Little Red Store, Kneeland-Walker House Decked Out for Free Holiday Tours

The Little Red Store and Kneeland-Walker House will be decorated for the holidays and open to the public for free tours during the first weekend in December.

Some 5,000 individuals have crossed the threshold into Wauwatosa’s new community visitors’ center since the lovingly-restored Little Red Store opened its doors this past May. If you haven’t yet experienced the city’s oldest-surviving commercial building at 7720 Harwood Ave. in the heart of the historic village area during its inaugural season, there’s still time!

The public is invited to a free, holiday open house at the Little Red Store on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.

The Little Red Store, which dates from 1854, has served the community as a dwelling, post office, railroad station, general store, library, political meeting hall, harness shop, grocery store and plumbing shop.

Adults and children are also invited to tour the Wauwatosa Historical Society’s Kneeland-Walker House headquarters at 7406 Hillcrest Drive in Wauwatosa on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1 – 4 p.m.

In 1987, the historical society purchased the stately Victorian house, coach house and 1.5 acres of gardens and grounds. Today, the Kneeland-Walker House is used for various educational programs, preservation work, archival storage, artifact displays and community events. This treasure stands as one of Wauwatosa’s greatest community assets.

WHS volunteer docents will be available at the Little Red Store and Kneeland-Walker House holiday open houses to lead tours and answer visitors’ questions. Complimentary hot chocolate and homemade cookies will be served at both locations.

The Wauwatosa Historical Society is a qualified, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization established in 1977 to preserve and disseminate materials related to the history of Wauwatosa, Wis. Headquartered at the Kneeland-Walker House and Victorian Gardens, the WHS has more than 800 individual and business members. The society provides and actively supports community preservation through archival storage and research, artifact displays, educational programs and special events. The WHS also manages the Little Red Store, Wauwatosa’s oldest surviving commercial building, under special lease agreement with the city. Located in the heart of the historic village area, the Little Red Store now serves as a visitors’ welcome center and community meeting site. For more information, call 414-774-8672 or visit www.wauwatosahistoricalsociety.org.