click zoom to display a high-res image
Summary
Wakefield Hall
1409 Ellis Avenue, Northland College, Ashland, Ashland County
Architect: Thomas Shefchik
Date of Construction: 1940-1941
In the late 19th century, the Chequamegon area did not have a high school. After much debate, local residents decided to build a Christian school in Ashland where students would learn both traditional subjects as well as practical trades.
Even though the school was a high school, people frequently referred to it as a "college." In 1906, the school reorganized slightly and added college courses to its academic offerings. Over the next few years as the number of local high schools increased, the school transitioned to college level education, and eventually changed its name to Northland College.
By 1938, Northland College needed a new library. The college hired local architect Thomas Shefchik, designer of Memorial Hall on the Northland campus, to design the building. The new library was a one-and-a-half story red brick Colonial Revival building that was based on the 1932 reconstruction of Wakefield Mansion, the Virginia birthplace of George Washington. Wakefield Hall is slightly smaller than its namesake, but looks nearly identical from the exterior. The interiors are very different, however, as Wakefield Hall was built to be a library.
Interestingly, Wakefield Hall was built with the plan that when a larger library was needed, the building would become offices. A new library was completed in 1969, and Wakefield Hall was converted into administrative offices for Northland College. It currently serves as the Admissions Office and is opened during school hours.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1940-1941 |
| Architectural Style | Colonial Revival |
| Architect | Shefchik, Thomas |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | College |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 20, 1995 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | May 4, 1995 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or have other questions about the registers, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Bennett and Main Sts.
79000341
Located in Mellen, Ashland County
1511 ELLIS AVE, NORTHLAND COLLEGE
15576
Located in Ashland, Ashland County
