Property Record
1120 ALGOMA BLVD
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Read School |
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| Other Name: | READ SCHOOL |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 28504 |
| Location (Address): | 1120 ALGOMA BLVD |
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| County: | Winnebago |
| City: | Oshkosh |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
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| Year Built: | 1879 |
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| Additions: | 1973 1893 1907 |
| Survey Date: | 1978 |
| Historic Use: | elementary, middle, jr.high, or high |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | William Waters-1893, 1907 |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Read School |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 2/11/1993 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 11/21/1992 |
| 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. ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENT: THE READ SCHOOL IS A WELL ARTICULATED DESIGN, CONSTRUCTED OF CREAM BRICK. WINDOW HEADS ARE SEGMENTALLY ARCHED, BELT COURSES SURROUND THE BUILDING. BRICKWORK ALONG CORNICE AND CENTRAL BELL TOWER IS INTRICATE, TERMINATING IN CORBEL TABLES. ITALIAN SOURCES SEEM TO HAVE INFLUENCED THE DESIGN, PARTICULARLY OF THE CAMPANILE TOWER WHICH DOMINATES THE FACADE. READ SCHOOL IS A VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF WATERS' EARLY WORK AND IS AN INTERESTING CONTRAST TO HIS EARLIER DESIGN FOR DALE SCHOOL, (207 E. IRVING OS 7/9). READ SCHOOL HAS A GREATER AMOUNT OF DETAILING (PERHAPS A FUNCTION OF ITS LOCATION ON ALGOMA BLVD.) AND APPEARS MORE DELICATE, DUE TO THE GREATER AMOUNT OF WALL SPACE DEVOTED TO WINDOWS, THAN DALE SCHOOL. READ SCHOOL AND DALE SCHOOL ARE BOTH IMPORTANT EXAMPLES OF WATERS' EARLY DESIGNS FOR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES; SCHOOL DESIGN CONTINUED TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF WATERS' PRACTICE THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. HISTORICAL STATEMENT: READ SCHOOL WAS BUILT TO SERVE CHILDREN IN THE FASHIONABLE ALGOMA BLVD. NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN CONSTURCTED IN 1879, IT HAD A NUMBER OF SPECIAL AMENITIES INCLUDING CENTRAL HEAT. MARBLE WASH STANDS WERE FULLY SUPPLIED WITH COMBS, BRUSHES, TOWELS, AND DRINKING. THE OTHER SCHOOLS IN TOWN WERE NOT FULLY SUPPLIED WITH CENTRAL HEAT UNTIL 1895. (B). GEORGE H. READ, AFTER WHOM THE School WAS NAMED, WAS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AT THE TIME OF ITS CONSTRUCTION. (C) |
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| Bibliographic References: | THE OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN 4/14/1994. THE OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN 3/16/1994. OSHKOSH VOLUNTEERS FOR PRESERVATION NEWSLETTER, VOL. 5, AUTUMN 1994. OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN 1/10/1996. A Compilation of Articles Pertaining to the Works of Architect William Waters, 2000. BIBLIGRAPHICAL SOURCES FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL STATEMENTS: A. BUILDING INSCRIPTION. B. KARSTAEDT, OSHKOSH, 100 YEARS A CITY, OSHKOSH, 1953, P.62. C. HARVEY, R. J., HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. OSHKOSH, 1880, P.178. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |