East Village Historic District
Bounded by N. Humboldt Avenue, N. Warren Avenue, E. Brady Street, E. Kane Place; period of significance 1871-1927
Listed in the National Register January 21, 2004

East Village is Milwaukee’s only National Register Historic District that honors our immigrant Polish Community. The neighborhood that grew up around St. Hedwig’s Church, with its cluster of working class cottages and Polish Flats, preserves the character of a 19th century urban village with its irregular street pattern and dense development and the cohesiveness of the area is unlike any other neighborhood in Milwaukee. Threatened with redevelopment by condo builders, East Village actively sought National Register status to promote neighborhood pride in its immigrant past, make tax credits available for owners who sensitively rehab their homes and help as a planning tool in preserving the unique character of the district.

Pabst Brewery Complex
Bounded by Winnebago Street, Highland Avenue, N. 9th and N. 11th Streets; period of significance 1875-1953
Listed in the National Register November 14, 2003

The Pabst Brewing Company Complex was listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in history as well as architecture. Under the leadership of Captain Frederick Pabst, the Pabst Brewing Company (originally founded as the Phillip Best Brewing Company) long set the standard for the brewing industry. It grew to the largest brewery in the country by 1874 and then the largest in the world by 1892 when it produced over a million barrels of beer in a single year. The Milwaukee facility was its place of origin and remained its principal production facility through most of the 20th century. The complex was designed to reflect the prosperity of the business and the German ethnicity of its owner and is in a remarkable state of preservation. The cream brick buildings with their crenellations and arches and stone detail remain visual landmarks in the city. Through the persistent efforts of James Heartel, Pabst Brewing Company sold the vacant complex and it is now awaiting redevelopment as Pabst City. Wispark and John Ferchill’s Juneau Avenue Partners LLC are working to make the redevelopment a reality.

Sherman Boulevard Historic District
From Lloyd Street to Keefe Street; period of significance 1901-1955
Listed in the National Register April 6, 2004

Sherman Boulevard has been a locally designated Milwaukee Historic District since January 25, 1995. Sherman Boulevard has long been recognized for its important collection of early 20th century residential buildings designed by some of Milwaukee’s best architects. Sherman Boulevard is also a significant example of the boulevard-planning concept and successfully linked Washington Park to Sherman Park with a divided roadway that serves as a linear park and distinguishes the thoroughfare from its more commonplace neighbors. Today the boulevard extends north to Silver Spring Drive and McGovern Park. The Sherman Park Community Association successfully spearheaded the efforts at National Register listing in order to further enhance the prestige of the boulevard, generate more pride in the area and enable owners to take advantage of rehabilitation tax credits.

 

University Club of Milwaukee
924 E. Wells Street     Built 1926
Passed by Common Council July 24, 2003

The University Club of Milwaukee was locally designated on July 24,2003 for its significance as an important survivor from Milwaukee’s golden age of private clubs. Its urbanity and luxuriousness were the direct result of the fine design work of John Russell Pope, an internationally renowned architect whose Georgian and Classical Revival buildings helped define the American manor house and the public style of Washington D.C., including the Jefferson Memorial.

Emanuel Adler House
1681 N. Prospect Avenue     Built 1888
Passed by Common Council June 12, 2003

The Emanuel Adler House was locally designated on June 12, 2003 for its significance as an excellent example of an 1880’s hybrid style that combined the exuberant silhouette and layered detail of the Queen Anne with the bold massing and masonry work of the Romanesque Revival. It is the sole surviving example of this type on Prospect Avenue and represents an important early work of local architect Alfred C. Clas. Clas went on to an important design career with George Ferry and later became an influential planner in the city. The Adler House was previously listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 13, 1991.


Manegold/Gramling House
1202 S. Layton Boulevard     Built 1913
Passed by Common Council November 14, 2003

The Arthur Manegold House was locally designated on November 14, 2003 for its significance as a pivotal building in the Layton Boulevard National Register Historic District and an important example of the Arts and Crafts Style as designed by Alexander C. Eschweiler. Eschweiler was one of the most prestigious residential designers in late 19th and early 20th century Milwaukee. The designation was able to prevent the demolition of the fire-damaged house and members of the Gramling family, who have historic ties to the house, are about to begin the restoration of the building. As part of the Layton Boulevard National Register Historic District, the Manegold House has been listed in the National Register since April 24, 1996.

Milwaukee Fire House, Ladder Company # 5
1945 N. Bartlett Avenue     Built 1886
Passed by Common Council November 25, 2003

Milwaukee Fire House Ladder Co. # 5 was locally designated on November 25, 2003 for its significance as a symbol of the city’s first attempts at standardizing fire station house design and creating a recognizable civic architecture that would instill pride and confidence in government. Ladder Company #5 is the earliest surviving station house designed by Sebastian Brand, a Milwaukee firefighter who was elevated to the role of Fire Department architect and who put his distinctive stamp on station house design for over 20 years. Brand was the first municipal employee assigned to design buildings for the city and he left a legacy of finely detailed station houses, of which only a small number survive today.

State Street Bascule Bridge
The Milwaukee River at State Street     Built 1924
Passed by Common Council January 21, 2004

The State Street Bascule Bridge was locally designated on January 21, 2004 for its significance as the oldest surviving simple trunnion bascule bridge in the city of Milwaukee. The prototype for this bridge (built in 1904 and now demolished) was technologically important and was the first of its type in the United States. It is commonly referred to as the “Milwaukee Type Bascule” and became popular throughout the country for its relatively simple construction and ease of operation and maintenance. The State Street Bascule Bridge is also significant as the first bascule bridge here that was designed to meet aesthetic concerns and featured ornamental copper-clad bridge tenders houses and ornamental railings that set the standard for subsequent city bridges.

Avalon Theater
2469-83 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue     Built 1926-1929
Passed by Common Council March 2, 2004

The Avalon Theater was locally designated on March 2, 2004 for its significance as Milwaukee’s best surviving example of an “atmospheric” theater and the first motion picture theater in Wisconsin to be built for the new “talking” and “sound” pictures. Prominent local architect Russell Barr Williamson used a host of architectural embellishments on the exterior and interior to create a fantasy picture palace that included an auditorium made to simulate an open air Mediterranean courtyard.