Property Record
319 MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Batavian Bank |
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| Other Name: | Batavian Building |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 34995 |
| Location (Address): | 319 MAIN ST |
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| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | La Crosse |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1888 |
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| Additions: | 1959 1928 |
| Survey Date: | 1996 |
| Historic Use: | bank/financial institution |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Solon Spencer Beman |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | La Crosse Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 9/2/1994 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 10/8/1993 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| 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. Bracketed projecting cornice across the facade and continuing around the west side; stone facade divided between massive end piers by arcade of three massive two-story arches with arcade of smaller arches with decorative column supports in the upper story beneath the cornice; carved Sullivanesque ornament on the end pier capitals and on the panels between the second and third floor windows; street level facade has been completely altered for contemporary commercial use. Although the integrity of the store front of the structure has been altered, the bank building is architecturally significant as a worthy example of Richardson Romanesque Revival architecture and as an example of the work of the nationally known architect from Chicago, Solon S. Beman. The most drastic alteration of the Batavian Bank occurred in 1927 when a $175,000 remodeling project eliminated the second floor. Added four massive steel girders, changed the entrance from the east side of the facade to the center, and commissioned Edward Brewer of St. Paul to paint four murals depicting local history on the interior walls. The second floor was replaced in 1959. Gysbert Van Steenwyk was a Dutch native who settled in La Crosse after immigrating to Milwaukee. Van Steenwyk was an important Democrat, with Milwaukee capitalist and European banking connections. He became mayor and was a member of the La Crosse Board of Trade. The Batavian Bank financed La Crosse's transportation from a lumber town to a center of diversified manufacturing. Van Steenwyk contributed greatly to the development of La Crosse. He brought capitol and connections. The Batavian Bank (1861) helped finance La Crosse into the Industrial Age. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) La Crosse (WI) Chronicle; 1 January, 1888. (B) La Crosse (WI) Tribune; 23 May, 1928. (C) Ibid., 26 June, 1959. (D) City of La Crosse Tax Records, 1857-1918. (E) Pratt and Owen, La Crosse Illustrated (La Crosse, 1887; Reprint: 1978) p. 47. LACROSSE TRIBUNE 7/27/1996. LaCrosse Tribune 5/10/2004. La Crosse Weekly Chronicle, 10 Feb 1887. La Crosse Morning Chronicle, 21 Jan 1881. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |