Property Record
450 S ARCH AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | New Richmond High School |
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| Other Name: | New Richmond Middle School |
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| Reference Number: | 47153 |
| Location (Address): | 450 S ARCH AVE |
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| County: | St. Croix |
| City: | New Richmond |
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| Year Built: | 1926 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1983 |
| Historic Use: | school – elem/middle/jr high/high |
| Architectural Style: | Late Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | Unknown |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 0 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | 3. Brick is the exterior fabric on this three story school. The brick has been pressed (or tooled) with vertical lines. It has a flat roof and rectangular plan. A one story section is at the south or rear of the building. Front windows are paired and have four horizontal panes each. Both east and west sides of the building have three sections with four windows together (no brick between panes). There is a stone belt line aobve the first story windows. The first story is one stone width wider than the second and third. The front or south facade has brickwork on the uppern two stories that forms a rectangle. The four corners and a central piece are light colored stone, against redish and brown brick. This pattern is on both the east and west parts of the front. The school is detailed symmetrically. Two entries are inside of this area. They are on narrow ells with arched tops that rise slightly above the roof line. Both on this section and the rest of the building there is a stone cornice. A few narrow battlements are scattered on the roofline. Below this is a horizontal line of darker bricks that surrounds the school. On the front entries there are two horizontal stone lines with a stone plaque (having a floral design) between them. This is just above the darker brick. A large window (similar to the others) is under this. "New Richmond High School 1926" is written in Celtic lettering below this. At the ground level is the double door entry (new) with a stone arched head frame and quoins. Three story pilasters flank the door. Metal railing and brick supports leading to the door are not original. Between these two entries are five paired windows. The one story section in the rear has the stone beltline contiiued from the three story section. Two four part windows are here. A tall chimney with a stone cap and plaque is at the NE part of the building. The building hsa been altered. Windows are not original and neither are the doors or railings. These changes have detracted from the integrity of the design to the extent that there is no architectural significance. 4. The previous high school building burned in April 1926. Henry Traiser, a contractor and former mayor, estimated the loss at $111,000.00 (on a replacement basis). Parkinson and Dockendorf were La Crosse architects who drew up and executed the plans for the new school. It would cost $150,000.00 (including equipment) to replace. Plans called for a three story building to be put up on the old site, using the old foundation. It had 19 rooms, a gym, auditorium, superintendent's office and library. It would be the same basic size and structure as the earlier building. It was built without a basement. The first story is 18-24 inches below ground. By January of 1927 the roof was complete, the brick almost done and the smokestack up. Four workers from Minneapolis were coming to put on terrazo flooring in the three main corridors, toilets, and stairs. By March the building was complete. The completed building would be just SW of the 1916 building (see SC26-3, 417 South Green Avenue). A farm mechanics building was constructed in 1951 NE of this building. A new high school was built in 1959 and these buildings are used as the middle school. The school is not associated with any event or person that would give it historical significance. |
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| Bibliographic References: | http://www.newrichmond-news.com/news/education/4170335-school-board-awards-demolition-contract-disappointed-master-plan |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |