Property Record
2210 10TH AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | South Milwaukee Post Office |
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| Other Name: | U.S. Post Office |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 8894 |
| Location (Address): | 2210 10TH AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | South Milwaukee |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
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| Year Built: | 1931 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2007 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | JAMES A. WETMORE |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | South Milwaukee Post Office |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 10/24/2000 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. 2007- APPEARANCE UNCHANGED. EIGHT IONIC COLUMNS ACROSS FRONT. Building was designed June/July 1931 and construction began November 19, 1931. ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED 6/1932. The contractor was Charles B. Johnson and Son, Inc. of Chicago. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSTAL FACILITY: THIS BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE NEOCLASSICAL STYLE. THE PLAN OF THE BUILDING IS RECTANGULAR WITH THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE/LOBBY ON THE 10TH AVENUE FACE. A LATER ADDITION HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED TO THE REAR OF THE BUILDING IN WHAT IS ESTIMATED TO BE 1960. THIS ADDITION INCLUDES A LOADING DOCK ACROSS ITS ENTIRE WIDTH. THE ADDITION, WHILE NOT BEING AS HIGHLY DETAILED AS THE ORIGINAL BUILDING, IS BUILT OF SIMILAR MATERIALS AND DOES NOT DETRACT FROM THE ORIGINAL BUILDING. THE ELEVATION IS ORGANIZED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT THE ENTRANCE. THE WOOD DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS, EACH WITH A 12 OVER 12 PANE CONFIGURATION, APPEAR TO BE ORIGINAL. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED OF TAN BRICK ON A LIMESTONE BASE. THE MAIN ENTRANCE IS SET BACK AND HIGHLIGHTED WITH SMOOTH LIMESTONE COLUMNS, APPOXIMATELY 15 FEET IN HEIGHT AND TOPPED WITH LIMESTONE CAPITALS OF THE IONIC ORDER. ALL OF THE BUILDING'S TRIM, INCLUDING WINDOW SILLS, INSETS, COPINGS AND PROJECTING CORNICE ARE OF LIMESTONE. THE PORCH AND STEPS AT THE ENTRANCE ARE OF GRANITE, WITH LIMESTONE PIERS AT EACH SIDE. THE PIERS ARE TOPPED WITH THE ORIGINAL FLUTED POLE LAMPS. AREA WELLS SURROUNDING THE BUILDING ARE CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK WITH GRANITE CAPS. THIS STRUCTURE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. A LIMESTONE CORNERSTONE DISPLAYS: "A.W. MELLON, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, JAMES A. WETMORE, ACTING SUPERVISING ARCHITECT, 1931." THE INTERIOR HAS HAD SOME REMODELING, NOTABLY LIGHTING AND ALUMINUM VESTIBULE WORK DONE TO IT. THE ORIGINAL TERRAZZO FLOOR AND MARBLE WAINSCOTTING REMAIN, AS DOES THE COVE MOLDING WITH A DENTIL TRIM AT THE CEILING. THE BUILDING IS LOCATED ON A MAJOR STREET IN A BUSINESS DISTRICT, SURROUNDED BY SMALL SHOPS AND LIGHT MANUFACTURING. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE: THE SOUTH MILWAUKEE POST OFFICE IS THE MOST INTACT OF THE TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS DESIGN SURVEYED. THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE ALTERATION TO THE ORIGINAL COMPOSITION AND THE ADDITIONS TO THE REAR OF THE BUILDING ARE SYMPATHETICALLY ACCOMPLISHED, NOT DETRACTING FROM THE ORIGINAL BRICK. IT IS FELT THAT THIS BUILDING DOES MEET CRITERIA C OF THE CRITERIA OF ELIGIBILITY FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THIS IS THE FIRST FEDERALLY-OWNED POST OFFICE IN SOUTH MILWAUKEE, PRIOR TO ITS DEDICATION IN 1932, THE POST OFFICE APPEARED IN A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS DEPENDING UPON WHO THE POSTMASTER WAS. THE FIRST POSTMASTER WAS GEORGE MCCREEDY WHO ORGANIZED THE FIRST POST OFFICE IN SOUTH MILWAUKEE IN 1892. (SEE BIB. REF. C). |
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| Bibliographic References: | South Milwaukee Journal Nov 14, 1930, p. 1 ibid, July 25, 1930, p. 1. ibid, March 15, 1929, p. 1. ibid, January 11, 1929, p. 1. ibid, June 15, 1928. ibid, December 2, 1928. ibid, March 1, 1929. ibid, May 10, 1929. ibid, June 20, 1930. ibid, January 1, 1932. ibid, April 25, 1930, p. 1. ibid, January 4, 1926, p.1. ibid, August 1, 1930. ibid, November 14, 1930, p.1. ibid, November 28, 1930, p.1. ibid, November 28, 1931, p.1. ibid, November 20, 1931. Cornerstone. A. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION - BUILDING CORNERSTONE. B. REAR ADDITION - VISUAL ESTIMATE. C. ENDHOFF, GERTRUDE, "SOUTH MILWAUKEE, THEN AND NOW," MSS., 1970, P. 75. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |