Property Record
217 4TH ST (AKA 401 WISCONSIN AVE)
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building |
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| Other Name: | RACINE BIBLE CHURCH |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 21393 |
| Location (Address): | 217 4TH ST (AKA 401 WISCONSIN AVE) |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
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| Year Built: | 1915 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1987 |
| Historic Use: | recreational building/gymnasium |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | ALBERT ARTHUR GUILBERT |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Old Main Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 8/11/1987 |
| 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 State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. This four-story (plus basement) brick building, has a flat roof decorated with Italianate style brackets and a cornice above the two entrances. On June 23, 1914, a group of businessmen in Racine started a nine-day campaign to raise $175,000 to construct a new YMCA building at this location. On the first day, S.C. Johnson donated $15,000. Folks soliciting donations to fund the building were F.R. Starbuck, John and Harold Bickel (the father and brother of actor Frederic March), E.H. Wadewitz, C.C. Gittings, J.D. Rowland and John Wiechers. On July 2, the last day of the campaign, the goal was reached when two anonymous donors pledged the final $15,000. C. D. McLane, an architect from Rock Island, Illinois, assisted by Guilbert & Funston, Racine architects designed this brick, steel and concrete, six story building ; featuring a 130' x 175' basement, with a gymnasium, swimming pool, lockers and 100 sleeping rooms. All contracts awarded to successful bidders were given to Racine firms. Andrew C. Kappel was awarded the general contract to build the new YMCA for $81,200. John Feiner was awarded the plumbing contract for $7,797. The new YMCA was built is a similar style to the YMCA building in Muncie, Indiana. Ground was broken in May 1915. On June 26, 1915. On June 26, 1915, the cornerstone was laid with S.C. Johnson wielding the trowel. The completed YMCA was formally dedicated and opened on October 30, 1916. The new building was 112 feet long on Fourth Street and 235 feet long on Wisconsin Avenue. It featured two separate entrances, one for men and one for boys. The building included rooms for lodging one hundred men, a modern cafe, a tiled swimming pool, four bowling lanes, two handball courts, a gymnasium and numerous club rooms for the use of the educational department. In 1960, after 44 years of use, the YMCE moved to a brand-new building on Racine's lakefront and put this building up for sale. In the summer of 1961, the Racine Bible Church bought the building for $135,000. The church spent $100,000 in renovations to the building. In 2004, the Racine Bible Church outgrew the building and built a new facility on Spring Street. MOULDED AND BRACKETED STONE EAVES OVER GEOMETRIC BRICKWORK CORNICE. HIGH FOUNDATION. GROUPED TRANSOMED 1ST FLR WINDOWS. STONE SPANDRELS W/BRICK DIAMOND PANELS. PHOTO CODE IS NR 311A/19. THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED BY THE FIRM OF GUILBERT AND FUNSTON OF RACINE IN ASSOCIATION WITH CYRUS MCLANE OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS. |
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| Bibliographic References: | OLD MAIN STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT WALKING TOUR GUIDE 1990 Pfost, Marcia, "Century Buildings for 2019" Preservation Racine News, Summer 2019, Vol 16. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |