Property Record
600 21ST ST (C)
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Racine College - Kemper Hall |
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| Other Name: | (as of 2006) Dekoven Foundation for Churchwork - Kemper Hall |
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| Reference Number: | 11419 |
| Location (Address): | 600 21ST ST (C) |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
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| Year Built: | 1857 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19752013 |
| Historic Use: | university or college building |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
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| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | J F MILLER, OF NEW YORK |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Racine College |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 12/12/1976 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | Two 'site files' exists for this property named 'Racine College' and 'Dekoven Foundation'. They contain additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. They are a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. END CHIMNEYS,3 STORYRECTANGULAR CENTRAL ENTRANCE TOWER W/ CRENELLATED ROOFLINE 2010: The Great Hall, also know as the Refectory, 600 21st St, was built for Racine College in 1871. The January 1871 issue of "College Mercury" reported, 'The new dining hall, which is to erected shortly at an expense of nearly $7,000, will occupy part of the empty space between Park and Kemper Halls, and indeed will be joined to Kemper Hall...Mr Miller is the architect, the man who drew up the plans for Taylor Hall and the Chapel.' The same article credits leading church men form Chicago ans elsewhere for raising the funds to build this dining room. the Great Hall was built because the dining space in Kemper Hall was now adequate. The four combined buildings Park Hall (1852), Kemper Hall (1854), Great Hall (1871) and Assembly Hall (1872) compose the 450-foot East Building. All are built in the English Gothic style of local cream brick with limestone foundations. The Great Hall dining room features a twenty-foot open-timbered roof with dormers. Arched stained glass windows were given to the school by graduating classes. The floor has three levels: the warden and his guests were served int eh upper level; the older students and their teachers were served on the second level; and the younger boys and their teachers, on the main floor. A chair with a back was placed at each table for the teach assigned to that table. The boys sat on benches. All tables were covered in white linen tablecloths. Some of the original tables are still in use. Today the Great Hall is park of the DeKoven Center, administered buy the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. 2013: Exterior remains unchanged. |
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| Bibliographic References: | "Century Buildings for 2010," Preservation Racine, Inc., Newsletter, Summer 2010. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |