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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 108 S 6TH ST |
|---|---|
| County | Pierce |
| City/Village | River Falls |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1915 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1990,2014 |
| Historic Use | house |
| Architectural Style | Bungalow |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Clapboard |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments | 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, State Historic Preservation Office. The majority of this one-and-one-half-story, Craftsman-style bungalow is sheathed with a combination of narrow clapboard and wooden shingles, while a stucco and false half-timber finish is found within all gabled peaks. A one-story, gabled and enclosed porch wing with short battered wooden supports set upon coursed stone piers extends from the home’s core toward S. 6th Street, while another one-story gabled wing extends to the south. The gabled upper half-story of the home, which contains a significant number of windows, is the feature that classifies the house as an airplane bungalow. Windows throughout the house are largely one-over-one-light, double-hung sash that are arranged singly; however, some are grouped such that they present themselves as a tripartite grouping, along with a square or rectangular single-pane window that separates them—three of such examples are evident on the house. No less than two picture windows include an upper leaded-glass pane. This house was built in 1915 for Jay Henry & Bernice Grimm. Jay Grimm was born on 14 November 1878 in River Falls, the son of blacksmith John Grimm and his wife Mary. Following high school graduation, he worked with attorney Nils P. Haugen of River Falls and then with MacAusland & Smith in Superior, Wisconsin. He was admitted to the bar in December 1900 and returned to River Falls where he practiced with Haugen until Haugen’s retirement. Since that time, Grimm established his own practice, within which he also did a mutual fire insurance business. He served as the secretary of the River Falls City Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Northwestern Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Wisconsin. In 1920, Grimm, along with Christian Wiger and Professor Roy Spriggs, were owners and developers of the Residence Park addition (formerly Clarks Grove), just north of UW-River Falls (then the Normal School). In 1929, Grimm was appointed to the State Board of Normal School Regents, upon which he served for thirteen years. He would end his career as the Pierce County judge, a position he held from 1941 until his death. In circa 1907, he married Bernice Whitcomb, the daughter of Colton and Belle Whitcomb. They had two children: Gordon (b. 1908; d. 1989) and Gretchen (b. 1912; d. 1985). As of the 1940 census, also in residence with the Grimms was Bernice’s widowed father Colton. Jay died on 1 April 1955, while Bernice passed away on 28 May 1957. In 1966, UW-River Falls named their new residence hall “Grimm Hall” in honor of Judge Grimm. |
| Bibliographic References | Historic name and date from tax rolls: 1914, owner N. Wales estate ($400/land + 600/buildings); 1915 (no book available); 1916, owner JH Grimm ($500 + $2,600). River Falls Journal, 3 June 1915: A number of new houses are identified, including one for JH Grimm. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Jay and Bernice Grimm House |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Jan 29, 2025 |
| State Register Listing Date | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Contributing | Yes |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
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108 S Sixth St
100011401
Located in River Falls, Pierce County
Jay and Bernice Grimm House Listed in the State Register of Historic Places
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Jay and Bernice Grimm House in River Falls (Pierce County) on the State Register of Historic Places.
Grimm House Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Friday, February 07, 2025
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Grimm House in the National Register of Historic Places. The building was originally constructed in 1915 in River Falls, Pierce County.
