IN WITH THE OLD
From a warehouse behind Lisbon Storm, precious doors and windows find new life
Once upon a time, Milwaukee had a number of craftsmen who constructed intricate windows and doors made out of solid wood like oak, maple, fir and even mahogany. These older doors were predominately taller, often by 4 to 10 inches, and all indoor, as well as exterior doors, were solid core, thicker than today’s doors. Now, old is new. Wisconsinites are fortunate in that windows, doors and hardware of yesteryear can still be purchased, and at affordable prices. Hardware was often made of bronze. Windows had gorgeous wood surrounds. Anyone taking a walk in the older areas of Milwaukee and many Wisconsin cities can enjoy the beautiful work of long-deceased artisans. Homeowners can still find some of these yesteryear gems at Lisbon Storm, Screen & Door, 5006 W. Lisbon Ave., on Milwaukee’s near west side.
Now run by twin brothers, David and Daniel Wilhelm, the store has been a mecca for owners of older homes who want to replace doors and windows with those akin to the original.
Rummaging through Lisbon’s 20,000square foot warehouse is like going on a treasure hunt, with windows and doors that date as far back as the 19th century.
The business was founded accidentally. The Wilhelm brothers’ grandfather, Lawrence Wilhelm, had a small grocery store. A neighbor asked him to sell some used windows for him, and Wilhelm found that there was a real market for them. He took out an ad “soliciting for windows” and then founded Lisbon Storm & Screen 60 years ago.
His son carried on in the business, then moved the company to its present location, and the twins bought the business from him. A fourth generation, two teenage nephews, works at the store as well.
David and Daniel, the Wilhelm twins, started out as 13-year-olds sweeping floors and generally being gofers.
Older windows, once a large part of the business, are now only about 10%, David said.
However, they are still there, in their own area of the warehouse, easily accessible for history
hunters or those with older homes looking for replacements for storms and screens that have rotted or are missing.
The store has a reputation for the place to find these old pieces, not only from people in Wisconsin, but some in other parts of the country, and even abroad, have used the store’s old windows and doors for decorative purposes or for authentication for plays and other projects.
Lisbon Storm has been a go-to place to find doors and windows and sashes for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Old World Wisconsin, a Pewaukee antique dealer and, according to Wilhelm, ”once a year, a hardware brass antique dealer from Atlanta comes up and fills a trailer full of old stuff, windows and doors, from the store.”
Every Saturday, Wilhelm said, “the place is filled with homeowners from Shorewood and Whitefish Bay browsing though the warehouse.”
The old windows are even hanging as light fixtures in Urban Outfitters in London, Wilhelm said.
When the movie about gangster John Dillinger, “Public Enemies,” was made in Milwaukee, Wilhelm explained, “the producers needed old doors and they got them from us.”
Beyond the doors
Old windows, doors, and glass can be made into decorative accents in any house, old or new. Wilhelm said his father covered their ceiling with door panels. “It looked awesome.”
“A couple from Brookfield had used an old transom to make a room divider between their dining room and living room. I’ve even had several people make greenhouses from old storm windows.”
Jim Gurka, of Brookfield, said Lisbon Storm custom-made the transom, and many of his friends admire the idea.
Gurka used to sell building materials, and Lisbon was one of his accounts. He’d bring his bosses to show them the store’s stock.
“Even some of the personnel at the box stores would suggest that customers should try Lisbon Storm & Screen for something they couldn’t find at their stores.” Gurka said.
“They are good people to work with. I’ve recommended many people to them, and it’s a very unique place to shop,” he said.
He also bought an old Prairie-style storm window panel from Lisbon and used it to create
a unique bathroom mirror.
Old and new come together
Wilhelm loves it when homeowners incorporate older doors and windows, and even just older glass into their homes, no matter what the age of the houses. He has followed suit in his new home as well.
“My wife and I had a brand-new house in Pewaukee. I switched the new glass in all my cabinets to old wavy glass and she loved it. Now they all look like old carpentry. I try to keep even newer houses looking old.”
Lisbon also donates solid old doors to several Wisconsin law enforcement agencies “to use for penetration tactic practices,” he said.
“The store gets its old stock from everywhere,” Wilhelm explained. “It seems to find its way here. We’ve been a good source for people to get rid of old stuff. In the past, we would go and harvest
things out of old houses that were about to be demolished. Old glass finds its way here. If the frame is bad, we take it out. We have hundreds of pieces of antique glass.”
“You can’t make glass look that way anymore,” he said. “You can’t put new glass in an old piece. Old glass is wavy with glass bubble seeds.”
Both brothers have a love for older architecture. “When I get back from vacation, I always look in warehouse to see if any interesting old stuff has come in.” David Wilhelm said.