Property Record
1407 ST ANDREW ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | La Crosse Rubber Mills Company |
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| Other Name: | La Crosse Footwear, Inc. |
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| Reference Number: | 33453 |
| Location (Address): | 1407 ST ANDREW ST |
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| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | La Crosse |
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| Year Built: | 1916 |
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| Additions: | 1927 1929 1923 1913 1919 1921 |
| Survey Date: | 19962016 |
| Historic Use: | industrial building |
| Architectural Style: | Chicago Commercial Style |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | V.P. Page |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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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, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. Two industrial buildings forming U-shaped complex with curtain walls of multi-paned casement windows. Modern construction of brick curtain walls with large multi-paned casement windows between the piers. East end was constructed in 1923; west in 1916. The Rubber Mills is the best example of an early modern, early 20th century industrial structure in the city of La Crosse. Begun in 1897, by 1904 it was among the largest companies of its kind. It manufactures wet weather clothing. In 1907, A. Hirschheimer was president, M. Funk was vice-president, Albert Funk was Secretary/treasurer, and George S. Andrews was general manager. The La Crosse Rubber Mills was established in 1877 with the help of the La Crosse Ward of Trade. It became very important and successful. It was (and is) one of the city's major employers. The La Crosse Rubber Mills began operations by making rain rubber footwear where it gained international status. It still plays an important role in the industrial economy of La Crosse. At least five buildings were added to the plant by 1929, replacing all the original buildings on the site that were constructed before 1913. 1996- "These two, four story buildings, which historically housed the La Crosse Rubber Mills Company, are vernacular structures with early modernist influences. While one of the buildings was constructed in 1916, the other was erected in 1923. Both consist of brick curtain walls and concrete, as concrete piers form a grid encasing original multi-paned windows. Although the buildings currently house the La Crosse Footwear Company, they were important to the city's industrial history and continue to function in their originally-designed, industrial capacity. In addition, the building's architectural integrity remains intact." - "La Crosse North/South Transportation Corridor", WisDOT ID #5991-04-00, Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (1996). Western Construction Co. (formerly Molzahn & Lyons - Masons) contractors 1916. 2016 UPDATE - ALL BUILDINGS STILL EXTANT, HOWEVER PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH AND WEST FACADES HAVE BEEN ALTERED WITH CONCRETE INFILL IN THE FORMER LARGE INDUSTRIAL WINDOWS. AN EXTERIOR ELEVATOR SHAFT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE WEST FACADE. SOME LOSS OF INTEGRITY, THOUGH STILL MAY BE EVALUATED FOR NRHP ELIGIBILITY UNDER CRITERION A FOR THE FACTORY'S SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY OF LA CROSSE IN THE LATE 19TH AND MOST OF THE 20TH CENTURY. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Building Inscription. (B) La Crosse of Today (1904), p. 17. (C) Donald Affolter, "Firm Finds Footwear in Step in Right Direction," LaCrosse Tribune, 19 July 1979, p. A7. (D) THE MANUFACTURING OF RUBBER FOOTWEAR, La Crosse: La Crosse Rubber Mills, c. 1925, pp. 27-29. (E) La Crosse Leader Press, 16 August 1913. (F) La Crosse Tribune, 2 June 1913, 28 November 1916, 10 April 1927, 1 January 1929, 28 April 1929. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |