Property Record
730 WASHINGTON AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | RACINE CITY HALL |
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| Other Name: | CITY HALL |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 11465 |
| Location (Address): | 730 WASHINGTON AVE |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
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| Year Built: | 1930 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1980 |
| Historic Use: | city hall |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Limestone |
| Architect: | J. Mandor Matson |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. ROMAN ARCH WINDOWS AND ENTRANCE ON 1ST FLOOR. RECTANGULAR UPPER STORY WINDOWS. PILASTERS ON 2ND AND 3RD STORIES. WINDOWLESS ATTIC STORY. ALMOST COMPLETELY UNALTERED INTERIOR. Builder was Bongard Construction Co. The first mayor to occupy offices in this building was William J. Swoboda, a socialist, who was elected in 1931, 1933, and 1935. The incinerator was demolished in 10/1979. ON THE ORIGINAL SITE OF THE MITCHELL AND LEWIS WAGON COMPANY. THIS BUILDING WAS DESIGNED BY J. MANDOR MATSON (1890-1963), A LOCAL ARCHITECT WHO ALSO DESIGNED BOTH PARK AND HORLICK HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE CITY. Resurveyed November 2009; appearance unchanged. 2009: "This 3-1/2 story Neoclassical building was constructed in 1930. It is clad in limestone and is irregular in plan with a central projecting entry bay. The first-floor windows and entrance have Roman arch surrounds; second and third story windows are six-pane rectangular casements and are separated by pilasters on the facade of the entry bay. A simulated balcony exists over the main entrance. A decorative cornice runs the perimeter of the building just below the roofline. The words "Racine City Hall" are in relief just above the third-story windows on the front (east) facade." |
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| Bibliographic References: | Inscriptions. Racine Journal News 7/15/1931, pp. 31-32. Assessor's records. Burckels, Nicholas C., Ed., Racine: Growth and Change in a Wisconsin County, Racine: Racine County Board of Supervisor's, 1977, p. 83. HISTORIC 6TH STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT WALKING TOUR, 1990. "Architecture/History Survey of 7th Street from 9th Street to Main Street in the city of Racine, WI. October, 2009. WHS Project #10-0922, Prepared by Gail Klein." |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |