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37th Street School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

March 4, 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the 37t^h Street School (Milwaukee, Milwaukee County) in the State Register of Historic Places on Feb. 14, 2020. State Historic Preservation Officer Daina Penkiunas presented a certificate to Martha Brown.

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State Historic Preservation Officer Daina Penkiunas presented a certificate to Martha Brown

The 37^th Street School (originally named the Nineteenth District School No. 2) at 1715 N. 37^th Street in Milwaukee was completed in 1903 and designed in the Neo-Classical style by Wisconsin architect George Birnbach. Two rear wing additions that seamlessly blend with the school were constructed in 1911 to provide additional classrooms. The 37^th Street School was erected to serve Milwaukee’s newly-annexed residential neighborhood located east of Washington Park in the northwest region of the city. The school, constructed of brick, retains decorative details of its design including its original cupola. The historic interior layout is preserved and historic finishes such as wood flooring, plaster walls, and wood built-in cabinetry are retained throughout the school.

The 37^th Street School is an excellent, well-preserved example in Milwaukee of a modern graded school. When completed in 1903, the school featured modern amenities that were important to enhancing the learning environment, such as central heating, indoor plumbing, and electricity.  It is rare for schools from this era to be unaltered.

In addition to being a school, the 37^th Street School served as a neighborhood social center from the late 1910s through the 1960s. In this role, the building provided classes and recreation for residents of the Washington Park neighborhood. The Social Center program, managed by the Division of Municipal Recreation and Adult Education of the Milwaukee Public Schools, was a historically-significant part of the city’s twentieth-century history. The program reflected Progressive efforts to offer educational and social outlets and build community in urban areas throughout the country. The 37^th Street School remained open for 102 years until 2005, when it was closed as part of the Neighborhood Schools Initiative.

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.