Property Record
800 ALGOMA BLVD
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | DEMPSEY HALL |
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| Other Name: | UW-Oshkosh, Dempsey Hall, OSH 0002A, 0002B |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 66140 |
| Location (Address): | 800 ALGOMA BLVD |
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| County: | Winnebago |
| City: | Oshkosh |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
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| Year Built: | 1916 |
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| Additions: | 1969 |
| Survey Date: | 19802011 |
| Historic Use: | university or college building |
| Architectural Style: | Late Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Oshkosh State Normal School Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 12/6/1984 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| 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. ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENT: THIS COLLEGIATE GOTHIC BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED OF RED BRICK WITH STONE ACCENTS. THE ENTRANCE PAVILION EXTENDS ABOVE THE MAIN THREE STORY BLOCK AND TERMINATES IN A STONE BALUSTRADE ACCENTED BY QUATREFOIL PATTERNS. THE NARROW WINDOWS ON THIS PORTION RISE ABOVE SPANDRED PANELS AND FORM ROUND ARCHES BENEATH THE BALUSTRADE. OF THE THREE COLLEGIATE GOTHIC STURCTURES REMAINING ON CAMPUS, THIS RETAINS THE BEST ORNAMENT WHICH IS WELL INTEGRATED TO THE DESIGN. THIS BUILDING WAS ERECTED TO REPLACE THE MAIN NORMAL SCHOOL BUILDING IN 1916 AFTER THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. IT HOUSED CLASSROOMS AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. (B,C) DEMPSEY HALL, NAMED FOR FORMER REGENT EDWARD J. DEMPSEY, IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER. FACING ALGOMA, THE STRUCTURE WAS ERECTED IN 1917. A MAJOR ADDITION TO DEMPSEY HALL WAS OPENED IN JANUARY, 1969. (D) IN THE EARLY SUMMER OF 1917 THE SCIENCE AND ADMINISTRATION WAS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $112,000 PROVIDING OFFICES, LABORATORIES, AND A GROUP OF CLASSROOMS. AN APPROPRIATION HAD BEEN MADE IN 1915 FOR A LIBRARY UNIT WHICH WAS FINISHED IN THE SUMMER OF 1918 AT A COST OF $157,000. THIS UNIT CONTAINED A LIBRARY WITH A LARGE READING ROOM, 16 ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS AND AMPLE LOCKER ROOMS. THE MAIN BUILDING WAS DIVIDED INTO THESE TWO UNITS: BIOLIGY AND CHEMISTRY FACILITIES ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF SCIENCE AND ADMINISTRATION UNIT; PHYSICS AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICES ON SECOND FLOOR; THIRD FLOOR CLASSROOMS AND GEOGRAPHY. THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE LIBRARY UNIT CONTAINS LOCKERS AND CLASSROOMS, SECOND FLOOR IS THE MAIN LIBRARY; THIRD FLOOR OFFICES AND CLASSROOMS. (E,F) |
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| Bibliographic References: | BIBLIGRAPHICAL SOURCES: A. INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR EDWARD NOYES UW-O DEPT. OF HISTORY, 8/14/1981. B. EDWARD NOYES "OSHKOSH- FROM NORMAL SCHOOL TO STATE UNIVERSITY (1871-1968)." C. WALKER WYMAN ED., HISTORY OF THE WISCONSIN STATE UNIVERSITIES (1866-1968). D. UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG, 1974-75 (OSHKOSH), P.223. E. "BULLETIN OF THE STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE, OSHKOSH," JULY 1934, PP,12-13 F. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: ANNUAL CATALOG, OSHKOSH STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, APRIL 1919, PP.8-9. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |