Property Record
129 S WASHINGTON ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Kittner Wagon Works |
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| Other Name: | Kittner Wagon Works |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 2238 |
| Location (Address): | 129 S WASHINGTON ST |
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| County: | Brown |
| City: | Green Bay |
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| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1870 |
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| Additions: | C. 1903 |
| Survey Date: | 19862017 |
| Historic Use: | industrial building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Green Bay Downtown Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 5/13/2019 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 2/16/2018 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' titled "Brenner Candy Co." 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. Photo code #2: BR-FRV 15/8. Built by Edward Kittner. Third story added sometime prior to 1903. Highly intact original facade with cut stone, coursed foundation below the original display windows, having multi-pane transom lites. The entrance surround has been altered, but the door itself is an early addition and the entrance is framed by the original thin cast iron engaged colonettes. There is a thin cast iron lintel above the windows. All the second and third floor windows have segmental arched openings and have 6/6 lite windows, Window heads are double rows of header coursed brick. Corbelled brick parapet terminates the facade. This is an early commercial vernacular design. HAER INVENTORY (06/1979): This structure is a three-story brick facility with flat roof, limestone foundation and brick design work on the upper facade. It measures approximately 150' x 30'. The structure is divided into two sections, the rear portion possibly added on at a later date. The first known, verifiable identification for this location is in 1917, as the Brenner Candy Co. The company used the basement of the two-section facility as a stockroom; the first floor for shipping, offices and storage; the second floor for candy making and peanut roasting and packaging; and the third floor also for candy making and as a starch and dry room. The facility was purchased by the Green Bay Specialty Co., listed in 1934 as manufacturers of men's clothing, in 1929. In 1951 Green Bay Specialty was cited as the maker of "Harvester" brand work clothes, denim play clothes and jackets. The company employed 40 persons and was also cited as maker of sport and outdoor clothing under the "Packerland" label. The facility today is used by North Trail Sportswear, inc. (since 1969) to make skiwear, storm and all-weather coats, women's coats and children's jackets. 2017-NRHP District Nomination The Kittner wagon manufactory is known to have been located on Washington Street sometime prior to 1874. The 1883 Sanborn Map for the City of Green Bay depicts a two-story building at this location belonging to the Wagon Works of E. C. Kittner and used for woodworking, painting, and varnishing. This is repeated on the 1887 map, but by 1894 the building was used for the storage of cheese (Udell cheese wholesalers, per City Directories) and the 1900 map lists this as a two-story produce building (Dorschel Produce Co, per City Directories). By the time the 1907 Sanborn Map was issued a third floor had been added, as well as a three-story rear addition, and the Brenner Candy Company was operating a candy factory on the upper floors, all of which is pictured in a c. 1903 photograph. The first story, below the cast iron lintel, was altered around 1990. A cut stone, coursed foundation has been replaced with a brick foundation. The storefront windows have all been replaced, and the entrances have been relocated to the sides of the façade. The iron lintel has six cast iron rosettes and supports a course of rowlock brick above. The second and third stories each have three segmental arch window openings with stone sills, arranged symmetrically. The windows have been replaced with modern 1/1 substitutes. The brick façade of the upper stories is primarily arranged in an American bond pattern, with a corbeled brick parapet. The second and third stories of the south façade can be seen above the neighboring Al’s Hamburger (131 S. Washington), and the rear façade overlooks a parking lot outside of the historic district. Both of these secondary façades are brick and have numerous segmental arch window openings. The ghost of a painted chewing gum advertisement occupies most of the space between the second and third story windows on the south façade. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Abrahams, Paul P. Industrial Survey of Brown County. Industrial Sites Historical Industrial Survey. Unpublished manuscript on file, Historic Preservation Division, State Historical Society of Wisconsin. (B) History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881, p. 118. (C) "A Souvenir of Green Bay", 1903, no page numbers. (D) Green Bay City Directories, 1902-1931. (E.) Sanborn Insurance Map of Green Bay, 1907, Sanborn Map Co., New York, NY, p. 10. (F.) "Lowly Denim Now Is Fashion Line," THE WISCONSIN MAGAZINE, 1951, Special Green Bay Number, Madisen Publishing Co, Appleton, WI, p. 131, col. 1. (G.) Raymond Fogel, interviewed by bill Meindl, 10/1980. (H.) Daily State Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. 19 May 1874, page 4. Green Bay Press Gazette May 28, 1903, pg. 3, March 27, 1903, pg. 3 and July 8, 1901, pg. 3. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |