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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 189 N CENTRAL AVE |
|---|---|
| County | Richland |
| City/Village | Richland Center |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1920 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1987 |
| Historic Use | social recreational/fraternal hall |
| Architectural Style | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Brick |
| Architect | Edward Tough |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
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. Just as women were enabled to voice political ideas and promote solidarity, fraternal organizations allowed men to express political power, form business alliances, and foster middle-class cohesion. Among the most prestigious was the Free Masons, which in 1920 built the Masonic Temple (189 N. Central Ave.) in the Beaux-Arts Classical style, symbolizing civic order. Architect Edward Tough used stone moldings to divide the brick building into three zones, much like a classical column. The raised foundation forms the base, classical cantons and colossal Ionic columns divide the two-story shaft into bays, and a festooned name plate crowns the building. Most distinctive is the arched, stained-glass window extending from the top of the base almost to the full height of the building. |
| Bibliographic References | 1. Margaret Scott, Richland Center: A History (Richland Center: Richland County Publishers, 1972), pp. 24, 33, 144, 185-86; Local History Room, Brewer Library (Richland Center, Mss. 498); C.W. Butterfield, History of Crawford and Richland Counties (Springfield: Union Publishing Company, 1884), p. 1179; Masonic Temple, 100 Years of Masonry in Richland Center: Program of the 100th Anniversary of the Granting of the Charter (Madison: Mss. Archives, SHSW, Madison). 2. Barbara Wyatt, Cultural Resource Management in Wisconsin (Madison: Historic Preservation Division, SHSW, 1986), vol. III, part 5, pp. 2-4; Joyce McKay, Architecture as Archaeological Artifact (Ann Arbor: University Microfilms, 1985). A. Richland (WI) Republican Observer, 3 March 1920, 25 March 1920. B. Ibid., 20 July 1922. C. Sanborn Insurance Maps, City of Richland Center (New York: Sanborn Map Company, 1927). D. Margaret Scott, Richland Center, Wisconsin, A History (Richland Center: Richland County Publishing, 1972), pp. 184-185. Richland Center observer 9/6/2001. E. Buildings of Wisconsin manuscript. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Court Street Commercial Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Nov 13, 1989 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing | Yes |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
Interior Masonic Temple
September 5, 1923
Text on front reads: "Interior Masonic Temple, Richland Center, Wis." Interior view of the Masonic Temple. The walls are light colored and the woodwork is dark wood, except for the ceiling, which i...
