Downtown
Interpretive Plan
1 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Contents Introduction ...... 3 Overview ...... 4 An Introduction to Placemaking ...... 5 Overview of ARISE and ARISENow ...... 6 Interpretive Vision...... 7 Interpretive Plan Overview ...... 8 Interpretive Themes ...... 9 Grit, Determination, ...... 11 and ...... 11 Tenacity ...... 11 Innovation, Invention ...... 14 and the ...... 14 Entrepreneurial Spirit ...... 14 Quality of Life ...... 20 and ...... 20 Recreation ...... 20 Guest Experience ...... 26 Historic Downtown Janesville Experience ...... 27 Findings & Conclusions...... 29 Findings and Conclusions ...... 30
2 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI
Introduction
3 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Overview There is a renaissance happening in Janesville, Wisconsin. It is a transformation of place, a multi- faceted reimagining of what a city can look like and what a city can offer. In other words, a place is being made. It is also a partnership among community members dedicated to the idea that the spaces we live, work, and play in should reflect the vibrant cultures, histories, and stories of its people past and present. The city is on the rise; won’t you join us?
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An Introduction to Placemaking Placemaking is broadly defined as a civic engagement minded design approach to public spaces. It is a deliberate, collaborative process that seeks to design cities as destinations, promoting the collective well-being of its residents and visitors, and creating a sense of place based identity. It is an all-inclusive process that seeks to inspire pride in a place, spur reinvestment, and create a vibrant place to live, work, and play.
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Overview of ARISE and ARISENow
ARISE is a bold, strategic vision for downtown Janesville’s long-term future, solidly grounded in community engagement and focused on feasible action steps. It is the city’s downtown riverfront revitalization plan passed by the City Council in 2015. ARISE stands for Rock Renaissance Area Redevelopment and Implementation Strategy. The goals are as follows: Make the downtown the heart of the community and a fun, vibrant and healthy place to live, work and visit for a wide spectrum of people. Preserve the historical character and authenticity of the downtown. Celebrate the Rock River as one of Janesville’s greatest asset. Facilitate new investment and redevelopment with a market driven and action oriented strategy.
ARISENow, (not to be confused with ARISE), is a private-public partnership formed in 2016 that strengthens the implementation of the City’s ARISE plan as well as supports other key activities and organizations working to transform downtown Janesville.
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Interpretive Vision
The Downtown Interpretive plan is intended to further position downtown Janesville as a vibrant neighborhood where commerce, culture, entertainment, and history intersect.
7 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Interpretive Plan Overview
This plan is a guidance document designed to support those interested in creating a unique sense of place in our Downtown. It can be a resource for developers, business owners, artists, private citizens and event organizers.
This plan serves as a storytelling point of entry for individuals, businesses, community organizations, citizen groups, and governmental entities interested in pursuing historic, cultural, or artistic initiatives in Award Winning, Historic Downtown Janesville.
This plan should be used in conjunction with the Downtown Development Guidelines prepared in 2016 by the City of Janesville Historic Preservation Commission and the ARISE Plan adopted by the City of Janesville on February 23, 2015.
Our goal is that this resource will help inspire creativity and help cultivate future projects that will continue to make Award Winning, Historic Downtown Janesville a destination of choice.
8 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Interpretive Themes
The ARISENow Steering Committee commissioned this plan through the Rock County Historical Society to help assist and guide creative projects, public and private, in the City of Janesville for storytelling. When we tell a story, we help create a sense of place. Based on research and resources available, the following themes were identified that connects the Downtown to the entire city:
Downtown is the “Heart of Our Community”
I.) The People and their Stories
The heart of our community, full of energy and memory across time.
II.) The River
The artery of our community, integral to our way of life past and present.
III.) Creativity
The lifeblood of our community, a force that unites us throughout the years.
9 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Each of these core themes were crafted with placemaking in mind and should be inspiration for artwork, signs, information, architecture and more. From these themes three narratives have been identified that provide further context for storytelling. They are as follows:
Grit, Determination, and Tenacity: The Stories of Janesville’s People, Places, and Times
Innovation, Invention, and the Entrepreneurial Spirit: The Stories of Janesville’s Businesses, Hometown Changemakers & Their Impact
Quality of Life and Recreation: The Stories of Why Residents Enjoy This Community and Choose to Call Janesville Home.
For example, at the RCHS Campus located in the Look West Neighborhood and walking distance to the downtown, the renovation of the Carriage House focused on innovation by placing a clear acrylic window into the basement to show how the Tallman Carriage House was built and functioned. In another example the ARISE style for the TownSquare introduced different materials than were used on Main Street to provide some element recognizing the industrial development of the city.
What follows are examples of storylines that can be developed in downtown that support the overall themes of the Downtown Interpretative Plan. These are not exhaustive but for illustration.
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Grit, Determination, and Tenacity
11 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI The Early Days: Janesville & The Civil War 1830s Settlement in Janesville Prominent Role in Support of the Union The immigration story of Wisconsin began with many Janesville was an important supplier of grain to the Union people from New England that had settled there in the Army. Rock County had the highest number of men 1600s. The first documented migrant settlers to the enlisted in the war from the State of Wisconsin, including Janesville area were John Inman, George Fullmer, Brigadier General Thomas Ruger (1833 – 1907). Ruger Joshua Holmes, and William Holmes Jr. in 1835. A self- served in several major campaigns including Antietam, proclaimed woodsman and city planner from Virginia, Gettysburg, and Chancellorsville. Henry Janes, established the first Post Office and the city name, Janesville. Cobblestone Hotel elected to put reprints of historic photos in their guest rooms.
Thomas Ruger (1833 – 1907) Dedicated in 1901 in memory of the soldiers and sailors, the Rock County Civil War Monument, located in Lower Courthouse Park, is a great example of public storytelling.
12 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Janesville Women and the push for Civil Rights Authors, Temperance, and the Right to Vote
Lavinia Goodell was the first woman in Wisconsin admitted to the State Bar to practice law. Frances Willard was an educator, temperance reformer and women’s suffragist. She was also President of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in 1879. Under Willard, the WCTU grew into the largest woman’s organization in the world. Author Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote the famous poem, ‘laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone. Several of Wilcox’s poems were the basis of many silent films. This legacy continues today… In 2010 a mural that honors the memory of Judi Kneece, longtime advocate for women, history, art, and Janesville was installed on the County Courthouse. This also marked the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Janesville’s women make history on a global level
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Innovation, Invention and the Entrepreneurial Spirit
14 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Janesville’s Agricultural History Janesville Companies Born out of Agriculture Rich and fertile soil Janesville Machine Company Many settlers were drawn to the Rock River Valley Rock River Iron Works Company because of the fertile soil. It was excellent for growing MacFarlane Pheasants grains during the early days of Janesville settlement. Once the soil quality was depleted, farmers turned to Schlueter Company growing tobacco. Quickly, tobacco became the most Wisconsin Carriage Company prolific crop grown in Wisconsin in the 19th Century. Blue Farm Organic Tortilla Chips With waterways and the new railway system, Janesville became a transportation and shipping hub.
Necessity is the mother of invention; a need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve a problem. Plato
15 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI The Parker Pen Company General Motors Corporation Founded in 1888 by George Parker, after receiving its Founded in 1919, initially Samson Tractor first fountain pen patent in 1889, they quickly became production plant. one of the largest writing instrument companies in the world. For 70 years, Parker was the top employer in the WWI changed region. Parker holds two British royal warrants, one from focus from Queen Elizabeth II in 1962, and one from Charles, the tractors to Prince of Wales in 1990. producing automobiles The Janesville facility was the oldest GM Manufacturing Plant in the US prior to its 2008 closure.
16 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Blackhawk Community Credit Union’s GM Legacy Center
The First National Bank Building located at 100 West Milwaukee Street in award winning, historic downtown Janesville is being restored and transformed into a museum honoring generations of their members who worked at the former General Motors Janesville Assembly Plant.
Photo at time of 2019 purchase. This depicts the 1970’s façade on the 1913 building which has been removed.
December 2019 Photo once marble façade panels had 1913 Photo of completed Bank Building been removed returning the building to its former glory
17 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Major Employers that call Janesville Home
Blackhawk Community Prent Corporation
Credit Union Ryan Incorporated
Blain’s Supply Seneca Foods
Dollar General Shine Medical Technologies
Goex Corporation Simmons Manufacturing
Hufcor, Inc. SSI Technologies
JP Cullen SSM/St. Mary’s Hospital
Le Mans Corporation United Alloy
Mercyhealth Woodman’s
18 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Political Figures Janesville has had extensive representation at the State and National Level, as shown through this list of individuals who have/continue to work in public service:
William A. Barstow, Governor Debra Kolste, Wisconsin State Thomas H. Ruger, Civil War Alexander McDonald of Wisconsin, Union Army Representative General and military Governor Thomson, former Speaker of General Allen P. Lovejoy, Wisconsin of Georgia the Wisconsin State Assembly Harry W. Bolens, Wisconsin State Senator Paul D. Ryan, former Howard Teasdale, Wisconsin State Senator William A. Lawrence, Representative for Wisconsin’s State Senator William B. Britton, Wisconsin Wisconsin State 1st Congressional District, Charles L. Valentine, State Representative Representative former Speaker of the U.S. Wisconsin State Stephen Bolles, U.S. Alexander E. Matheson, house of Representatives, and Representative Representative, 1939-1941 Wisconsin State 2012 Republican nominee for William G. Wheeler, Wisconsin Zebulon P. Burdick, Wisconsin Representative and jurist Vice President under Mitt State Representative and U.S. State Senator Hiram Merrill, Wisconsin State Romney Attorney Peter P. Carr, Wisconsin State Representative Michael J. Sheridan, former John Meek Whitehead, Senator Cyrus Miner, Wisconsin State Speaker of the Wisconsin state Wisconsin State Senator John B. Cassoday, Chief Justice Representative Assembly Edward V. Whiton, Chief of Wisconsin Supreme Court David Noggle, Wisconsin State Ithamar C. Sloan, U.S. Justice of the Wisconsin Tim Cullen, Majority Leader of Representative, Chief Justice of Representative from Wisconsin Supreme Court the Wisconsin Senate from the Supreme court of the Bryan G. Steil, Representative Charles G. Williams, U.S. 1981-1987 Idaho territory for Wisconsin’s 1st. Representative Russ Feingold, former U.S. Thomas S. Nolan, Wisconsin Congressional District George H. Williston, Wisconsin Senator, 1993-2011 State Representative E. Ray Stevens, Justice of the Territorial and State Legislator Edwin G. Fifield, politician Pliny Norcross, lawyer and Wisconsin Supreme Court Agesilaus Wilson, Wisconsin Alexander Graham, Wisconsin politician James Sutherland, Wisconsin State Representative businessman and state Andrew Palmer, Wisconsin State Senator Wayne W. Wood, Wisconsin legislator State Senator George Tarrant Sr., Wisconsin State Representative Fenner Kimball, Wisconsin Henry A. Patterson, Wisconsin State Senator Edwin E. Woodman, Wisconsin State Representative State Representative Henry Tarrant, Wisconsin State State Senator James H. Knowlton, Wisconsin Anson W. Pope, Wisconsin Representative State Representative State Representative
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Quality of Life and Recreation
20 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Native Americans in the Rock River Valley
Native Americans roamed over the fertile Rock River Valley. Building homes in the woods on the hills overlooking the River. They were environmentally self-sustaining due to resources from the woods, streams, Historic Post Card Image, Monterey and the Rock River. Rock, Rock River, Janesville, WI Soil was rich and black producing good crops. Wild fruits were in abundance. The rapids near the center of their early village was perfect for fishing. It was easy to catch with their hands as the fish tumbled over the rocks in the river.
21 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI The Public Library
In 1865 a group of Janesville businessmen formed the Young Men’s Association to furnish books 1874 brought a free library organized by the Ladies Temperance Union and opened to the public in 1875 1884 City adoption of the Library System In 1903 The Carnegie Foundation and the estate of F.S. Eldred funded the building of a new library at 64 South Main Street The early 1960s brought a new library building at 316 South Main Street Again, out of space in the 1980s, Don and Gerry Hedberg donated $3M for an expansion and gave them naming rights 1996 brought the opening of the library as it stands today with breathtaking view of the Rock River and Public Art Original Carnegie Library now serves as the Janesville Senior Center
22 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Janesville, Wisconsin’s Park Place Theater Arts and Entertainment City retained John Nolen in 1919 to assist Public Halls of the 1840s were included in with city planning focusing on parks prominent commercial buildings Established over 2,611 acres of parks The Burr Robbins Circus – 1873-1888 including 65 individual parks The Winter Quarters of the Burr Robbins Highest amount of parkland per capita in Circus on Spring Brook Farm Wisconsin Nolen’s work established Janesville as the City of Parks
John Nolen The Myers Opera House and Theater – American landscape 1870 architect Wisconsin’s First State Fair – 1851
Rock County Fair Grounds and 4-H 1869 - 1937 Program Beverly Theater – 1916 Jeffris Theater - 1924
Janesville Little Theater: Malcolm Mouat & The Ice Age Trail Mary Lovejoy - 1929 Rotary Botanical Gardens Janesville Performing Arts Center More contemporary, Peace Park The theater groups at both Janesville Craig o Established on the site of the 1992 and Janesville Parker High Schools KKK Rally
23 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI The Rock Aqua Jays The Janesville Jets Most successful Ski Show Team in the Tier II Junior Ice Hockey Team in the North World American Hockey League 62 total tournament victories Jets finished second place in the Midwest 19 US National Championships Division 2015-16 Host of the 1st World Water Ski Show Championship drawing in people from all over the world
24 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Second ½ of 20th Century – Building Boom & Architectural Awareness 1950s Land development north of the Downtown Interstate development 1960s Land development south of the Downtown 1970s The Janesville Mall and continued Janesville High School; In 1967, this was north end development renamed Joseph A. Craig High School – 1980s recession & establishment of photo circa 1955 Historic Districts 1990s Commercial Business building boom
Janesville Mall & Milton Avenue circa Photo circa 1970 1973 Donutland circa 1970s
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Guest Experience
26 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Historic Downtown Janesville Experience
Visiting Award Winning, Historic Downtown Janesville is intended to be an experience. One can venture through on their own or choose to receive one of many tours that have been or will be created to aid in disseminating the rich history of Janesville. The goal is that the Town Square would be a starting place. To aid in this process, kiosks will be established on both the east and west sides of the river. These kiosks need to be developed in such a way so we can easily update. Individually developed narratives can be used by: Tour guides to lead groups of people Self-guided where the stories are conveyed using a custom Web App. Wayfinding signs that are placed strategically to guide Tours are and can be developed to tie together core themes that could relate to a current event, holiday, or other celebration. The addition of technology to develop an app will allow one to choose their own experience.
27 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI A great example of interpretation that already exists in the downtown is the Chief Black Hawk Mural that was commissioned and installed during the summer of 2019 commissioned by a private citizen working in partnership with the building owner, the city, the JCAVB and ARISENow.
Chief Blackhawk was a warrior and a leader with the Sauk Native American tribe in Illinois and Wisconsin back in the 1800s.
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Findings & Conclusions
29 Interpretive Plan: City of Janesville, WI Findings and Conclusions
With the storied history and a well-documented chronology, the downtown experience has endless opportunities for quality educational experiences to be realized.
With an array of themes and storylines, it is expected that there will be many return visits to this resource all throughout the year.
Because this is a part of our history past and present, the community has a stake in having their stories included into the fabric that is the downtown immersive experience.
Developing a combination of guided and self-guided opportunities using people, interpretive signage and markers, along with technology, ensures that this will attract diverse audiences.
As a business owner, a developer, an artist, or event manager, it is intended that this interpretative plan can inform your plans and inspire you to connect your audiences and customers to the stories of Janesville.
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About Rock County Historical Society
Home to six uniquely different historic sites on a 3.5-acre campus in the historic Look West Neighborhood, the Rock County Historical Society’s mission is to bridge past and present through capturing and sharing stories about Rock County, Wisconsin.
Its sites include the award-winning Lincoln-Tallman House, Helen Jeffris Wood Museum & Visitor Center, Charles Tallman Archives, Tallman Carriage House, Wilson-King Stone House, and the Frances Willard Schoolhouse.
Rock County Historical Society Timothy J. Maahs 426 North Jackson Street Executive Director Janesville, WI 53548 [email protected] www.rchs.us 608.756.4509
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