Property Record
434 E WALNUT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Eisenman and Gaie Service Station |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 233448 |
| Location (Address): | 434 E WALNUT ST |
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| County: | Brown |
| City: | Green Bay |
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| Year Built: | 1930 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2017 |
| Historic Use: | gas station/service station |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| 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: | 2017-NRHP District Nomination This service station at the corner of E. Walnut and S. Madison streets opened as the Eisenman & Gaie automobile battery and service station in December of 1930. As built, the building had three garage bays. Sanborn maps show that two bays were added to the south side of the building between 1932 and 1936, bringing the total number of garage bays to five. The office portion of the building has a concrete plinth foundation and a continuous concrete sill just below the first story windows, both of which are interrupted only by the person-sized doors on the east and northeast (diagonal) façades. The walls are clad in a light color brick in an American bond pattern. A wide concrete belt course acts as a cornice with brick parapet and terra cotta coping above. The north façade has a large, six-pane window opening extending vertically from the sill course up to the belt course cornice. A large, central window pane is situated between a pair of narrower panes. Above these a panel separates the glass from shorter panes above. The northeast (diagonal) façade is symmetric, with a central entrance and a window to either side. The entrance and side windows each have a smaller transom window above. An upper band of windows extends the width of the windows below. The east façade has an entrance at left with a pair of windows to the right. A wide window is centered in the façade above, with a single, narrower window to either side. Extending to the south of the office are three garage bays, each with a garage door and transom window above. A brick wall separates these three bays from the two additional bays further to the south. All doors and windows have been replaced and the gasoline pumps were removed long ago, but otherwise this building retains a very high degree of integrity. Eisenman & Gaie first entered the automobile battery business in 1926 and, according to City Directories, operated here until 1976. The building then became Merl’s Auto Service and continues to operate as an automobile service garage today. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. 19 Dec 1930, page 36. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |