Property Record
1912 SOUTH AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Lutheran Hospital Nurses Home |
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| Other Name: | Lutheran Hospital Office Building |
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| Reference Number: | 33473 |
| Location (Address): | 1912 SOUTH AVE |
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| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | La Crosse |
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| Year Built: | 1923 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1996 |
| Historic Use: | live-in care facility/sanitarium |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Otto Merman |
| 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 State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. Three-story structure with hipped roof with dentil block ornament and classical detailed entrance. Dentil block under projecting eaves; flat arched window with brick lintels. Windows of lower facade are ornamented with floral designs and wreaths on the paired round arched and rectangular plaques above the rectangular windows. Tuscan columns support the freize with the inscription "Nurses Home"; cornice and wrought iron balustrade. Wrought iron grills are located below lower story windows in the facade. String course and water table provide a horizontal emphasis to design. Showing exceptional architectural integrity, the Lutheran Hospital Nurse's Home is significant as an example of institutional architecture influenced by the Neo-classicism in La Crosse. Important in the education history of the city. The Gundersen Clinic became the most important medical facility in La Crosse. The training of nurses was one of the indicators of professional development associated with the health care profession. dormitory |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Margaret Merman Holley, daughter of the architect, Interview, May 1977. (B) Building Inscription. (C) La Crosse City Directories, 1922, 1924. (D) Bentley-Merman Collection, A.R.C. Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. (E) Stanley Sims, La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, A History, 1899-1978, Lutheran Hospital Foundation, 1981. (F) Sanborn-Perris Map Co., Sanborn Perris Map, City of La Crosse, 1906, Revised 1934-1946. (G) La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press, 4 May 1924. (H) La Crosse Tribune, 13 May 1923. “Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct South Ave. (USH 14/61): 8th St. To West Ave., City Of La Crosse.” WHS project number 96-5002/LC. February 1996. Prepared by Joan Rausch. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |