A-Mifflin-Street-Historic-District.Pdf
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Regardless of one’s sympathies about the anti-Vietnam war movement, and the resulting violence, it is a plain fact that the events that took place in “Miffland” in the early May of 1969 and 1970 were some of the most dramatic moments in the history of the city. Social forces operating at the national and international scales became focused and dramatized at the intersection of Mifflin and Bassett streets. Classic American archetypes of authoritarian patriotism and radical, utopian populism clashed in wild scenes of anarchy and suppression. Understandably, many citizens of Madison regard the Vietnam era as a shameful period of civil strife to be at least covered up, and at best simply ignored or forgotten; yet to our descendants this period will surely be a fascinating study with vividly drawn battle lines and historic characters acting on their most deeply felt convictions. “A Mifflin Street Historic District” Preface, April 2019 This proposal was researched and written for a graduate course in historic preservation in 1993 and 1994. At that time, memories of the place called “Miffland” and the events of May 3-5, 1969 were fading. The 500 block of West Mifflin Street was quite rundown, but the Mifflin Street Cooperative was still operating. This proposal to create an historic district was presented to the City of Madison Downtown Preservation Task Force in 1994. No action regarding historic preservation of the area was taken. An historic designation nomination form for 32 North Bassett Street was commissioned by the Co-op, but not submitted. Some of the conditions described have changed since 1993, but remarkably the 500 block remains basically intact after an additional 25 years of housing Madison residents. The 50th anniversary of the historic events is on May 3, 2019. Table of Contents. Introduction. p. 5 Historic Districts in Madison, Wisconsin. p. 6 A Mifflin Street Historic District. p. 7 Landscape History. p. 9 The Architecture. p. 11 The Builders and Early Tenants. p. 15 Historic Event: The Mifflin Street Block Party and Riot. p. 26 A Mifflin Street Historic District: Preservation and Restoration Proposal. p. 39 References. p. 49 Epilogue Introduction. As the housing stock in downtown Madison ages, older structures first built as family homes and later converted to apartments are torn down and replaced by new buildings. This process of real estate development is controlled by individual property owners, with a minimum of regulation by city ordinances or influence by neighborhood residents. On some streets the change has been gradual, while other streets have been redeveloped from older, individual dwellings into townhouses (for instance South Franklin) or apartment buildings (West Main) in one act of demolition and construction. Such alterations to the cityscape raise questions about which older structures and neighborhoods are worthy of preservation as architectural artifacts, or as markers of historical events, and how preservation of important sites might be accomplished. 412 and 408 West Johnson Street Historic Districts in Madison, Wisconsin. The City of Madison has passed ordinances, Sec. 33.01(6)(d), to create historic districts in several of the city’s older neighborhoods in order to regulate the pace and character of change to structures deemed worthy of preservation. The ordinance lists criteria for the creation of historic districts: An Historic District may be designated for any geographic area of particular historic, architectural, or cultural significance to the City of Madison which: a. Exemplifies or reflects the broad cultural, political, economic or social history of the nation, state or community; or b. Is identified with historic personages or important events in the national, state or local history; or c. Embodies the distinguishing characteristics of architectural type specimens inherently valuable for the study of a period or periods, styles, methods of construction, indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or d. Is representative of the notable works of master builders, designers, or architects who influenced their age. (Sec. 33.01(6)(d)1). Also, individual properties within the city have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of their association with important events or individuals. One criteria that qualifies a structure or district for listing in the National Register is “association with historic events” that were significant when evaluated in relationship to major trends of history in the community, state, or the nation” (National Register Bulletin 16 A, 1991, p. 1) A second qualifying criteria is “distinctive design or physical characteristics.” While some structures in Madison have historic value as the sites of important political events (including the state capitol), and others as the sites of important scientific achievements (several buildings on the UW campus are on the National Register), very few places in the city have been associated with important events that visibly affected the course of the nation’s history over the last half-century. A Mifflin Street Historic District One place that seems to meet criteria “a,” “b,” and “c” of the City ordinance, Sec. 33.01(6)(d)1, as well as the “historic event” and “distinctive design” criteria of the National Register, is the 500 block of West Mifflin Street. The important event will be obvious to anyone who knows even a small part of the history of the anti-war and counter-culture movements during the late 1960s and early 1970s -- the three-day riot that started during the first Mifflin Street Block Party on May 3, 1969. This proposal will argue that this event alone qualifies the 500 block of West Mifflin Street, Madison, Wisconsin, for preservation as the site of a significant event in the history of the nation. The unique architectural qualities of the buildings on the 500 block of West Mifflin Street provide another basis of preservation. A brief landscape history of the area is presented exploring the social and environmental forces that influenced the shaping of West Mifflin in the first decade of the twentieth century. Consideration will also be given to City ordinance criteria “b,” and the significance of the Mifflin Street riot in the lives of persons important to the city’s history. The integrity of the structures to be included in the proposed Mifflin Street Historic District will be described along with suggestions for preservation of the whole block. Unlike the grand houses in the Mansion Hill and University Heights historic districts, Mifflin Street was home to Madison’s working class when it was built. The housing reflects more limited incomes when compared to other residential neighborhoods already conferred with landmark status by the City’s Landmark Commission. But to ignore the historic value of the structures on West Mifflin Street, because they are not sandstone or Queen Anne-style mansions, would be to miss the opportunity to preserve the whole block as an intact example of folk (or vernacular) architecture at the turn of the twentieth century. Creation of a Mifflin Street Historic District would follow the precedent set by the Marquette Bungalows Historic District (Sec. 33.01 (13)(b)), in that the structures on West Mifflin Street represent an important architectural type, a specific period, and method of construction (criteria from Sec. 33.01(6)(a)1). Right now the houses on the 500 block of West Mifflin Street are without any kind of protection from demolition. Structures on adjoining streets continue to be demolished and replaced with apartment buildings. This process will increase in pace as structures in the downtown residential area deteriorate. The most fascinating thing about West Mifflin Street is how a combination of architectural decisions shaped a cohesive working- class neighborhood, which was subsequently transformed into the counter-culture haven of a community conscious of itself as “Miffland.” If the houses are demolished, the relationship between the built environment -- the big front porches, the sense of enclosure, the unity of form -- and the historic event will be lost. During the 1980s many citizens and public officials did their best to alter the image of Madison created by the civil strife of the previous decades. Labeled the “all- American city” during the 1950s by Life magazine, Madison is once again consistently rated as one of the most livable cities in the nation, and the memories of riots and hippies are just that -- memories. Yet, the creation of a Mifflin Street Historic District as proposed in this report need not open old wounds. Instead it may now be possible to recognize the important events that took place in Madison during the Vietnam war as part of the city’s and nation’s history. It’s been 25 years since the Mifflin Street riot; in another 25 years the site may be of great interest to visitors to Madison who are looking to experience something of the city’s storied past. Landscape History. The idea of a 500 block to West Mifflin Street occurred roughly 60 years before the reality of a residential street came to be on the ground; and this delay occurred because the street we see today was a wetland 100 years ago. A “Mifflin” street is clearly shown on the first plat of the town of Madison dated July 1, 1836 (Suydam). The proposed street included six blocks to the west of the state capitol square, and was located one block to the north of “Washington” avenue. The sequence of street names shown is different from their present designations, with “Broom” street and “Bedford” one block closer to the square respectively. Other than the shift in street names, downtown Madison was developed as it was first plated. Yet, as the rest of the isthmus filled with structures during the nineteenth century, the 500 block of West Mifflin remained undeveloped due to the high water table -- it was what early Madisonians called a marsh or swamp.