Property Record
1501-11 TOWER AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | MINNESOTA BLOCK |
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| Other Name: | BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 17859 |
| Location (Address): | 1501-11 TOWER AVE |
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| County: | Douglas |
| City: | Superior |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
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| Year Built: | 1891 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20092012 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | CHARLES COOLIDGE HAIGHT, architect |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Minnesota Block-Board of Trade Bldg. |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 6/27/1985 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | Speculative Commercial Blocks of Superior's Boom Period |
| 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. 2013- This very large, previously surveyed, four-story-tall, rectilinear plan, brick-clad commercial building occupies a corner parcel and it has principal elevations that face east onto Tower Ave. and north onto Belknap St. (a.k.a. Fifteenth St.) This building, which was historically known as the Minnesota Block, was built in 1891, and it is a fine example of a large Neo-Classical Revival style commercial building. A survey photo taken in 1983 shows that the Tower Avenue facade ofthis building had already lost its original first story storefronts by that time and these altered storefronts have been further altered in the ensuing years, but most of the storefronts on the north-facing Belknap St. elevation are still intact. The same photo also shows that all of the building's original second, third and fomth story windows had been replaced with smaller modern ones by 1983 as well. This building is listed in the NRHP (6-27-85) as part of the Speculative Commercial Blocks of Superior's Boom Period thematic nomination. -"USH 2 (Belknap St.)" WisDOT ID #8680-00-01 (71), Prepared by Timothy F. Heggland (MAP) (2012). MOULDED SANDSTONE CORNICE ABOVE 1ST, 3RD AND 4TH FLRS ROOFLINE W/ COPPER CORNICE BRICK WALL PILASTERS W/ LARGE SANDSTONE BASES AND CAPS SANDSTONE LINTELS AND SILLS STOREFRONTS COMPLETELY ALTERED W/ MODERN GLASS AND METAL PANELS [Date Cnst:(ASSESSOR'S RECORD)] |
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| Bibliographic References: | Eckert, Kathryn. Sandstone Buildings in the Lake Superior Region. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2000. Lusignan, Paul. Superior Intensive Survey Report. Superior, 1983. Architecture and History Survey. October 2009, August 2010, December 2010. Prepared by Timothy F. Heggland. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |