Property Record
123 N BLOUNT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Badger State Shoe Company |
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| Other Name: | Das Kronenberg Apartments |
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| Reference Number: | 29089 |
| Location (Address): | 123 N BLOUNT ST |
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| County: | Dane |
| City: | Madison |
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| Year Built: | 1909 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1983 |
| Historic Use: | industrial building |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Ferdinand Kronenberg |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Badger State Shoe Company |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 4/11/1989 |
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| 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. Map code is 0709-133-0101-9. Madison Landmark: 8/7/1989. Designed by noted Madison architect Ferdinand Kronenberg. 6-story factory for Badger State Shoe Company. Recently converted to Das Kronenberg Apartments. "From East Johnson Street a broad, level plain stretches across the isthmus to the Third Lake ridge that borders Lake Monona. Originally, this plain was the "Great Central Marsh," a barrier to development as long as it remained unfilled. Once filling began in the 1890s, however, much of the new land was developed for Madison's first modern industrial concerns. One of the finest remaining examples of this industrial past is the six-story brick building constructed for the Badger State Shoe Company. This company have been organized in Milwaukee in 1893 by Albert and Henry L. Atkins. In 1900 the company opened a new factory on Madison's south side at 1335 Gilson Street. It remained there until 1910, when company operations in Milwaukee and in Madison were consolidated under one roof at the new factory on Blount Street. Designed by noted Madison architect Ferdinand Kronenberg, this new factory was considered a model of its kind. It is also an excellent example of the simple dignity such utilitarian building can achieve. At its peak the factory employed 250 people who made over 2,000 pairs of shoes a day. Production continued until 1930, after which the building was used as a warehouse until its recent conversion into Das Kronenberg Apartments by the Alexander Companies." Old Market Place Neighborhood walking tour guide. Madison Landmarks Commission and Old Market Place Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
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| Bibliographic References: | [A]. Historic name, date of construction: tax records, city directory. [B]. Wisconsin State Journal, June 29, 1900; July 25, 1900; December 31, 1900; January 11, 1910. [C]. Madison Past and Present, p. 24. Old Market Place Neighborhood walking tour guide. Madison Landmarks Commission and Old Market Place Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |