Property Record
726 N EAST AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Samuel D. James House |
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| Other Name: | THE WOMEN'S CENTER |
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| Reference Number: | 46764 |
| Location (Address): | 726 N EAST AVE |
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| County: | Waukesha |
| City: | Waukesha |
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| Year Built: | 1871 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1980 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | James, Samuel D., House |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 10/24/1996 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | Multiple Resources of Waukesha |
| 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. The James house stands two stories above a cut stone foundation, and is of frame construction. A pedimented pavilion anchors the symmetrical facade and is preceded by porch composed of heavy bulbous posts. Incised detailing enlivens the porch posts as well as brackets, shaped window heads, and the bargeboards on the front pavilion. Windows are regularly disposed on the facade, appearing in pairs on either side of the central pavilion, which contains one window on the second story. Projecting to the south is a two story bay window, decorated with simple brackets. The James house is covered by a combination hip and gable roof, with the gable projecting to the south. This may be evidence of a major remodeling which apparently occurred between 1880 and 1887. According to birds-eye views available for those years, the building originally was covered by a gable roof and by 1887 had the present configuration. The James house is well preserved, nicely detailed example of Italianate design and is considered significant as an example of a period of construction. Few Italianate residential buildings remain in unaltered condition in the city. The James building is an important remnant of that era and one of the few frame Italianate structures retaining this degree of ornament. (See A.S. Putney house, a simple Italianate cottage design, 406 Wisconsin Ave. WK 4/29). Samuel D. James was an early dry goods merchant in the firm of Jameson and James and later a founder, with Jameson, of the National Exchange Bank. A 1979 Waukesha Landmarks Commission form states the house was actually built by Addison Cornwell Nickell but rented by the James family from its construction to 1912. The house is presently used for offices. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Plaque. (B) Zimmerman, R., Heritage Guidebook 1976, #796. (C) Loerke, Jean Penn, "Early Waukesha," 1973. (D) Waukesha Landmarks Commission Nomination Form. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |