Railman Franz Lugviel

Guest post by Tekla Kilpatrick

A railman

@RAILMANMKE Franz Lugviel is the railman for our reenactment. He is a German immigrant who came to the States in 1848 as a child and lived in the Killbourn neighborhood. During this time period we see his father work on plank roads and then as Franz Lugviel grows up, he works on the railroad. During their time in Milwaukee the Lugviels were impacted by the Alexander and George Smith’s banks and money. Since banking is illegal, they censor the word bank in their tweets with a bee emoji and “ank”. This account also highlights the expansion of the railroad by new incorporated companies and the connections to different towns and cities. This character highlights some particularly German experiences including Franz Lugviel having a job as a teenager with a German newspaper, visiting Turner Hall, and trading spaetzle with others on the rail line.