Property Record
235 W BROADWAY AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Waukesha Post Office |
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| Other Name: | ROTUNDA BUILDING |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 16812 |
| Location (Address): | 235 W BROADWAY AVE |
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| County: | Waukesha |
| City: | Waukesha |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1913 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1980 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Limestone |
| Architect: | OSCAR WENDEROTH |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Waukesha Post Office |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 10/28/1983 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | Multiple Resources of Waukesha |
| 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. THIS SITE WAS ONCE OCCUPIED BY THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH. BEDFORD STONE. SEMI-CIRCULAR PORTICO, SUPPORTED BY SIX FLUTED DORIC COLUMNS. EMBRACES HALF OF THE CYLINDRICAL LOBBY WITH SKYLIGHT. The Post Office is an impressive building ,prominently sited on a triangular lot near the historic Five Points area. Dominating the design is a semicircular portico, supported by six fluted Doric columns. The semicircular facade of the building contains a central entrance, capped by a large transom, and entablature supported by consoles. Pilasters further articulate the facade. The entablature of the portico continues around the remainder of the building unifying the design. Rising above the main mass of the building is the drum of the shallow dome which is capped with a copper roof. The exterior of the Post Office is composed of Bedford Stone. A colonnade of red marble columns, with gold Corinthian capitals, encircles the interior lobby which is dominated by a coffered dome and stained glass skylight. The supervising architect for the Post Office was Oscar Wenderoth. Wenderoth was a native of Philadelphia but was first employed in Washington D.C. in the office of the U.S. Supervising Architect in 1897. Ten years later he was promoted to the post of Chief Draftsman and in 1912 was appointed head of the U.S. Supervising Architect office. Wenderoth assisted in the preparation of plans for government buildings, mainly Post Offices until his resignation in 1929. Wenderoth died in 1938. The Post Office building is one of the best remaining examples of Classic Revival architecture in Waukesh, and consequently is significant as a representative example of a period of construction. The carefully balanced classical ornament of the exterior, is continued in the elaborate lobby interior, to create an impressive space. In addition, the building is well suited to the triangular site and serves as an important local landmark. Other examples of Classical revival design include the Masonic Temple (317 South St. WK 48/4), and in altered condition the Public Library (WK 48/27), the National Exchange Bank (309 W. Main St. WK 6/29) and the Waukesha National Bank (831 N. Grand Ave. WK 50/28). The Post Office was constructed in 1913 as the first federally owned post office in the City's history. At the time it was built, this post office building received one of the highest appropriations for post office construction in the state of Wisconsin ($330,000). It served as the Post Office from 1914 to 1962. Its life as a bank began at that time. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Zimmerman, #769. (B) Waukesha Freeman 12/15/1994. (C) Cornerstone. (D) Waukesha Freeman, October 15, 1914, Vol. LVI, No. 42, p. 1. (E) Loerke, Jean Penn, "Walking Tour," Waukesha County Historical Museum, 1973. (F) Withey, Henry. Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) 1956, p. 644. Waukesha Freeman 4/12/2001. Waukesha Freeman 9/5/2003. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |