20 Ton Studios

20 Ton Studios is a thriving art collective based on the city’s North Side. Twenty tons was the weight the original crane could lift when it was installed in 1911 by Pawling & Harnischfeger. Consequently, we thought it a permanent fixture. The original 20-ton crane was situated on the same tracks as our current 2-ton overhead, which can be seen near the entrance. The building was previously occupied by Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company as an electric substation when it was initially constructed for $20,000. Considered a substantial amount in 1911, that would be equivalent to $6 million today. The project was designed to reduce high-voltage electricity that could power the streetcar line to lower voltage for use in the surrounding area.