| 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.
Additional Information, 2024:
Architecture
Designed by Milwaukee architects Brust and Philipp in1910, this building is a companion to another Schuster’s Department Store at 1020 W. Historic Mitchell Street, built around 1912-14 and also designed by Brust and Philipp. The building is a large corner block of multiple stories designed in the Commercial Style with Neo-Classical Revival details. The two main streefront elevations are faced with tan and brown bricks with large symmetrical banks of windows on the upper stories and mid-20th century aluminum and glass storefronts on the first story. The plain stone cornice is still extant but it has lost its classically decorated parapet. The window banks in the upper stories were once filled with two-light openings topped with two-light transoms. These openings were enclosed in the late 20th century and are now filled with modern metal and glass four-light windows that mimic the configuration of the original windows. The upper stories also feature very shallow pilasters topped with narrow cornice capitals. The first story has a set of mid-20th century aluminum and glass storefronts. Most of the transoms of the storefronts are enclosed, a few with decorative tiling. The modern storefronts still retain original stone surrounds that feature cornices and pilasters. The main entrances to the building have also retained their entablature style surrounds and feature shallow pilasters, shields, and medallions with lion motifs. One of the side walls is a party wall, while the rear wall of the building is faced with tan bricks with only a few irregular openings.
The interior of the building was remodeled as department store space several times between 1910 and 1961. In 1963, when the building was sold to Milwaukee County for a welfare office, interiors were remodeled into office space. The office space was also remodeled between 1963 and when the county vacated the building recently. The current interiors are as follows.
The first floor features a lobby and corridors, both with tile floors, acoustical tile ceilings from the late 20th century, and a combination of dry-wall surfaces and brick walls. The main office areas on this floor are open with numerous cubicles and the floors are carpeted. The mid-20th century escalators are still extant in at least one location. The second floor has primarily open office spaces with cubicles. Finishes include carpeting, acoustical tile ceilings, and dry wall surfaces. This office space pattern continues on the third floor, but there are also some private offices that have late 20th century wooden doors and sidelights. There is also an open space that was used as a lounge area on this floor. The “penthouse” or attic space is used for storage and utilities, as is some of the basement. Some areas of the basement are finished and have acoustical tile ceilings and either carpeting or terrazzo flooring.
History
Edward Schuster became part owner of a dry goods store in Milwaukee in 1883. He opened his own store (2007 N. Martin Luther King Drive) in 1888 and took on Alfred Friedman as a partner. In 1894, Schuster opened his second store at 12th and Walnut Streets (not extant). In 1901 the business was incorporated as Schuster’s Department Store. Unlike other Department Stores in Milwaukee, Schuster’s did not have a large downtown store, preferring to open stores in neighborhood commercial areas. In 1904, Schuster died and Friedman took over the business. Continuing the business model of opening several stores throughout the city, in 1907-08, Friedman opened a new, large, Schuster’s at Martin Luther King Drive and Garfield Street (2153 N. Martin Luther King Drive, heavily remodeled, located in the North Third Street Historic District). Between 1910 and 1914, two more large Schuster’s department stores were built, both designed by local architects Brust and Philipp. One was this building (1220 W. Vliet St.) and the other was located at 1020 W. Historic Mitchell Street (contributing in the West Mitchell Street Commercial Historic District). Schuster’s Department Stores were a fixture in Milwaukee and remained popular with the public into the late 20th century. In 1961, however, this building’s department store was closed just before Schuster’s was acquired by rival Gimbels Department Store in 1962. In 1963, this building (1220 W. Vliet St.) was sold to Milwaukee County for use as a welfare office. The building, later known as the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Building, remained an office for public social services until recently, when ground was broken on a new Coggs-named building nearby. This building was sold to a private developer who plans to convert it to house low-income apartments.
(Carol Cartwright)
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Good example of early 20th century commercial block in nearly original condition.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Schuster's Dry Goods Store began on 3rd Street in 1884 and became one of Milwaukee's leading department stores.
F.W. Schuster & Co. hired in 1910 the architectural firm of Brust & Philipp to design this department store, as well as in 1923 for a major addition. Schuster’s originally opened in 1884 at N. 3rd and Garfield streets and in 1894 opened a second store at N. 12th and Walnut streets. The subject building replaced the Walnut Street location and coincided with the opening of a third store on W. Mitchell Street. Schuster’s operated in neighborhood shopping districts and did not have a downtown location. As a result of Schuster’s, this portion of Vliet Street emerged as one of Milwaukee’s chief neighborhood shopping hubs. The Vliet Street Schuster’s closed in 1961 and remaining stores were taken over by Gimbel’s the next year. The Milwaukee County Department of Welfare obtained the building in 1963 and enclosed all first-floor storefront windows and downsized those on the upper floors. Currently known as the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center, it has been divided into modern office space and recently had many of its 1963 window alterations reopened to their original size, albeit with modern plate-glass examples.
*2022 - Resurvey by HRL for WisDOT project. Little or no change since 2015.
2024: Locally designated. |
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