205 Main St. | National or State Registers Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

National or State Registers Record

205 Main St.

National or State Register of Historic Places
205 Main St. | National or State Registers Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:Tainter, Mabel, Memorial Building
Reference Number:74000083
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):205 Main St.
County:Dunn
City/Village:Menomonie
Township:
SUMMARY
Mabel Tainter Memorial Building
205 Main Street, Menomonie, Dunn County
Architect: Harvey Ellis
Construction Date: 1889

People who developed and profited from Wisconsin's enormous lumber-related enterprises in the nineteenth century also endowed the northern part of the state with lasting examples of public generosity. None is more outstanding than the remarkable building Captain Andrew Tainter built in Menomonie as a memorial to his eldest daughter, who had died while away at college.

The Mabel Tainter Memorial Building was constructed in 1889 to house a public library, public meeting rooms and a theater. Harvey Ellis, a gifted architect who was then working in the offices of Minneapolis architect Leroy Buffington, designed the building in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The Tainter building exhibits the massive scale, heavy appearance and rough stone construction typical of the style. Doors and windows are deeply set into arched openings that have an exaggerated appearance due to the heavy masonry that frames them. Ellis's brilliant design is also notable for the four short but massive towers placed at the corners of the building.

The imposing nature of the building is lightened somewhat by the elaborate use of decorative stone carving around and above the monumental, arched main entrance. But, it is the interior of the building that is truly extraordinary. The interior of the Tainter Memorial Building, with its use of Middle Eastern Moorish design motifs, and naturalistic ornament inspired by Chicago architect Louis Sullivan, is one of Wisconsin's finest nineteenth century interiors. Elaborate chandeliers, curved balconies and a highly detailed proscenium arch over the stage highlight the spectacular theater interior.

The building's architect, Harvey Ellis (1852-1904), was a talented designer and illustrator. Unfortunately, he built far fewer projects than he designed. Of those that have survived, the Mabel Tainter Building is one of the finest. It has been restored and continues to serve the people of Menomonie. It is open to the public during normal business hours and for special weekend and evening events.

PROPERTY FEATURES
Period of Significance:1875-1899
Area of Significance:Architecture
Area of Significance:Commerce
Applicable Criteria:Person
Applicable Criteria:Architecture/Engineering
Historic Use:Education: Library
Historic Use:Recreation And Culture: Theater
Historic Use:Social: Meeting Hall
Architectural Style:Romanesque
Architectural Style:Other
Resource Type:Building
Architect:Ellis,Harvey
DESIGNATIONS
Historic Status:Listed in the National Register
Historic Status:Listed in the State Register
National Register Listing Date:07/18/1974
State Register Listing Date:01/01/1989
NUMBER OF RESOURCES WITHIN PROPERTY
Number of Contributing Buildings:1
Number of Contributing Sites:0
Number of Contributing Structures:0
Number of Contributing Objects:0
Number of Non-Contributing Sites:0
Number of Non-Contributing Structures:0
Number of Non-Contributing Objects:0
RECORD LOCATION
National Register and State Register of Historic Places, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

How to Cite

For the purposes of a bibliography entry or footnote, follow this model:

National Register of Historic Places Citation
National Register of Historic Places, "Historic Name", "Town", "County", "State", "Reference Number".

Have Questions?

If you didn't find the National Register listing you were looking for or have other questions about the National Register, please email us and we can help: