Property Record
600 21ST ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Racine College - Taylor Hall |
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| Other Name: | (as of 2006) Dekoven Foundation for Churchwork - Taylor Hall |
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| Reference Number: | 11417 |
| Location (Address): | 600 21ST ST |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
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| Year Built: | 1867 |
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| Additions: | 1875 |
| Survey Date: | 19752013 |
| Historic Use: | university or college building |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | J.f. Miller; Lucas Bradley-1867 |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Racine College |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 12/12/1976 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
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| Additional Information: | Two 'site files' exists for this property named 'Racine College' and 'Dekoven Foundation'. They contain additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. They are a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. CREAM BRICK W/RED BRICK POLYCHROME. TALL PAIRED GOTHIC ARCH WINDOWS. LARGE BRICK BUTTRESSES AT CNRS. TOWER W/CRENELLATED ROOFLINE. CORBELLED CORNICE. 2010: It was built in 1867 at a cost of $30,000 with funds provided by Isaac Taylor and his wife, Emerline, who were devoted friends of Racine College. Isaac died in 1865 and stipulated in his will that after Emerline's death (1866), the $130,000 estate would be equally divided between Racine College and a proposed orphanage. Lucas Bradley is considered the building contractor for Racine College, including this building. The College Mercury states that Mr. J.F. Miller of New York is the architect. Originally this building provided dormitory space for fifty boys, a library, five classrooms, and apartments for the warden and sub-warden. In the winter of 1875, this building was destroyed by fire and rebuilt by September 1876. In 1873, at a cost of $2,000, three bells were purchased for the clock tower of Taylor Hall. These bells chimed on the quarter hour in Westminister melody. The tower survived the 1875 and 1943 fires, but was demolished in 1961. One of the three bells is installed in the East Building of the DeKoven Center and chimes on the hour. A wooden porch on the southeast side of this building, probably added after the 1875 fire, has been removed. Except for these changes, Taylor Hall's exterior remains basically unchanged from when it was built. Taylor Hall is part of the DeKoven Center, administered by the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. Student rooms have been converted into guest rooms; the library has become St. Mary's Chapel; and staff offices are located in this building. 2013: Exterior remains unchanged. |
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| Bibliographic References: | RACINE JOURNAL TIMES 10/6/1994. RACINE JOURNAL TIMES 9/26/1996. Tour of Historic Places guide book, 2002. "Century Buildings for 2010," Preservation Racine, Inc., Newsletter, Summer 2010. Renewing Our Roots: A Guide To Racine, Wisconsin, Central City, Southside, Preservation-Racine, 1977. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |