Property Record
700 - 702 SCOTT AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Brickson & Dick Duplex |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 227527 |
| Location (Address): | 700 - 702 SCOTT AVE |
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| County: | Waukesha |
| City: | Waukesha |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1943 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2014 |
| Historic Use: | duplex |
| Architectural Style: | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Located at the southwest corner of Scott and W. Wabash avenues, a series of nine, two-story, Colonial Revival-influenced duplex homes feature either a hipped or a side-gabled roof. While all are faced with brick, the colors vary from tan to orange to near red. All nine buildings feature a projecting central entrance porch with varying rooflines (hipped, shed or gabled) and two doors, except for the one at 700-702 Scott Avenue which has only a single door and flanking sidelights. That duplex also features brick corner quoining, an element not seen on the others. Windows are regularly arranged on each floor and most of the structures retain their original, multiple-light sash examples. The nine duplexes were built between 1943 and 1944 by the firm of Brickson & Dick, which was comprised of Elmer O. Brickson and Walter E. Dick. The architect is cited as The Fidelity Corp. At the time the duplexes were constructed, Dick worked as the city engineer and Brickson served as the Waukesha city treasurer (a position he held since 1929) and later as the executive director of the Waukesha Housing Authority. Notably, the duplex homes were erected during World War II, during which time home construction was largely restricted to defense housing; that is, to house those engaged in war-related occupations. Housing construction in Wisconsin in 1942 was limited almost entirely to war housing. At that time, federal legislation mandated that the total cost of a unit, plus the lot, could not exceed $6,000 in those areas that the President designated as defense areas. Waukesha was among those Wisconsin communities designated as such. Although no specific information was found to fully confirm that the duplexes were built specifically as defense housing, the construction mandates of the period suggest that it is quite likely that they were. Although brick was considered a common material and was unrestricted in use, the varied types of brick seen on the nine buildings--which does not appear to be “planned design” among the cluster--may have contributed to the economy of their construction. The 1943 structures (those on Scott Avenue) were built at an approximate cost of $8,300, while the 1944 W. Wabash Avenue duplex homes were estimated to cost $9,500. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Original permit dated 25 August 1943; owner, Brickson & Dick; contractor, The Fidelity Corp., est. cost, $8,300. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |