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Property Features
The Romeo Denzer House features rounded corners, flat roofs, smooth wall surfaces without ornamentation, and windows that wrap around the corner, which are characteristics typically found in the Art Moderne stream-lined style popular beginning in the 1930s. The neutral colors, the poured concrete, stucco, brick and glass block do not detract from the curving lines of the once avant-garde house.
Features include: Tan stucco surface; geometric forms with rounded edges; multi-paned glass block windows in the curved surfaces of the front facade and continuing around the corner in the rear elevation; round window in south side elevation; suspended scalloped door hood over frosted glass side lighted entrance door; attached garage and rear guest cottage.
Typical of the Art Moderne streamlined style popular beginning in the 1930s, the Denzer House, constructed in 1940, is significant to the architectural history of La Crosse as the best residential example of Art Moderne architecture remaining in the city.
Romeo Denzer owned the La Crosse Novelty Box Manufacturing Corporation.
2015- "This architecturally significant residence was owner-designed by Romeo Denzer, and is one of the best examples of Art Moderne residential architecture in La Crosse. The smooth stucco mono-chromatic surface covers a two-story asymmetrical geometric mass softened by rounded corners on the south-west facade. The austere exterior, flat roof and flush window trim and cornice show the influence of the International Style.
The porthole windows, translucent glass block and rounded walls give a streamlined look that distinguishes the Art Moderne style from the similar International style. The rectangular entrance door is flanked by sectioned sidelight and covered by a chain-hung door hood. The attached garage with a flat roof and uniform stucco exterior complements the Art Moderne appearance of the residence. The original wood fram window on the second story of the entrance bay was replaced in the 1990s by a glass block window.
Romeo Denzer was a local businessman who founded the La Crosse Cooler Company in 1934. Denzer was active promoting workplace safety in his role on the La Crosse Industrial Safety Council. Romeo Denzer lived in this distinctive home on Edgewood Place untuil his death in 1978."
-"La Crosse, Wisconsin: Edgewood Place Residential Historic District Tour", Prepared by Eric J. Wheeler, (2015).
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
HI29650
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