Property Record
475 N. Water St.
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Platteville Army National Guard Armory |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 46598 |
| Location (Address): | 475 N. Water St. |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Platteville |
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| Year Built: | 1940 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2005 |
| Historic Use: | armory |
| Architectural Style: | Art Deco |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | HENRY C. HENGELS |
| 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, State Historic Preservation Office. 2025: The Platteville Army National Guard Armory was constructed between 1940 and 1942 following a design by Wisconsin state architect Henry C. Hengels. Representing the Art Deco style and designed to accommodate National Guard functions as well as community events, the building features a distinct headhouse and drill hall plan; a symmetrical façade with a prominent center bay that incorporates military insignia at various locations; the use of glass block windows in each elevation; and an overall vertical emphasis achieved through the use of multiple pilasters and a front bay that projects above the primary roofline. Although local architect Henry Kleinhammer submitted a design for the building, the City instead utilized a design by state military architect Henry Hengels (Hengel's plans are located along with Kleinhammer's dismissed plans within the Kleinhammer Collection at the Southwest Wisconsin Room, UW-Platteville). THIS TWO-STORY, BRICK, T-SHAPED STRUCTURE RESTS UPON AN ELEVATED BASEMENT. CONNECTING A FLAT ROOFED MAIN WING AND A ROUND ARCHED EAST WING IS A CENTRAL BAY (PAVILLION), WHICH PROJECTS ABOVE AND IN FRONT OF THE REMAINING STRUCTURE. THE ROUND ARCHED EAST WING HOUSES AN AUDITORIUM. BRICK PIERS DEFINE THE ENTRANCE, WHILE BRICK PIERS OR BUTTRESSES BREAK UP THE FACADE AND THE SIDE ELEVATIONS. DECORATIVE CHECKER BOARD TRIM, GLASS BLOCK AND A TRANSOM WINDOW OVER THE THREE-DOOR ENTRANCE ACCENT THE CENTRAL ENTRANCE BAY. THE DATE OF CONSTRUCTION IS INDICATED AS 1940, ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING PLAQUE. (SEE BIB. REF. A). Historical/Architectural Survey: "Selected Armories of the Wisconsin Army National Guard" Heritage Research Ltd. Constructed between 1940 and 1942 and designed by Lt. Col. Henry Hengels, the Platteville armory is a restrained example of the Art Deco style of architecture. Many windows have been replaced, although the original size of the openings have been retained, as have many of the structure's original glass block windows. The Platteville Armory includes a drill hall and auditorium and was funded with a combination of city and WPA monies. The structure exhibits a good degree of historical integrity. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. BUILDING PLAQUE. B. HENRY KLEINHAMMER COLLECTION, UW-PLATTEVILLE. C. "Historical/Architectural Survey: Selected Armories of the Wisconsin Army National Guard," Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (2005) D. "Platteville Army National Guard Armory" Determination of Eligibility Form prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (2006) |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |