Property Record
2576 N 1ST ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | BERTHA AND EDWARD SCHUSTER HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 30253 |
| Location (Address): | 2576 N 1ST ST |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1901 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | John Roth |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | North First Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 8/2/1984 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | Multiple Resources of N. 3rd St. - Brewers' Hill |
| Additional Information: | Ed Schuster, Solomon Fein, and Victor Berger were residents from 1901-1929. Ed Schuster was founder and President of Schuster's Department Store. Solomon Fein was President of Fein Bros. Wholesale Clothing Store. From 1913-1929 this was the home of Victor Berger, who was the first Socialist member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1911-1915, 1918-20, and 1923-29). Berger was a founder of the Social Democratic Party in 1897 and editor of Wisconsin Vorwaerts. He was born in Hungary in 1860 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1882. He died in 1929. Three story residential structure with brick siding. Multigable roof with dormers having gambrel roofs, and one with conical roof. Full front porch with classical columns, cornice with egg and dart molding. Flat roof with second story deck. Raised basement. Julius Papke was the carpenter and Jaeger & Filter were the masons. Locally designated 11/12/1985. The house is a large three story brick veneer and wood frame residence designed in the Queen Anne style. The third story is incorporated within a multigabled gambrel roof form and a projecting turret with a segmented conical roof. The gables are detailed in a distinctive stick style manner, with intersecting boards superimposed on the stucco surface. Small oval windows are at the peaks, with elaborate round arch pedimented window hoods above the third floor windows. A large porch extends across the west front elevation with columns having interesting half-circle capitals, and a detailed floral motif in the center of the frieze. (1982 photo 27/19). The house is somewhat rare in variation of Queen Anne detailing, and is therefore a significant structure in the area. The double gable end and tall gambrels are unique aspects of the design. The wide porch with heavy columns and interesting capitals is also significant. The Schuster House was designed by architect John Roth, and built in 1901 by masons Jaeger & Fleterman, and carpenter Julius Paplucarpi. The building cost $5000. Edward Schuster lived in the house until his death in September 1904; his widow Bertha remained there until 1907. Schuster was the founder of Edw. Schuster and Co. Department Store in 1884. He, along with partner Albert T. Friedmann, built the business into one of Milwaukee's two largest retail merchandisers. The main store and business offices were located only a few blocks away at the corner of North Third Street and West Garfield Avenue. Edward Schuster was born in Driburg, Germany in 1831. He came to the United States in 1854, engaging in various businesses in New York State. Wanderlust led him to South Africa and then to Australia, where he married and went into business. However, in 1871 he and his family returned to Germany and set up a business in Hamburg-Altona. He remained there 12 years, but in 1883 returned to the United States, settling in Milwaukee. The house was owned from 1921-28 by Victor L. Berger, vice-president of the Milwaukee Social Democratic Publishing Company. |
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| Bibliographic References: | BUILDING PERMIT. MILWAUKEE ETHNIC HOUSES TOUR, CITY OF MILWAUKEE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT, 1994. Tax Program. Permit. History file. Schwikow - History of Jews, p. 150. 1904-1911 Milwaukee Blue Book. Wright's Directory of Milwaukee, 1900. Milwaukee Sentinel, Dec. 31, 1933. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |