Property Record
311 N HANCOCK ST (AKA 427 E Gorham St)
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Madison Waterworks |
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| Other Name: | Nichols Station |
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| Reference Number: | 16098 |
| Location (Address): | 311 N HANCOCK ST (AKA 427 E Gorham St) |
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| County: | Dane |
| City: | Madison |
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| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1917 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2014 |
| Historic Use: | water utility |
| Architectural Style: | Twentieth Century Commercial |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Madison Waterworks |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 8/18/1980 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| 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, State Historic Preservation Office. Designed by Madison architectural firm of Balch and Lippert and nationally known engineering firm of Mead and Seastone. Built in 1917. replaced the city's first pumping station which was built in 1882 on the same site. Distinctive Prairie style trim at each corner of the building. this decorative element became an architectural trademark for the water utility and adorns most of the utility's buildings built from 1923 through the 1950s. Transformed in 1985 to apartment units. "One of Madison's most creative reuses of an historic property occurred in 1985 when the Madison Water Works pumping station building (later renamed Nichols Station) and the city block it sits on were transformed into an apartment complex. The tan brick building that is the centerpiece of this project was constructed in 1917. It replaced the city's first pumping station, which was built in 1882 and was located on the same site. The new water works originally housed a large steam boiler and two massive steam-powered pumps. These pumps (one of which survives intact) were Madison's sole source of municipally supplied water until 1923, when the first outlying local unit pumping station was built. Nichols Station was designed by the Madison architectural firm of Balch and Lippert and the nationally known Madison engineering firm of Mead and Seastone. Balch and Lippert's design featured distinctive Prairie style trim at each corner of the building. This decorative element became an architectural trademark for the water utility and adorns most of the water utility's well buildings constructed from 1923 through the 1950s." Old Market Place Neighborhood walking tour guide. Madison Landmarks Commission and Old Market Place Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Old Market Place Neighborhood walking tour guide. Madison Landmarks Commission and Old Market Place Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |