City of Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin Page 1

FINAL DRAFT - Historical & Architectural Resources Survey 2016-08-11 City of Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin Page 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Heritage Research, Ltd., would like to thank the City of Onalaska and the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC member names are listed on the following page) for their assistance throughout the project. We also thank HPC member and local resident Nancy Tolvstad for accompanying Principal Investigator Traci E. Schnell on a driving tour of the city, as well as for sharing her historical information and general knowledge of Onalaska, which helped to orient Schnell to the city and its resources. Thanks also to the City’s former Land Use and Development Director Brea Grace, who lent Schnell her personal copy of From Sawmills to Sunfish for the duration of the project and to Katie Aspenson, Planner|Zoning Inspector and Historic Preservation Commission liaison for the City of Onalaska, for her assistance in a variety of areas, including access to historic materials housed in different city departments. This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or handicap (mental and/or physical impairment) in its federally assisted programs. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20240. The activity that is the subject of this architectural and historical survey has been financed entirely with Federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society. However, the contents and the opinions do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the Department of the Interior or the Wisconsin Historical Society. Nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior or the Wisconsin Historical Society. Historical & Architectural Resources Survey City of Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin Page 2 CITY OF ONALASKA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Katie Aspenson, Staff Liaison City of Onalaska Harvey Bertrand, Alderman and Commission Chair John Grider Gary Lass Jim Nelson Jerry Sjolander Nancy Tolvstad Sandy Whiteman Historical & Architectural Resources Survey City of Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin Page 3 ABSTRACT The purpose of this project is to provide a survey of the architectural and historical resources located within the City of Onalaska. This material may be useful in the development of local preservation plans; to identify buildings, structures, sited and historic districts that meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and to increase public and private sector awareness of the community’s historical and architectural heritage. Funded in part through a National Park Service grant-in-aid administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society, the City of Onalaska contracted with Heritage Research, Ltd., to conduct a survey of the city within a specific Scope of Work (found in the Introduction and Survey Methodology). The primary goal of the survey effort was to identify and inventory historical and architectural properties throughout the city and to evaluate them regarding their potential eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. At the project start, there were a total of approximately thirty Onalaska properties included in the Wisconsin Historic Preservation Database (WHPD), the electronic database that is maintained by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Following review of the entire city, the database now includes a total of fifty-five properties that meet current survey standards. No historic districts were identified. Of the total seven properties that were considered for National Register eligibility, six are recommended as potentially eligible for the National Register (this includes a re-discussion of a property that had been previously determined eligible in 2011). The remaining property, which was not determined to meet National Register criteria at this time, is recommended for potential local landmark designation. Historical & Architectural Resources Survey City of Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin Page 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and Survey Methodology Page 5 Chapter 1: Historical Overview Page 8 Chapter 2: Architecture Page 12 Chapter 3: Designers, Engineers and Builders Page 17 Chapter 4: Intensive Survey Recommendations (including List) Page 20 Bibliography Page 35 Appendix A: Survey Inventory Page 39 Appendix B: List #1: Properties Previously Surveyed/Inventoried And No Longer Retain Sufficient Integrity to Merit Resurvey Page 42 List #2: Properties Previously Surveyed/Inventoried That Are No Longer Extant Page 42 List #3: Properties Listed in the National Register of Historic Places Page 43 List #4: Properties Officially Determined Eligible For The National Register of Historic Places Page 43 List #5: Properties Listed as City of Onalaska Local Landmarks Page 43 Appendix C: National Register Criteria Page 44 Historical & Architectural Resources Survey City of Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin Page 5 INTRODUCTION AND SURVEY METHODOLOGY In 2014-2015, the City of Onalaska applied for, and received, a historic preservation grant-in-aid from the National Park Service—a grant administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS). The objective was to provide a survey of the architectural and historical resources located within the City of Onalaska. The ultimate purpose of such a survey is to identify those historic districts and/or individual properties that are potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Consequently, Heritage Research, Ltd., a historical/environmental consulting firm in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, was contracted to conduct a survey of the city within a specific Scope of Work, which included the following: (1) All previously surveyed properties will be re-photographed to update the inventory with color photos from black-and-white (even if no change has occurred to the property since its last survey date). Those properties will be re-reviewed for potential National Register eligibility and recommendations provided. (2) Contextual chapters will be written that reflect the resources surveyed. No less than three chapters were to be written; they include Historical Overview, Architecture and Architects, Engineers and Builders. (3) Photos will be taken of those properties that are currently missing a photo in the WHPD. Ms. Traci E. Schnell, M.A., Senior Architectural Historian, served as the Project Manager and Principal Investigator, as well as the author of the subject final report. Katie Aspenson, Planner|Zoning Inspector and Historic Preservation Commission liaison represented the city and its interests as director for the survey subgrant. A public meeting was held in October 2015 to launch the project. Press releases were issued to the local newspaper seeking historical and/or resource-related input from area residents. In addition, HRL staff reviewed the Wisconsin Historic Preservation Database (WHPD/known as WAHI to the public) to determine how many properties in Onalaska had already been surveyed. At that time, there were thirty surveyed properties in the community. All of this preliminary work helped to facilitate fieldwork in the Fall of 2015, during which time all areas of the city were reviewed. Much of the fieldwork was covered by car, while other areas were reviewed on foot. Historical & Architectural Resources Survey City of Onalaska, La Crosse County, Wisconsin Page 6 SURVEY, RESEARCH AND EVALUATION PROCESS As identified in the Scope of Work, all previously surveyed properties (excluding National Register-listed properties) were re-photographed to update the WHS inventory/database (except for the two ancillary National Guard buildings, as permission needed to be obtained to enter the property and take photos); at the same time, “new” properties were photographed and photos were taken of those properties with photos “missing” from WHPD. While only a small number of properties had been surveyed prior to 2015, photos of previously surveyed properties were compared to their current appearance. If significant alterations had occurred (siding, windows, porches, etc.), and those properties no longer meet survey standards today, they are considered to be “not resurveyed,” although an “update” photo was entered into WHPD. As a result of that effort, four properties were not resurveyed (they are listed on page 42 of this report). Those properties that maintain a good degree of integrity and/or offer some level of historical significance (totaling eleven) are considered to be “Resurveyed” and appear in Appendix A, Survey Inventory (Pages 39-41), and are identified with an asterisk. And finally, the number of newly surveyed properties amounts to forty-four; they are listed in Appendix A, Survey Inventory (Pages 39-41). Records were created and entered into WHPD. Since no pre-1960s-era building permits exist at the City offices, dates of construction were largely gleaned from city assessor records, with additional

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