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Button Block Column Restoration
500 N. Water Street
. Button Block LLC/Taxman Investment Company
 The
Button Block may have raised a few eyebrows when first constructed in 1892.
For a community used to pale cream-colored brick, the brash red brick and
bright sandstone would certainly been a novelty. The building was
commissioned by industrialist Charles Pearson Button to honor his father,
pioneer Milwaukee druggist Dr. Henry Harrison Button, who had been born in a
hotel that once stood at this site. Milwaukee’s reputation as the Cream
City was beginning to change as architects like Crane and Barkhausen
introduced a new color palette into buildings like this one beginning in
the 1890s.
The building is located within the East Side Commercial Historic District
that has both National Register listing and local historic designation. Time
had not been kind to the building. Its brilliant hue was hidden under
soot from decades of coal dust. The sandstone trim was crumbling. Foundation
problems were occurring. Fire damaged the building in 1992. Little by
little, the owner had been addressing the many restoration needs of the
building.
 With the Historic Preservation Commission’s assistance, the
condemnation orders on the building were set aside and the fire damage was
repaired. The crumbling sandstone sills were replaced in kind with new
sandstone and a major belt course was replaced with a high tech fiberglass
look-a-like in 2005. The granite corner column, a signature feature of the
building, began to crack and tilt by 1996, and repair work was done to the
piles beneath. Further work was needed as the timber piles below the
adjacent load bearing walls began to fail and the granite column suffered
more damage. Experts were called in to assess the damage and come up with a
restoration plan.
The project manager, Timothy K. Luettgen described the
process: This past year’s plan was to repair the damaged granite column, sandstone
base and deteriorating timber pile foundation. We did this by supporting the
corner of the building with a temporary concrete and steel structure with
its own sacrificial pile foundation system. We then removed the existing
granite column, sandstone base and limestone pier down to expose the
existing timber piles. These piles were then cut down to solid material and
a new concrete pile cap and pier were constructed. Additional repairs were
done to rotted timber piles underneath the exterior load bearing walls.
These were repaired one at a time by cutting them down to solid material,
placing a steel jack on top of each pile and then back filling the entire
excavation with concrete slurry.
Among the experts involved in the project were Pierce Engineers, Thornton
Tomasetti (Chicago), Jim Ronning, J.P. Cullen and Sons, and H. Russell
Zimmermann who created the detailed drawings for the new column and base. A
new type of laser measuring was employed, through the firm SightLine, LLC,
ensuring that the curved entasis of the new column matched the original
exactly. Quarra Stone from Madison produced a nearly exact match for the
granite in the column as well as matching sandstone for the base.
The Historic Preservation Commission is impressed with the efforts and
commitment made by Button Block LLC/Taxman Investment Company to address
complex engineering problems and return the building to its former
prominence.
James Brown Double House
1122 N. Astor Street . Brico Fund LLC
 This
156-year-old structure, one of the earliest houses built in the Yankee Hill
neighborhood, is a rugged survivor that has adapted with the times. Its
neighbors once included the homes of the E. T. Mixes, the B.K. Millers, the
Ilsleys, the Allises, the Goodriches, the Tweedys and other high profile
Milwaukeeans. More mansions came and went. Churches were built. Hotels and
apartment buildings made inroads into Yankee Hill. Commercial enterprises
took root in the older structures. Fortunately the Brown Double House had a
succession of good stewards.
Its builder, James S. Brown, is one of early
Milwaukee’s most remarkable, if almost forgotten, individuals. Brown was
known for his brilliant legal mind and political accomplishments, serving as
Wisconsin’s first attorney general, then mayor of Milwaukee and then
congressman. Brown built the double house in 1852 and lived in the south
half. It was during his ownership that he served as Milwaukee’s 11th mayor
in 1861. Brown first rented, then sold off the north portion of the building.
He sold his portion in 1863. Each side remained in separate ownership and
was remodeled and added onto differently. By the late 19th century, each half
of the double house had different dormers, rear wings and front porches. With
a change in the neighborhood, the first floor of the building was eventually
converted into business space in 1927.
 One of the original businesses to move into the building in 1927 was Zita’s
Inc., an exclusive ladies wear shop. It occupied Brown’s former unit at
first but eventually came to occupy the entire building. Margaret (Peg) M.
Bradley became associated with Zita’s around 1947, then acquired the
business. Her husband, Harry Bradley, was one of the founders of the
Allen-Bradley company. Eventually both portions of the building were
consolidated under the Lynde Bradley Foundation. A major remodeling in 1992
resulted in a rounded portico addition to the front, an exit stair tower to
the south elevation, and the application of new cream color paint to the
exterior.
When Zita’s decided to consolidate at its Whitefish Bay store in 2006, many
members of the community were worried about the future of the Astor Street
double house. Their fears were groundless. The Bradley descendants within
Brico Fund felt a strong connection to the building and wanted it restored.
The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc. were chosen to oversee the restoration
of the building. Beyer Construction provided the work crews. Their first
task was to determine the period to which the building would be restored.
The date of 1890 was chosen. Another hurdle was determining how to proceed
with the restoration since both portions of the double house had evolved in
different ways. It was determined to remove the 1992 portico and give the
building a unified porch treatment but retain the unique rear wings and
different dormers. The stair towers had to remain per City codes.
Forensic testing was done to evaluate and replicate mortar and other
materials. The face brick was stripped of paint and the ribbon tooling of
the joints was replicated. Lime putty render was applied to the common brick
at the back. Half of the front elevation had to be rebuilt due to structural
problems and the original brick was re-used. All existing windows were
restored and new storm/screen combination units were installed to increase
efficiency. The Queen Anne style front porch was recreated from historic
photos. The one remaining original interior staircase was restored along
with three original remaining fireplaces. Sustainable practices included the
recycling of the interior retail cabinetry and non-original woodwork,
installing efficient lighting systems, retaining city steam system for heat,
using materials with recycled content, and using low VOC products.
The project was long and involved and unanticipated challenges had to be met
along the way. The Historic Preservation Commission recognizes the Brico Fund for its commitment to excellence and the successful integration
of preservation and sustainability in an urban environment. The project
demonstrates that preservation is not only about looking to the past but
utilizing the tools modern technology can provide so that our historic
buildings remain relevant for the future.
Pritzlaff Hardware
Building Restoration
1033 N. Old World Third Street .
1033 Old World 3rd
LLC/Salvatore G. Safina
 Most
people today associate the name Pritzlaff with the large complex of
buildings located at Plankinton and St. Paul Avenues. Few know that the
hardware company giant originated at Old World Third Street.
A German
immigrant, Pritzlaff worked with a succession of iron and hardware merchants
before opening his own business on Old World Third Street in 1850. Success
led to the construction of the present building in 1861. Architect Leonard
Schmidtner designed it as a three story building but a fourth story with
mansard roof was added in 1893.
This building was a catalyst for future
development and signaled Old World Third Street’s emergence as a major
commercial district for the German immigrant community. In 1874, Pritzlaff’s
business had grown so large, one of the three largest hardware dealers west
of the Alleghenies, that he relocated to Plankinton Avenue where expansion
continued into the 20th century. Number 1033 N. Old World Third Street is the
second oldest extant building in the district after the Bauer Building next
door which was constructed c.1858.
 The Pritzlaff Hardware Company Building is a fine example of the Italianate
style and is part of a historic district listed in the National Register of
Historic Places as well as having local historic designation. The building
had suffered from the kind of change that afflicts so many older commercial
buildings. The cream brick was obscured by atmospheric contaminants. A fire
escape had a position of prominence on the front façade. The storefront was
altered in 1939, 1944, 1975 and again after 1984 when stucco covered much of
the façade. In 2005, the current owners decided to restore the building to
its historic appearance. The brick and limestone trim were cleaned, the
pressed metal Queen Anne style cornice was painted, the fire escape was
removed, windows were replaced with new, true divided-light replacements, and
a new, historically-appropriate storefront was installed complete with
double leaf entry doors.
The Historic Preservation Commission recognizes the extensive work done on
the project and hopes that the Pritzlaff Building will serve to encourage
the restoration and re-use of Milwaukee's fine but finite collection of
buildings built with locally manufactured cream-colored brick, the brick
that once earned Milwaukee the nickname “The Cream City.”
St. Hedwig Church Preservation Stewardship
1716 N. Humboldt Avenue . Three Holy Women Parish
 Church
buildings are powerful symbols and they anchor their neighborhoods like no
other structure can. St. Hedwig church has been the visual and spiritual
heart of the Brady Street neighborhood since its completion in 1886. Founded
by a group of determined Polish immigrants, St. Hedwig Church is now part of
Three Holy Women Parish that also incorporates Holy Rosary Church (Irish
origins) and St. Rita’s Church (Italian origins). The parish reflects the
melting pot that is the Brady Street area.
People marvel at the costly materials used in these buildings and wonder why
their congregations bothered. But what better way is there to convey the
sense of spirituality, permanence, eternal commitment and pride than with a
house of worship that will withstand the test of time. As sturdy as these
materials are, however, they still require diligent maintenance and
sometimes even replacement after generations of service. St. Hedwig’s roof
is a case in point.
The replacement of the copper roof at St. Hedwig Church is a story of both
tradition and new technology working hand in hand. The green patina on the
church’s copper roof and spire had evolved over decades of oxidation and
formed a familiar visual feature of the cream brick structure. It is thought
to have been a second generation roof, an early 20th century replacement for
the original which had failed for reasons not known today. By the 21st
century, pinholes and stress cracks had developed in the copper, some of
which are thought to have been caused by the fasteners used at the time.
Water was coming into the building.
 Langer Roofing and Sheet Metal Inc. did
a thorough analysis of the problems. They determined a thicker gauge copper
was required along with stainless steel fasteners. Especially challenging
was the steeple roof. The feather-like, herringbone pattern was a
traditional European design but in the old country, was often executed in
lead not copper. The copper was not holding. Langer devised a method to
replicate the look of the old steeple roof and yet allow for slight
expansion and contraction to alleviate tearing. The new steeple roof is
virtually indistinguishable from the old yet retains the unique Old World
patterning. Langer also utilized modern computer equipment to bend the
copper in forming the cornices and gutters. They too are accurate to the
originals. Restoration projects are only as good as the materials chosen and
the contractors who work on them. It appears that St. Hedwig Church was in
good hands.
The Historic Preservation Commission recognizes St. Hedwig Church for their
dedication to the original intent of the design of the building and all the
extra effort and expense that entailed. The parish’s commitment to
excellence will mean that the church will remain a landmark in the community
for generations to come.
Scranton Stockdale Renovation
2865 N. Hackett Avenue .
John and Kimberly
Kramer
 What
do you do with the “smallest and ugliest house on the block”? That’s the
question that Paul Kramer and his wife Kimberly asked themselves when they
purchased their home in 2005. Luckily John Kramer had an undergraduate
degree in history and a true love for historical neighborhoods/houses.
Their efforts turned an ugly duckling into a house that can stand alongside
its neighbors with pride.
Their house had not always been an ugly duckling. It was built in 1921 at a
cost of $5,200 by the noted builder Scranton Stockdale who advertised
himself as a “builder of cozy homes.” While not as grand as some of the
adjacent architect-designed houses, this Stockdale-built house had good
bones and an attention to detail characteristic of his other projects.
Stockdale houses stand out in the neighborhoods where they were built. You
can see Stockdale houses all through the city from Bay View to the St.
Joseph Hospital neighborhood. Dutch Colonial, Colonial, English Bungalow and
Arts and Crafts Bungalow style houses were the company’s specialty.
 Do repairs or cover it up. Fix it right or fix it fast. Why fix it when you
can remove it. These were the choices past owners faced when the house
needed some maintenance. Unfortunately, the quick fix was selected. The
entire front porch was pulled off at an unknown date. Steel siding was
installed in 1972. Surely the past owners were content thinking the house
was “maintenance free” but at what price. The Dutch Colonial now stood out
as the anomaly on its block and the “remuddling” only emphasized its modest
scale.
By the time the Kramers purchased the home, it was listed in the State and
National Registers as part of the Kenwood Park-Prospect Hill Historic
District. Lacking historic photos, the Kramers worked with city Historic
Preservation staff to draft a period-appropriate design for a full-length
front porch and matched the footprint shown in old fire insurance atlases.
The old steel siding was removed and revealed small windows on the south
elevation that had been covered over. Millwork was re-created to frame the
windows since details had been chopped off during the installation of the
siding. Other repairs were done. New landscaping will come next. As John
Kramer stated, “I felt a civic duty to the neighborhood to bring the house up
to specs with the other homes in the neighborhood. (Trust me, we haven’t
seen a financial gain from doing this!) Now, we have just the smallest house
on the block.”
While some might question that the project is just a “simple house,” the
Historic Preservation Commission recognizes the Kramer’s commitment to
quality work and appropriate details and materials.
They truly turned their ugly duckling into a modest, but handsome swan.
Their efforts should be an inspiration to others.
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