click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Location
| Location (Address) | 642 W NORTH AVE |
|---|---|
| County | Milwaukee |
| City/Village | Milwaukee |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1876 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 2000,2020,2024 |
| Historic Use | fire house |
| Architectural Style | Italianate |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Cream Brick |
| Architect | Thomas Philpot |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments | 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. Excellent example of a cream brick fire/police station of this date with integrity of form and appearance. Complete historical and architectural description in National Register nomination. Milwaukee's oldest extant fire station offers a glimpse into the life and work of a nineteenth-century fire crew. Firemen once spent time in cramped quarters on the top floor. Watchmen climbed a seven-story, wood-framed watch tower, its stubby remains are at the building’s southeast corner, to survey the neighborhood for suspicious smoke. If they spotted any, fire bells would clang, the firemen would sprint downstairs (the station originally lacked fire poles), and soon the horse-drawn fire engine would come screaming out of the broad, segmentally arched opening on the main facade (originally hung with paneled doors). "Chief Lippert" honors Henry Lippert, who established Milwaukee's modern fire department when he became chief in 1871. His namesake station housed a "chemical engine," a Victorian innovation that pumped fire-suppressing chemicals instead of water. When this station was built, the city's water system did not serve the area around this fast-growing German enclave of wooden cottages, bordering the Brewers' Hill neighborhood to the east. The station has undergone many modifications. A rear wing housing additional stables was erected in 1908. A few decades later, its 1883 fire tower was removed after telephones and fire boxes had rendered it obsolete. In the early 1950s, the fire house was converted to a library; at that time the engine-house doors were removed and the doorway filled in to create a window bay. In the 1980s, the building became home to the Inner City Arts Council, and a colorful mural was painted onto the west wall, paying tribute to Milwaukee's African-American artists, dancers, and musicians. *Resurveyed 2020 by HRL. I-43 compliance project. No significant changes. 2024: Appearance unchanged. |
| Bibliographic References | Date of construction, designer: NR nomination. Plaque. Buildings of Wisconsin manuscript. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Chief Lippert Fire Station |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Oct 28, 1988 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
102 East Pier Street
09000894
Located in Port Washington, Ozaukee County
Mastic Fire Department and Truck
A view of the Mastic, Long Island firemen. A fire engine is parked on the street, to the left of the station. Five firemen are posing in it, two in the front and three in the back. Another engine i...
Central Fire Station
1907
Text on front reads: "Central Fire Station, Sheboygan, Wis." Three horse-drawn vehicles are surrounded by uniformed firemen. There is a dog in the buggy to the right. The firehouse is flying an Ame...
411 N Doctor Martin Luther King Jr Dr (411 N 3rd St)
108705
Located in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
