Property Record
16-32 N BROWN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Oneida Hotel |
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| Other Name: | Red River Trading Post |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 81344 |
| Location (Address): | 16-32 N BROWN ST |
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| County: | Oneida |
| City: | Rhinelander |
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| Year Built: | 1916 |
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| Additions: | 1926 |
| Survey Date: | 1995 |
| Historic Use: | lodging-hotel |
| Architectural Style: | Prairie School |
| Structural System: | Brick |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | 16-32 North Brown Street Oneida Hotel The Oneida Hotel was constructed in two sections. The four-story north section was built in 1916 for the Rhinelander Hotel Company. H. T. Liebert, of Wausau, was the architect ("Stock Company Will Build New Hotel Here," New North, February 24, 1916, p. 1). The matching three-story south section was erected in 1926 (New North, May 27, 1926, "Build Addition to Oneida Hotel."). The Oneida Hotel is a Prairie School commercial building, with three- and four-over-one double-hung sash windows, brick pilasters and decorative brickwork suggesting column elaboration, parapet with stepped cap, raised brick panels at parapet level, stone beltcourses and copings, stone window surrounds at the second story, and stone panels with simple geometric ornament. The Oneida Hotel was financed by the Rhinelander Hotel Company, a local stock venture organized for the purpose. Insurance executive A. E. Weesner was president, and E. O. Barstow was secretary, of the stock company. There were a total of 100 rooms in the 1916/1926 building. It remained the Oneida Hotel until it was purchased by Charles E. Fenlon in 1951 (Kris Gilbertson, "Oneida Hotel Sold to Fenlon in 1951," Rhinelander Daily News, March 19, 1991). From 1951 until 1982, it was called the Hotel Fenlon. The hotel rooms were converted into 31 apartments beginning in 1982 (Kris Gilbertson, "Fenlon Hotel Was Northwoods Convention Site," Rhinelander Daily News, May 18, 1982). There was a restaurant/lounge and lobby on part of the first floor of the north section (26-32 North Brown Street) until at least 1982. The north storefront housed a bank in 1920 (perhaps the Oneida National Bank), and the Glass Shelf Gift Shop from at least 1953 until at least 1978. There was a J. C. Penney store in the south storefront in the south section (16 North Brown Street) from 1927 until 1958. F. W. Woolworth was located in the north storefront from 1927 until at least 1936 (Rhinelander City Directories). The Oneida Hotel is a good local example of a Prairie School commercial building, with good integrity. |
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| Bibliographic References: |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |