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953 JENIFER ST | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

Property Record

953 JENIFER ST

Architecture and History Inventory
953 JENIFER ST | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:Pilgrim Congregational Church (3rd Ward School)
Other Name:Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center
Contributing: Yes
Reference Number:103133
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):953 JENIFER ST
County:Dane
City:Madison
Township/Village:
Unincorporated Community:
Town:
Range:
Direction:
Section:
Quarter Section:
Quarter/Quarter Section:
PROPERTY FEATURES
Year Built:1877
Additions: 1914
Survey Date:1982
Historic Use:school-one to six room
Architectural Style:Spanish/Mediterranean Styles
Structural System:
Wall Material:Stucco
Architect: David R. Jones -1877; James R. Law-1914
Other Buildings On Site:
Demolished?:No
Demolished Date:
NATIONAL AND STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
National/State Register Listing Name: Jenifer-Spaight Historic District
National Register Listing Date:10/13/2004
State Register Listing Date:7/16/2004
National Register Multiple Property Name:
NOTES
Additional Information:According to the city of Madison records, the Pilgrim Congregational Church was originally constructed as the 3rd Ward School Building in 1877. According to Sanborn Fire Insurance maps the original 1877 structure was shifted northwest on the site and rotated 90-degrees counterclockwise sometime between 1902 and 1908. In 1914 architect James R. Law designed a major addition which replaced a portion of the original structure and extended the building toward Jenifer Street. This Mediterranean Revival Style addition and the concurrent renovation of the pre-existing structure account for the majority of this property's appearance (as of 2025). James Law's architecture firm (now called Potter Lawson) retains the original drawings which name Law as the architect and show a cornerstone date of 1914 for this addition. Subsequent minor additions were made along South Brearly Street.
Bibliographic References:“Notice to Builders” is from the Wisconsin State Journal dated June 23, 1877.
RECORD LOCATION
Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

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Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory Citation
Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, "Historic Name", "Town", "County", "State", "Reference Number".