Property Record
716 LANGDON ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | University of Wisconsin Armory and Gymnasium |
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| Other Name: | Red Gym (UW#0020) |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27456 |
| Location (Address): | 716 LANGDON ST |
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| County: | Dane |
| City: | Madison |
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| Year Built: | 1894 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1993 |
| Historic Use: | armory |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | CONOVER AND PORTER |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Bascom Hill Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 9/12/1974 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | University of Wisconsin Armory and Gymnasium |
| National Register Listing Date: | 11/4/1993 |
| 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 Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. The building hosted the 1904 state Republican party convention, which catapulted Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette onto the national political scene and also gave birth to comprehensive direct primaries, a Progressive Era political reform that was subsequently adopted in many other states. The armory was completed in 1894 and rehabilitated in 1998. It is one of only two remaining buildings on campus designed by the regionally prominent firm of Conover and Porter. The Richardsonian Romanesque design mimics a medieval castle, complete with crenelated parapets and corner turrets. This fortress-like style was popular for armories built after labor disturbances rocked the Midwest in the late 1880s. Sturdy Romanesque architecture seemed the ideal protection against the perceived threat of mob violence from socialists, unionists, and anarchists. Ironically, in 1970 antiwar protesters firebombed the Armory, heavily damaging the first floor. COST OF THE BUILDING WAS $130,000. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1892. The building is also listed individually as the UW-Armory and Gymnasium (Old Red Gym) (NHL), NRHP date 11/8/1993. Madison Historic Landmark:9/18/2007; National Historic Landmark: 11/4/1993 This building is contributing to the Bascom Hill Historic District, NR listed 1974, NRIS #: 74000065 A Historic Structure Report of this building can be found in Room 312 at the Wisconsin Historical Society. |
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| Bibliographic References: | "A TABULAR HISTORY OF THE BUILDINGS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN" ALDEN AUST 1937. THE CAPITAL TIMES 5/18/1994. THE CAPITAL TIMES 5/12/1994. THE CAPITAL TIMES 5/17/1994. WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL 8/12/1994. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 7/7/1998. Wisconsin State Journal 7/5/1998. Cudahy Reminder Enterprise 7/1/1999. Buildings of Wisconsin manuscript. Feldman, Jim. “Buildings of the University of Wisconsin.” Madison, WI : UW Madison, Archives and Records Management Service, 2006. Originally published 1997. http://madcat.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=7134919. Accessed: February 2012. University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tour Guide, 1988. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |