For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe
608-261-9596
kara.okeeffe@wisconsinhistory.org

August 30, 2018

The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Coakley Brothers Warehouse on the State Register of Historic Places

Milwaukee, Wis. - The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Coakley Brothers Warehouse (Milwaukee, Milwaukee County) on the State Register of Historic Places on August 17, 2018.

The Coakley Brothers Warehouse is an excellent example of a fireproof storage warehouse in the city of Milwaukee during a relatively brief period when storage and moving companies built high rise warehouses with interior storage amenities tailored for residential and luxury markets. Designed by the notable Milwaukee architects Eschweiler & Eschweiler in the Mediterranean Revival style, it had been in continuous use as a storage facility for ninety years.

The Coakley Brothers Warehouse was one of two new warehouses for the company designed by Eschweiler & Eschweiler in a two-year period. The warehouses were unique in that they were located away from the bustling commercial river- and rail-fronting warehouse districts downtown and in the Third and Fifth Wards. Coakley Brothers intentionally built this warehouse near a wealthy residential neighborhood, using prominent edifices and a tall clock tower to advertise their business at intersections where clients would be most likely to see them.  The warehouse is a fine example of Mediterranean Revival architecture applied to a warehouse building. Sold in 2017, it will continue use as a storage facility under the new owner, preserving its characteristic features.

The State Register is Wisconsin's official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin's heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.

To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visitwww.wisconsinhistory.org.

About Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.

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