a wilderness canoe camper and photographer within the Canadian and Minnesota Boundary Waters between 1956 and 1986 is another interest he is eager to talk about and explore with others.
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