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Summary
West Bay Club
Sand Island
Town of Bayfield, Bayfield County, Wisconsin
Date of Construction: 1913
Architects: Charles Buechner, Henry Orth
Built as a recreational property in the rustic architectural style, the West Bay Club is an example of the work of St. Paul, Minnesota master architects Charles Buechner and Henry Orth. Their prolific architectural firm designed over 100 private residences, commercial buildings, and public buildings in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Montana, including courthouses, theaters, a bank, and a children’s hospital.
The West Bay Club appears to be the firm’s only commission for a rustic-style “hunting lodge.” Buechner and Orth not only designed the Club, but were two of the original six partners in the venture, with Buechner’s brother Louis serving as construction supervisor and lodge caretaker. The Club became the summer getaway for the architects, their business partners, and their families.
The West Bay Club is also locally significant for its association with two important trends in outdoor recreation in Wisconsin: the movement of the middle class into the ownership of recreational property, and the emergence of shared ownership of recreational property by creating private clubs and ownership associations. The West Bay Club retains unusually high levels of integrity and is little changed from when it was built over 100 years ago. Rare for a waterfront property, its lakeshore setting is still secluded and its view-shed largely unchanged. Its location in a national park unit offers opportunities for long-term preservation and public understanding of this property.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event,Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Entertainment/Recreation,Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1913-1954 |
| Architectural Style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| Architect | Buechner, Charles W.,Orth, Henry |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Camp |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 3 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 3 |
| Contributing Structures | 2 |
| Contributing Objects | 3 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 1 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 1 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | May 16, 2014 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jul 28, 2015 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
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WEST BAY, SAND ISLAND, APOSTLE ISLANDS
1097
Located in Bayfield, Bayfield County
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100005371
Located in Town of Bayfield, Bayfield County
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04001487
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SE SHORE, SAND ISLAND, APOSTLE ISLANDS
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Located in Bayfield, Bayfield County
SE SHORE, SAND ISLAND, APOSTLE ISLANDS
229364
Located in Bayfield, Bayfield County
