Summary
Van Brunt Memorial School
611 Mill Street, Horicon, Dodge County
Architect: Parkinson & Dockendorff (1922 School); Ebling, Plunkett & Keymar (1955 addition)
Date of Construction: 1922 with additions in 1955, 1966, and 1993
The Van Brunt Memorial School at 611 Mill Street in Horicon was designed as a combination school in 1922 by the prominent La Crosse architectural firm of Parkinson & Dockendorff. As a rural combination school, it served as Horicon’s only public school and housed primary (kindergarten through middle school) and secondary (high school) grades in separate wings. The two-story and basement school was designed in the Collegiate Gothic style and features brick cladding with decorative limestone details. The school’s interior has original historic finishes such as marble wainscoting, terrazzo flooring in stairwells and corridors, and oak wood built-in cabinetry.
After Horicon’s original public school was destroyed in a fire in 1920, wealthy local citizens donated funds for the construction of a new school on the site in honor of the Van Brunt family, who were prominent local manufacturers of grain drills. The Van Brunt Memorial School opened in September of 1922 with 651 students spanning from kindergarten through the twelfth grade. The school played an important role in the community, serving as the town’s only public school building until Horicon High School was completed in 1964. After 1964, the Van Brunt Memorial School continued to serve as the town’s only elementary and middle school. The Van Brunt Memorial School received additions in 1955, 1966, and 1993. After 96 continuous years in service, the Van Brunt Memorial School was sold in 2018 when voters approved the constructed of a new school building.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Education |
| Period of Significance | 1922-1969 |
| Architectural Style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| Architect | Parkinson & Dockendorff,Ebling, Plunkett & Keymar,Stubenrauch & Associates |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | School |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Nov 22, 2019 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Feb 24, 2020 |
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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