City of New Richmond, Wisconsin Architectural and Historical Intensive Survey Report South Main Street (now Knowles Ave.), looking southwest at the 200-block, c.1920 By Rowan Davidson, Associate AIA Robert Short, Associate AIA & Jennifer L. Lehrke, AIA, NCARB Legacy Architecture, Inc. 605 Erie Avenue, Suite 101 Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081 Project Director Joseph R. DeRose, Survey & Registration Historian Wisconsin Historical Society Division of Historic Preservation – Public History 816 State Street Madison, Wisconsin 53706 Sponsoring Agency Wisconsin Historical Society Division of Historic Preservation – Public History 816 State Street Madison, Wisconsin 53706 2018-2019 Acknowledgments 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 disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of the Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. The activity that is the subject of this intensive survey report 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 opinions do not necessarily reflect the views 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. The authors would like to thank the following persons or organizations for their assistance in completing this project: Wisconsin Historical Society City of New Richmond Assessor Jim Draeger, State Historic Preservation Officer Owen Assessing LLC Daina Penkiunas, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Peggy Veregin, National Register Coordinator Others: Joseph R. DeRose, Survey & Registration Historian Chris Driscoll Heidi Herron City of New Richmond Janet Knutson Historic Preservation Commission Tom Lindfors Jon Hailey Ken Mettler Josh Melstrom Bev Pierson Mike Montello James Reppe Theresa Rubida Irv Sather Mary Sather Mary Sather Tara Van Eperen Michelle Scanlan Nicole Wocelka Greg Severson Janice Snyder City of New Richmond Noah Wiedenfeld, Planning Director Kyle Wells, GIS Analyst Jeanne Bergman, Building/Zoning Administrator All photographs contained in this report were taken by Legacy Architecture, Inc. unless otherwise noted. 1 Abstract This report documents an architectural and historical intensive survey of resources located within the boundaries of the City of New Richmond, Wisconsin, as of 2018. A reconnaissance survey of these areas was conducted by the principal and assistant investigators as the first part of the survey. After which, a research effort was conducted to ascertain the architectural and historical significance of the resources identified during the reconnaissance survey. The resulting products of the project were produced according to standards set by the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Division of Historic Preservation and include the following: Intensive Survey Report The intensive survey report includes a summary of the research and a brief history of the community. It provides a historical context for the evaluation of historic resources and serves as a means for identifying significant properties and districts eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It also contains recommendations for future survey and research needs, priorities for National Register listing, and strategies for historic preservation. Copies of the report will be held at the New Richmond Civic Center, the Friday Memorial Library, and the Wisconsin Historical Society. Survey and District Maps Survey maps indicate all previously and newly surveyed properties as well as properties already listed in the National Register of Historic Places. District maps identify boundaries and all resources in the potential districts. These maps are included in the Survey Results Chapter in this intensive survey report. Electronic Documents The Wisconsin Historical Society’s website contains an electronic database, called the Architecture and Historic Inventory (AHI), for all inventoried properties. Also, an electronic copy of this report is saved on compact disc and held at the Wisconsin Historical Society and the St. Croix County Courthouse. 2 Table of Contents Contents Page Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................1 Abstract ....................................................................................................................2 Table of Contents .....................................................................................................3 Chapter 1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................5 Chapter 2 Survey Methodology ................................................................................................7 Chapter 3 Historical Overview ...............................................................................................13 Chapter 4 Government............................................................................................................21 Chapter 5 Settlement ..............................................................................................................25 Chapter 6 Industry ..................................................................................................................29 Chapter 7 Architecture............................................................................................................33 Chapter 8 Education ...............................................................................................................87 Chapter 9 Social & Political Movements ...............................................................................93 Chapter 10 Religion ..................................................................................................................95 Chapter 11 Commerce ..............................................................................................................99 Chapter 12 Planning & Landscape Architecture ....................................................................109 Chapter 13 Recreation & Entertainment ................................................................................113 Chapter 14 Notable People .....................................................................................................117 Chapter 15 Bibliography ........................................................................................................123 Chapter 16 Survey Results .....................................................................................................129 Chapter 17 Recommendations ................................................................................................151 Chapter 18 Notes ....................................................................................................................163 Chapter 19 Appendix ..............................................................................................................169 Income-Producing Property Tax Credit Program Brochure Guidelines for Planning Historic Preservation Tax Credit Projects in Wisconsin 3 This page intentionally left blank. 4 1 Introduction The City of New Richmond received a Historic Preservation grant-in-aid administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior to hire Legacy Architecture, Inc., an architectural and historic preservation consulting firm based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to conduct an intensive survey of architecturally and historically significant resources within the boundaries of the city. The major objective of the project was to identify individual resources, farmsteads, complexes, and districts of architectural or historical significance that are potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The survey was executed during the period from October 2018 to February 2019 by Principal Investigators Rowan Davidson and Robert Short with editorial assistance by Jennifer L. Lehrke and clerical assistance by Gail Biederwolf, all of Legacy Architecture, Inc. It consisted of several major work elements: completing a reconnaissance survey, conducting research, evaluating resources, and preparing an intensive survey report. The boundaries of the survey were delineated as shown on the Survey Area Map. The survey identified approximately 211 resources of architectural and historical interest as well as two potential complexes and two potential districts. Although the resources include a small quantity of public buildings such as schools, churches, governmental and commercial buildings; the majority of the surveyed resources are houses. The purpose of this survey report was not to write a definitive history of the City of New Richmond, but rather to provide an overview of the history of the city in relation to a series