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Update (2026): The Watson family’s story continues to be featured inside the Streets of Old Milwaukee exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Their home site once stood near what is now Zeidler Union Square in downtown Milwaukee.
The Story of the Watsons: One of Milwaukee’s Earliest Black Families
When you walk through the Streets of Old Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Public Museum, you’re stepping into the history of a family whose courage helped shape the city’s early Black community.
Sully Watson was born enslaved in the South. After marrying Susana, a free Black woman, he secured his own freedom for $500 — a sum equal to about $10,000 today. Together with their four children, the Watsons made their way to Milwaukee, joining a small but growing Black community of roughly 100 residents.
They settled in the area we now know as Zeidler Union Square. Sully worked as a stone mason contributing to early Milwaukee construction, while Susana worked as a seamstress. Their skills, labor, and presence helped establish an early foundation for Black life in the city.
Their legacy continued through generations:
- William Thomas, their son-in-law, became one of the first Black men to vote in Wisconsin.
- Mabel Raimey, their great-granddaughter, became Wisconsin’s first Black woman attorney and the first Black woman to graduate from UW–Madison.
The Watsons’ story highlights resilience, self-determination, and the deep historical roots of Milwaukee’s Black community. Families visiting the museum can look for their presence in the Streets of Old Milwaukee to help kids connect the exhibit to real local history.
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
