Property Record
2249 N HUMBOLDT AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. Saloon |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | Zaks Tavern - Damian Owner |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 117666 |
| Location (Address): | 2249 N HUMBOLDT AVE |
|---|---|
| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1890 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19792017 |
| Historic Use: | tavern/bar |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Charles Kirchhoff Jr. |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| 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 Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: Good example of an early brewery owned bar with integrity of form and much extant original decorative brickwork, designed by one of Milwaukee's leading architects. Large three-story brick commercial structure, with a brick tower on the northeast corner. Arched entry ways and brick arching over the windows. Bay window located on the second floor, north facade. The building is significant architecturally as an example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The corner tower, arches and belt course create an integrated design which is well suited to the corner site. It is also the only three story Richardsonian Romanesque building in the Brewers Hill area. The architect was H. Kirchoff, Jr. Construction date, 1890. (1, A) Hermann Goerge, Builder (?). (2, A) Jos. Schlitz, Bar & Bowling Alley, 1890. (2) ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: The building is a three-story brick masonry commercial structure on the corner of North Humboldt and East North. It is a Richardsonian Romanesque style design with a circular corner tower. The entry is located on the corner in a diagonal wall, with the tower projecting out above the roof. The curved corner becomes a full circle where the tower projects above the roof. The major openings on the ground floor and all those on the third floor have round arches superimposed on the walls above the openings. At the upper level these are tied together by a horizontal belt course which is corbelled out from the plane of the wall. Horizontal belt bands also articulate the first and second floors. A single bay window is located on the second floor side wall. (1982, photo - 39-28) HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Joseph Schiltz Brewing Company built the structure as a saloon with residence above in 1890. Included in the original $9,000 construction was a 34' by 120' bowling alley. The building was occupied as a bar and residence by a succession of tenants beginning with Julius Schmechel in 1891 (B). The longest proprietor was Michael S. Schulist from 1906 to 1929. The upper portion of the corner tower was removed in 1942 (A). One of the earliest of the brewery owned bars. Resurveyed March 2017. Subsequent changes include the loss of some window glazing from upper stories and the loss of the decorative cornice, finials, and arches from the 1-story wing. New windows have also been added to the façade of the 1-story wing. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | A. Building Permit. B. City Directories. 1. Tax Program. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2/15/2000. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |