Property Record
1126 S 70TH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Allis Chalmers Mfg. Co. Office Building |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | Various businesses |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 9203 |
| Location (Address): | 1126 S 70TH ST |
|---|---|
| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | West Allis |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1902 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | 1906 1924 1936 1942 1956 1965 |
| Survey Date: | 2007201519802020 |
| Historic Use: | large office building |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Edwin Reynolds (1902, 1906); Carl Meyer (1936, 1956) |
| Other Buildings On Site: | Y |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 2020 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| 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. 2015- "70th street (Contributing, 1902,1906,1924,1936,1942,1956, 1965): Situated on the east side of S. 70th Street, this building (AHI 9203) is over one-block long and consists of seven distinct periods of construction (See Appendix B, Image 4). Varying between one and six stories in height, this astylistic utilitarian building is faced with brick and generally devoid of significant detail. Brick pilasters divide the east and west fagades into a series of recessed bays. Fenestration is regularly placed within these bays and typically consists of modern fixed sash windows outfitted within original stone sills and header brick. Affixed to the roof are tall posts that carry electrical/telephone lines and large utility structures. Moving from south to north, sections of the building, which are identified under a single address, were referred to within Allis-Chalmers' West Allis Works nomenclature as Buildings #21, #101 and #112. Facing the junction of S. 70th and W. Madison streets, the first section of Building #21 was constructed in 1902. Approximately 210 feet long and rising five stories, the main (west) facade is divided into twelve recessed bays delineated by brick pilasters and pierced on all levels by a pair of window openings. The openings on the first two levels are rectangular while those on the other three are segmentally arched. Brick infills the openings within the fourth bay (from the south end) while the third bay features a modernized entrance. A vehicle pass-through marks the eleventh and twelfth bays. Three rows of corbelled brick define the top of each recess and the plain parapet is clad with tile coping. The south facade is covered with modern metal siding. Meanwhile, the top three stories of the east fagade (rear) are identical to the west side, while the first two stories display fewer windows and jagged brick that marks the location of a now-demolished two-story block. Substantial air conditioning and other utility elements are also apparent and extend from the face of building and above. This portion of the building was originally constructed as a forging pattern production and storage building and its conversion into office space began in the 1930s. The second portion of Building #21 is essentially the same as the 1902 block. Moving from south to north, the first fourteen bays of the building rise five stories, while a sixth story tops the next 13 bays. The sixth story consists of both an original block and several small additions. When looking at the west elevation, most of the window openings on the first floor are downsized while those openings within two of the bays are infilled with brick. The building's north half on the third floor features large, tripartite, fixed-sash windows, while those on the entire fifth floor display fixed transoms. A single-story, flat-roof, main entrance addition (1956) built with brick and trimmed with stone centered on the north half of this block is dominated by large, plateglass windows. The rear (east) elevation retains its two-story, flat-roof block; however, it is clad with modern metal and regularly placed modern windows. Large air conditioning and utility structures, as well as a metal fire escape are also present. The block was constructed by Allis-Chalmers in 1906 as its main office building. A plain, four-story, two-bay addition (1942) joins Building #21 with Building #101. A round-arch entrance opening formed by raised brick is the only notable stylistic element. The remainder of the addition is outfitted with paired and tripartite fixed-sash windows. The rear (east) elevation features a small overhead garage door and regularly placed replacement windows. Building #101 (1924) is six stories tall and includes a raised basement. The west facade features plain brick for the raised basement and first two stories while floors three through six are divided into eight recessed bays by brick pilasters. Fenestration is regularly placed throughout and consists of short, rectangular fixed sashes. The windows of the visible portion of the south fagade are infilled with brick. Meanwhile, the layout of the east elevation is largely similar to that of the west; however, the first and sixth-floor window openings are larger. The visible portion of the north fagade is an expanse of brick pierced by only a few utilitarian windows. The building was originally built as a pattern storage building and was converted into offices by Allis-Chalmers in the 1940s. The northern end of the main office building is Building #112, whose first section was built in 1936. The west fagade consists of a one-bay, four-story connecting block with Building #112; a five-bay, three-story main block and a six-bay, one-story wing that extends to the north. Each bay is recessed with a corbelled brick top and is outfitted on each floor with a metal-framed, plate-glass window. A modern, plate-glass entrance is situated at the main block's south end. Meanwhile, the roof of the onestory wing includes three sawtooth windows enclosed with metal. The rear (east) facade represents a 1956 addition. The main block consists of five bays with replacement, plate-glass windows. A modern, metal-sided garage addition (date unknown) is attached at the northeast corner. Building #112 was constructed as Allis-Chalmers' tractor engineering building. The exterior [historic material] of this astylistic utilitarian building is good. The most significant alteration is the removal in 1986 of 550 feet of the south end of Building #21 and covering the newly exposed south facade with metal. The removed portion consisted of a 1915 addition (in its entirety) and about half of the original 1902 block. This section of the building was used initially as pattern storage, and later, research of industrial processes; its primary use was not that of general office space. The 1986 demolition also included the eastern two-story block of the existing section of the 1902 building. This portion also appears to have had industrial (and not office) uses. While all windows have been replaced since the Allis-Chalmers period with fixed sashes, the size and layout of the openings remain the same as evidenced by original sills and header brick. lnfill of select windows mostly appears to date to renovations sponsored by Allis-Chalmers. With regard to the eastern fagade, the remaining two-story block attached to Building #21 is covered with modern metal; however, the large, white air-conditioning systems that extend down from the roof date to the Allis-Chalmers period. The following interior description is based upon a review of recent interior images related to a National Register Questionnaire that was provided to HRL by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Only a cursory site visit of the main lobby was able to be conducted. Each floor of Building #21 contains a varying degree of open and enclosed office spaces divided into individual offices, meeting rooms or office suites. Long, narrow hallways on most floors historically extended the length of building and continue to do so today. Historically, offices areas appeared to have been minimal in style and appearance. While occasional historic-era elements such as exposed brick, open ceilings and utility stairways remain evident, the vast majority of the interior appears to be finished with modern materials that date to after the Allis-Chalmers period. However, WHS Staff confirmed in a separate site visit of Building #21, a pair of intact 1950s-era executive conference rooms and three executive office suites handsomely appointed with wooden paneling and other period details. The building's most stylistic portion that dates to the Allis-Chalmers period is the main lobby. Early Contemporary in style, broad steps adorned with stainless steel handrails at the first-floor lobby lead to a second-floor lobby. The upper lobby features a wooden, geometrically patterned balustrade, rounded corners at the elevators and doorways, as well as horizontal wooden molding. Meanwhile, Building #101 includes several sections of exposed wooden ceiling beams, exposed wall brick and utilitarian stairway details that date to the Allis-Chalmers period. Converted into office space by Allis-Chalmers in the 1940s, these offices generally today are finished with modern materials . Building #112 consists of office space that has been recently remodeled." -"Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co. Office Complex," WisDOT ID #1060-27-00, Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (Brian J. Faltinson), subcontracting to CH2M (Charlie Webb), (2015). Edward P. Allis was a lawyer by training, but upon his arrival in Milwaukee in 1846, the excitement of the business world offered more challenge. He went into business, first running a tannery, then a brokerage firm, and finally a mill-Reliance Works. In four years he increased that company's sales from &31,000 to $100,000, branching out to manufacture steam engines and water pumps. He hired Edwin Reynolds from the Corliss Engine Co. and thus began the period of Allis' greatest growth. Reynolds was one of America's greatest mechanical engineers, having to his credit the Reynolds-Corliss engine, direct-action valve engines, 70 million gallon centrifugal pump, and other heavy machinery improvements that were called "impossible". Upon Allis' death in 1889, leadership of the company passed to Mrs. Allis, the three eldest Allis sons, and Reynolds. Reynolds then engineered perhaps his two greatest accomplishments. He affected a merger with three diversified manufacturing firms: Fraser-Chalmers and Gates Iron Works of Chicago, and Dickson Manufacturing of Sevanton, Pennsylvania. From this merger came the Allis-Chalmers Co. with experience in mining and cement machinery, engines, compressors, milling and coal mining equipment, tanks, turbines and locomotives. He also accomplished the building of the West Allis "Super" Plant. A site was selected between the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul and the Chicago and North Western rail lines, so that connections could be made with both. Reynolds' plans for the new facility were unique and ahead of his time. He envisioned a facility that would employ 10,000 men and would rationally grow. He planned all work in the factory to move eastward. Beginning in the general offices, a project would move to the drafting room, the pattern shop, the foundry or milling shop, the assembly and finishing area, to arrive, finally at the eastern limit of the plant which was the loading dock and freight lines where the finished product would be loaded and shipped anywhere in the world. Northern end of the building, consisting of the one-to-three-story-wing (Tractor Engineering Office & Laboratory), is an addition that was constructed in 1936 and designed by company architect Carl E. Meyer. Main office building for Allis-Chalmers from 1906-1987. Main building of the four-building Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co. Office Complex. See AHI 145103, 232217 and 232218 for other buildings. Previously surveyed in 1980. Resurveyed in 2007 and the building has been remodeled for use as an office center. Various businesses currently operate out of this structure. Three update inventory cards were submitted in 2007. 2015 NRQ. **2020 - Resurveyed for I-94 Project 1060-27-04 by HRL: Complete building recently demolished. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | Clark, James I. Edward P. Allis, Madison, 1958. Peterson, Walter F. An Industrial Heritage, Milwaukee, 1976, pp. 12-26, 49-73. Allis Chalmers, Technical Training Department, History of Allis Chalmers (n.p., n.d.) pp. 1-19. Burbach, Julius, West Allis "A City of Marvelous Growth" (n.d., n.p.) pp. 51-59. West Allis Press 8/19/1952. Building Permits. Allis Chalmers Annual Reports. https://www.facebook.com/djones |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |