Preservation Racine, Inc. Newsletter

PRESERVATION NEWSLETTER RACINE, INC. WINTER 2006 Christmas Memories Christmas lights, whether in our homes or in public places recall fond memories of the Christmas season. My favorite memories are right here in Racine. Downtown a crown of Christmas lights stretched from Sixth to State sfreets and west on Sixth Sfreet to Grand Avenue. In the 1930s my family rode the street car from West Racine to downtown to watch the lighting of those arches that sfretched from curb to curb and for blocks and blocks! It was like riding through a fairy tunnel. Visits to the decorated stores like Zahn's, the Racine Dry Goods, Penney's, Eitel's and Thrifty Mac were an important part of the holiday season. We kids enjoyed the Neisner Bros and the Kresge "Ten Cent to One Dollar" stores. We would visit our Aunt Lillian at the "Dollar" store where she was a special manager at Christmas time. If we were downtown with Mother or Dad we dared not ask for a treat, but when Grandma Friedrich took us down to enjoy the season we would beg to go to Georly's or Pawling's. We might go fiirther north to the fancy soda fountain at Pokomy's. Of course, the Ace Grill was out of bounds for anyone who did not play pool or secretly place illegal bets on the sporting events ofthe day. Downtown stores were open on Friday night until nine o'clock all year, but during the Christmas season they were open every night. We might visit one of the five movie theaters...the Main Sfreet, the Rex, the State, the Venetian or the Rialto. Before six o'clock admission was 15 or 20 cents, at six the price became 40 cents, too much to pay for a movie. There were special events during the Christmas season. Santa Claus wandered the streets. Bands played on Monument Square in the early evening. Tex Reynolds, a local columnist, had special "Man on the Street" programs under the clock on the northeast comer of Main and Fifth sfreets. You might have the opportunity to talk on the radio if you knew the answers to his leading questions. Buildings were decorated in unique ways to atfract attention. Zahn's was wrapped with a wide ribbon to make the whole building look like a big Christmas gift box. I am not sure of when the crown of lights was eliminated from downtown. The photo that accompanies this article, courtesy of Gerry Karwowski, was probably taken sometime in the mid-1950s. The two movies that are billed on the Rialto's marquee, Task Force with Gary Cooper and The Fighting Kentuckian were issued in 1949, but they were obviously being given a second run since several ofthe cars in the photos were 1950s vintage. Christmas lighting and decorations became more and more popular in individual homes. The most memorable of the home lighting displays was that of George and Jesse Wheary. In a 1983 Journal Times article, Mr Wheary said that they would tum on the lights at their home on North Vincennes Circle on December 22, his birthday, and tum them off on the Saturday closest to their wedding anniversary on January 2. The first lights at their house had been part ofthe Whearys' 25th Wedding Anniversary Party decorations at the Racine Country Club in 1962. Each year more hghts were added developing into a major display that attracted hundreds of visitors. As the numbers increased the Village of North Bay made special traffic accommodations for the viewers. The Village eventually was overwhelmed. Neighbors sent their dogs to kennels during the display and lawns and gardens were frampled by eager photographers. Our son-in-law took the opportunity to use his new video camera to record the lights. The fraffic line often extended south to the Zoo. The wait might be an hour. The Village Board notified Mr. Wheary that something had to be done to alleviate the situation. In 1982 the Whearys donated the lights to the City of Racine. The lights were strung on trees in Monument Square that year. Although the gift was greatly appreciated, the effect was disappointing. With all the peripheral light from sfreet lights and store front illumination, the Wheary lights were barely visible. The Zoo, with its dark background, was chosen to be the next site for the lights. The expense and volunteer labor involved in the installation each year at the Zoo have been bome by the Kiwanis Clubs in Racine. Fund raising events have been held and help has come from businesses that have expertise in and deal with materials needed for the lighting project. Through the years many changes have been made to the display and Racine drives by the Zoo as a Christmas tradition continues. Bob Johnson From the President You realize that the holiday season is fast approaching when the store windows at various businesses are frill of bright lights, the tall Christmas tree on the square is covered with red and gold balls, planters along the sidewalk downtown are fiiU of baubles and evergreen boughs and the Kiwanis lights at the Racine Zoo are a reason for an after dinner ride. This is also the season when we remember all of the people who enrich our lives in so many ways with a thank you and gifts. A few years ago, when Tom and Vanessa Reynolds owned the beautifiil, pink Queen Anne home located at 1520 College Avenue, they hired specially frained cmpenters who knew how to steam and bend replacement boards for the disintegrating boards on the front turret of their home. Tom and Vanessa also restored the commodious front porch and painted the entire home. Someone pointed out that when the time came to sell their home they would never receive enough money to cover their expenses and initial investment. Tom's reply was, "This is my gift to the city." Tom and Vanessa have since retired to Ausfralia, leaving Racine with a beautiftilly restored treasure, which is lovingly cared for by its new owners. So many Racine citizens have gifted Racine with the care and restoration of our historic buildings. First comes to mind the S. C. Johnson Properties located in downtown Racine. The Classic Revival building known as the Harborview Professional Building, formerly The Elks Club located at 601 Lake Avenue stands occupied and fiilly restored. The Italianate McClurg Building (Nelson Hotel - Main Place Building) has stood on the comer of Second and Main sfreets since 1857. This building has served as the headquarters for: the Racine, Janesville and Mississippi Railroad, the First Bohemian Bank, the first pubhc library in Racine County, the first municipal court in the county, the first vaudeville theater, the first movie theater and the first Turldsh bath. Not only is this beautiftil building still standing, the Johnson people made it shine. The storefront building located at 402 Main Sfreet (now Avenue Frame Shop) was purchased, renovated and sold by Johnson Properties. This put a fiilly restored building on the market. The Richardsonian Romanesque Dr. Shoop Family Medicine building on the comer of State and Main sfreets is listed as an "A" building according to the Johnson, Johnson and Roy 1974 Architectural Survey of Racine's historic buildings. This building is another successfiil project of the Johnson Properties. It is the north anchor for what is happening downtown. Other examples of careftil restoration by our Racine neighbors can be found all over our city. The Eli Cooley House located at 1135 Main Sfreet is considered one of the finest examples of the Greek Revival style in Wisconsin. The owners have transformed this home into a jewel. The Chauncey Hall House (John Knight House) located at 1235 Main Street is the only surviving mid-19* century Gothic Revival house in Racine. The fresh paint and lilac free allee leading to the front door make you think of an enchanting fairy tale place. The carefiil restoration of the C. Kannenberg Block on the comer of High Street and Douglas Avenue, the restored fafade ofthe bed and breakfast located on the comer of 15* and Main sfreets, the fire station on State Sfreet, now the home of Fair Winds Canvas and the fire station on Lincoln and Barker sfreets all come to mind as buildings for which our community should be gratefiil. The south side community, as a group, has helped to save its neighborhood and provide an example of what can happen when people work together. Several years ago, when the Mitchell Cm* Club visited Racine, many of their members drove to College Avenue to photograph their cars on that lovely brick sfreet before they left the city. Our neighbors who have replaced deteriorated porches with spindles and decking that honors the original design have done all of us a favor. Building owners that have spent money and time to paint the boards on their frame homes to make them look majestic again have given us a present. The people who have planted and maintained knot gardens and gardens that honor their homes have given us all a gift... a beautiftil place to live. Thank you everyone. Vivian Merlo Christmas Premiums Christmas in the first half of the twentieth century was probably less frenzied, but it long has been the most important time ofthe year for retailers, who bend over backward to draw a customer in to spend his or her holiday budget. Lavishly decorated store windows, parades with Santa heading up the pack, and wonderful holiday light displays are fraditional ways to drum up yuletide spirit.

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