click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Location
| Location (Address) | 133 S BLAIR ST |
|---|---|
| County | Dane |
| City/Village | Madison |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1910 |
|---|---|
| Additions | 1911 |
| Survey Date | 1982 |
| Historic Use | depot |
| Architectural Style | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect | Frost and Granger |
| 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 State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. Map code is 0709-133-0502-9. "The first east side depot was built by the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at the foot of Franklin Street in 1869. It was later replaced by a larger facility in the late 1880's which stood until 1952. The old Chicago & North Western Railroad depot stood east of Blair Street on Wilson, erected in the 1870s. It was enlarged in 1885 incorporating the Monona Hotel and replaced by the depot of a Neo-Classical style of architecture in 1910, which became known throughout the Midwest as the "handsomemost station in the the North Western system." The North Western closed its station and sold the building to the Madison Gas & Electric Company in 1965." Williamson Street, Madison Wisconsin: An Historical Survey and Walking Tour Guide, by Gary Tipler & the City of Madison Landmarks Commission & Professor William H. Tischler, 1979. "The MG&E offices include two former Chicago and North-Western buildings, a freight station opened in 1906 and a passenger station completed in 1910. Both railroad buildings were designed by Frost and Granger. The busy passenger station, which once boasted of a fine dining room, was built of Bedford stone in "an attractive white color" similar to the C&NW's Chicago station, designed by the same architectural firm. Division offices were located here from 1933 to the late 1950s. The passenger station was sold to MG&E in 1965, a few months before C&NW passenger service ended, as the railroad consolidated its freight offices at Monona Park on E. Johnson Street. MG&E remodeled the passenger station into an operations center. Later, the freight depot was purchased, turned into an energy exhibit hall, and both buildings blended into MG&E's new office complex, dedicated in 1983." Madison's Pioneer Buildings: A Downtown Walking Tour, 1987. |
| Bibliographic References | Wisconsin State Journal 12/29/1910. The Northwestern, 2/1911. Eau Claire Country Today "The Country Yesterday." 5/14/1997. City Directories. Madison's Pioneer Buildings: A Downtown Walking Tour, 1987. Williamson Street, Madison Wisconsin: An Historical Survey and Walking Tour Guide, by Gary Tipler & the City of Madison Landmarks Commission & Professor William H. Tischler, 1979. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | East Wilson Street Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Apr 03, 1986 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing | Yes |
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.




