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The Rosendale State Bank

 Recently an old postcard labeled “East Main St., Rosendale.” came to my attention.  Pictured in the foreground was a two-story brick building which looked very much like a bank.  I thought at once it to be the work of William Waters.  I researched the State Bank of Rosendale and was pleased to find the results I was looking for.  The bank was organized in 1902 and had a building erected, the first floor was the bank office, and the second floor could be used for additional office space or for living quarters.  Business was good, the company grew and flourished, so much so that by 1923 a new and larger building was built on the same site. 

I found no written attribution for Mr. Waters as architect of the 1902 bank building, but it does exhibit many of William Waters’ hallmarks; the fenestration of the front elevation can be seen in other banks designed by Waters.  The window-pane brick work and bartizan like corners at the top of the structure are also elements favored by the architect.  

De Pere City Hall and Engine House

Back in April of 2016 I posted an article about the Brooklyn Fire house in Oshkosh.  Not long before that David Groth a fellow Waters devotee shared a picture of the De Pere city hall and engine house, it was astonishing how much the De Pere building looked like the Brooklyn fire house.  There were a few differences such as the balcony above the center door, it was greatly simplified on the De Pere building and was later removed perhaps for maintenance reasons.  The entry door to the right was simplified as well and lacked the round light above it as in the Oshkosh fire house.      

I’ve been unable to find any written information on the De Pere city hall, no newspaper articles, or written histories.  Photographic evidence is all there is to go on and based on that I feel the De Pere city hall was indeed the work of William Waters and was erected about 1871.  As to its’ longevity, photos show that it was still standing and in use well into the 1940’s or possibly the early 1950’s.

Appleton Post Office, 1876

 In the Appleton Crescent of 9/16/1876 there is a notice regarding the opening of the city’s new post office which was located on the west side of N. Oneida and Mid Way.  The missive reported that nearly the entire population of the city turned out to receive their mail and goes on to laud A. L. Smith for his lavish expenditure on the building.  Also mentioned in the report is the work of contractor Louis Bates who faithfully carried out the design of Architect William Waters of Oshkosh. 

The new Appleton post office bore a slight resemblance to the Oshkosh post office designed by Mr. Waters the year before.  The Appleton office was a study in classical architecture, five arched openings grace the first floor of the front elevation.  While three arches filled the center of the second floor flanked by windows.  An elaborate cornice capped the façade with a pediment center on which was inscribed “1876”.

The Residence of S. K. Wambold

Appleton in the latter part of the 19^th century was well established as a center of industry, commerce, government and education all of which made for a vibrant community.  Captains of industry grew wealthy and built dwelling that displayed their status.  One such person was S. K. Wambold, an entrepreneur and civic leader he served as alderman for many years.  His business venture included the Briggs and Wambold sash and door factory, the Lawrence flour mill and ultimately general manager and treasurer of the Fox River Paper Company. 

On May 29^th, 1879, the Appleton Post printed a short notice announcing that Mr. Wambold was to build a new house on the corner of Lawrence and Durkee streets and William Waters of Oshkosh was to draw the plans.  By that time Mr. Waters had designed many building in the city and had gained a reputation as thorough and amiable.  The house was a large frame structure with a brick veneer.  The front porch wrapped around the side allowing access to another door.  Double windows on both floors filled the space below a gable on the front elevation.  A hipped roof caped the building with decorative iron work along the ridge.  Inevitably the neighborhood changed and was the death knell for the residential structures in the area.

Vilas County Courthouse

Vilas county was partitioned from Oneida county in 1893 and was named for William F. Vilas a onetime senator from Wisconsin.  Almost immediately plans for a courthouse were called for.  A notice in the Neenah Times in 1893 stated William Waters was awarded the contract to plan the new $15,000 structure.  The courthouse was ready for occupancy the next year and was a symmetrical Romanesque design.  The building was of limestone blocks with brown stone courses and trim.  A central tower was flanked by identical wings of two stories with gable ends which featured fan lights.  For whatever reason the building was replaced in 1936.

The School at Niagara

 
The village of Niagara Wisconsin nestled along the bank of the Menomonee River did not exist until 1900.  Kimberly- Clark built a mill there and a village to go with it.  The paper company had done this before when it established a mill just north and east of Appleton and named the town Kimberley.  William Waters had a long history with the company, having designed an office building and plans for a house which was built by both Mr. Clark and Mr. Shattuck.   He was asked to design a school for embryonic community and perhaps plans for housing as well.   Where once there was a wildness there soon was a village of streets lined with tidy cottages, churches, and a school.

The school was a wooden frame structure which sat on a stone foundation.  The plan was not unlike the schools the architect had planned earlier in his career, but more utilitarian look about the design.  The school served until the early 1920’s and was replaced by brick building.    

Oconto High School

 
A short notice in an 1893 newspapers announced that seven architects had presented plans for the new Oconto high school and that those of William Waters were selected, also mentioned was that the building was to coast $32,000.  This was to be the third building to house the high school and it was completed in 1894.  The school had a center pavilion, three stories high which was flanked by sections of two stories.  The building sat on a high limestone foundation with the superstructure made up of red brick and limestone trim.  Four large chimneys dominated the roof line which was capped with a tall bell tower.  Both side section had an entrance, and the front door was not centered but was to the far left, tight against the side section, this gave the building an unbalanced look.  

By 1939 however the school was in bad condition and was condemned, the second and third stories were removed, and classroom wings added, more additions came in 1951 and 1961.  By 1969 a new school was built. 

Stevens Point, Third Ward School

 
In 1888, there was a short notice in the Stevens Point newspaper which stated that William Waters was in town to settle maters with the school board concerning the new Third ward school as well as call other parties that were interested in working with Mr. Waters.  The Oshkosh architect had also that year supplied plans for the new Fifth Ward school, which used the same blueprints as a school in Neenah.  The Third Ward school was a departure for Mr. Waters, all his schools were a least two stories, so it seems odd that he designed a one-story schoolhouse. 

The new school had the look of rural school and perhaps that was because at the time the third ward was underdeveloped and sparsely populated.  I have no information as to how long it served or what ever became of the building.   I’ll update this post if more information becomes available. 

The Manufacturer's National Bank of Neenah

•  On the evening of November 28, 1881, there was a meeting at the Russell House in Neenah the purpose of which was to form a new bank.  By the end of the gathering the new bank had a name and board of directors.  It was to be called The Manufacturer’s National Bank of Neenah and the board was made up of Hiram Smith, D. C. Van Ostrand, Henry Sherry, F. C. Shattuck, Alex Billstein, S. M. Hay and Charles Schreiber.  The bank soon set up shop at 109 W. Wisconsin Avenue in the former photographic studio of C. B. Manville.  

The location seemed to work well but by 1902 a remodeling was needed.  The Neenah Times of July 12, 1902, reported that Wm. Waters had been commissioned to plan the work.  A new façade of Bedford stone was called for as well as extensive interior work.   The October 12,1902, issue of the Neenah Times featured an article announcing the completion of the job, which had a copy of architect Waters’ front elevation.  Since about 1900 Mr. Waters started designing buildings in the Neo-Classical style, the public library in Oshkosh is a great example.  The front elevation of the Manufactures National bank shows a near textbook drawing of Greco-Roman architecture replete with ionic capitals on the two columns.   Interior improvements were made as well, such as a new tile floor.  By the early 1920’s a larger building was needed, the site of the Russell House was acquired, and the new bank opened in June of 1923.  The former bank building still stands on W. Wisconsin Avenue and is in use.

The Bank of Hortonville

 

William Waters designed a good number of bank buildings and was not afraid to use a design over again if it worked well.   Early in 1895 W. H. Spengler of Medina commissioned Mr. Waters to prepare plans for a new bank to be located in Hortonville.   The bank held a state charter and W. H. Spengler was to be the cashier, while his son W. J. Spengler would serve as teller and bookkeeper.  

  

     A few years earlier in 1887 the architect Waters had planned the First National Bank of Menasha.   The building was acclaimed as an architectural ornament of the city.  The Hortonville bank was not as ornate as it’s Menasha predecessor but shared the same fenestration on the front elevation and floor plan.  Henry Schneider an Appleton contractor won the bid to erect the new bank, and work started in April of 1895.   The building sat on a high foundation of limestone with doors flanking a large, ached window trimmed with limestone in the center of the first story.   Above the center window a limestone block was carved with “Bank” and above that four windows with limestone lintels served the second floor.  Beyond that was windowpane like brick work a favorite feature of Mr. Waters at that time.  A brickwork and limestone cornice topped the front of the façade.  The interior fixtures were made of cherry wood furnished by the Robert Brandt Company of Oshkosh.    

The bank opened for business in August of 1895 as a privately held business but went public in 1902 with W. H. Spengler as chairman of the board.  The building has long since ceased to serve as a bank and the years have taken their toll, but one can still see the splendor that once attended the building.  

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Appleton's Turnhalle

I’ve allowed this blog to lie fallow for the past few years because I felt as if I’d run out of things to write about.  Recently however fellow Waters devotee, David Growth has shared new research which has renewed my interested in writing.  There are six building that heretofore were unknown to David and me, the Appleton Turner Hall, banks in Neenah and Hortonville, schools in Oconto and Stevens Point and the Vilas County Court House.   I’m eager to share my research on these structures and I’ll start with the Appleton turner hall.

Appleton, like much of Fox Valley had a sizable German population and so German culture was greatly celebrated.  The city’s Turner Hall was for many years a center for German theatre and music.  This wooden frame building was located at the north end of Superior St. and by the early 1880’s was proving to be inadequate, so plans were made for a replacement.  Property at the other end of the block was acquired and William Waters of Oshkosh was hired to draw up blueprints.  A notice in the Appleton Post of 8/23 1883 reported that the contract for construction had been let to H. G. Ashman.  On June 26, 1884, a large article appeared on the front page one of the Appleton Post heralding the opening of the new hall.  It gave a short history of the society and a full description of the building, which sat on a high foundation 60’ x 30’, the overall height of the structure was fifty feet. The basement contained a gymnasium, dining room, kitchen, five dressing rooms for use by performers and a furnace room.  On the main floor there was a stage and auditorium and gallery with seating for 1300 as well as two anti-rooms and ticket office. Interior frescos were painted by Mr. Louis Loeffler of Milwaukee, the total cost of the building was estimated to be $16,700.   But for a large cupola which graced the front elevation the building bore a slight resemblance to the Grand Opera House in Oshkosh which was completed just a year earlier.

The Turner Society ran the hall for the next ten years, but things must have faltered for a missive appeared in Appleton Post on May 2, 1895, announcing the hall was remodeled and would reopen under new management as Central Music Hall.  Central Music Hall was around until 1900 when their neighbor Wisconsin Grain and Malt Company bought the building and converted to a malt house thus making the company the second largest malt supplier in the state.  The building has long since been raised and newer construction occupies the lot.

Lost Treasure

A few years after I started researching William Waters, I heard of a photo album consisting of Mr. Waters’ buildings.  It was said to have been compiled by the architects’ son and contained prints with a blue tint to them.  What a tantalizing treasure, a researcher dream come true.  Some years later I talked to someone who claimed to have seen the collection of pictures and had urged the person to whom it belonged to donate it an historical organization, for safe keeping.  I was told that perhaps the State Historical Society was the recipient of the book, so I went there looking for it.  The society didn’t have the album but did have another collection, sketches from the 1870’ collected by Willie Waters.

Like the treasure of Oak Island, the compilation still eluded me.  Further inquire reviled that it had supposedly been passed along to the Neenah Historical Society.  I had made other requests of the society in the past and was always satisfied with the outcome.  This inquiry was different, the group seemed to have no knowledge of the book or its’ whereabouts.  Furthermore no one seemed interested in trying to find it. 

The story of the photo album seems to be nothing more than a myth.  If it ever existed it surely does no more, lost due to carelessness and incompetence.  It’s a shame that a valuable research tool and gateway to the past was lost to all.   

September 4, 2019 A Presentation

                                               https://vimeo.com/360362870

On Wednesday September 4, 2019 my wife and I presented a power point at the Oshkosh Public Library.  Please click on the above lick and enjoy the show,

"The Tiniest Sleigh Bell"

Hey everyone! I've published a children's book and it's available as an e-book or print edition. Just Google "The Tiniest Sleigh Bell" and find the many options for purchase.

Three for One

Smith School was closed in 2019 which ended a nearly one hundred twenty-five-year history of serving the educational needs Oshkosh.  In 1894 the school board received a report on the condition the school buildings and the report was critical of Smith school which had served the community since the mid 1860’s.  It was decided to build a new school and architect from Appleton, Merrill, Milwaukee and Joliet, Illinois submitted plans.  William Waters also proposed a design which the school board adopted.  In November of 1895 the construction contract was let to Domke and Meyer, and the building was in use by 1896. 

As Smith school was under construction Mr. Waters got two more school jobs.  The first was for the Wittenberg High School which was built in 1897 using plans like though of Smith School.  The Wittenberg school was slightly larger than Smith school and was constructed of a dark brick whereas Smith school was of a cream-colored brick. That building severed until 1970 and was demolished to make way for a new school. 

The other school erected using similar plans was the Brandon High School.  The Brandon school was somewhat smaller than its predecessors but had dormers on the front and sides as well as a belfry.  The structure was of a light-colored brick and featured a header above the front arches which read “High School”.  It too was razed after the combination with another rural high school. 

The fenestration of the front elevation of all three buildings was the same with two entry arches on the first floor above which were three windows. To the sides on the first floor were sets of double windows and on the second floor a set of double windows flanked by single windows. It was a graceful design worthy of repetition.  

I'll be in Oshkosh

On Wednesday September 4th at 6:30 pm I will give a power point presentation at the Oshkosh Public Library.  The presentation is about William Waters, his life and works.  Please join me.

Design Repeat

The reuse of a design has previously been discussed in this blog.  If Mr. Waters had a plan a client liked, he would use it again.  In 1900 architect Waters drew plans for *Peter King’s residence on Waugoo and a residence for Nic Stein on North Park Avenue, aka Parkway, the buildings were mirror images of each other.  Nic Stein was the proprietor of a sample room on Main Street and had been employed as a book keeper for another bar owner, Peter Stein, perhaps his brother. **Peter Stein also had a house designed by William Waters.  The bar business must have been lucrative for the Kings  and Steins all had new houses built about the same time.   

But Nic Stein was not the only one to have a house based on the Peter King design, Henry L. Sorenson of Neenah had a house of the same plan built on Church Street in the Sherrytown neighborhood.  

The dwelling was, with but a few alterations the same as King’s house on Waugoo in Oshkosh.  Mr. Sorenson was a partner with George Barlow in the Badger Furniture Store on W. Wisconsin Avenue, and his home would have been in easy walking distance from the store, HHHHH

* See, The Kings of Waugoo 7/10/2017

** See, Bells of St Mary’s 9/16 2017

The Union Block

The recent posting of a photo on social media of an Appleton street scene was a revelation to me.  It wasn’t an image I was familiar with, but I leaned it was the north side of E. College Avenue between Oneida and Morrison.  At the center of the picture was a large two-story building which exhibited many features of a William Waters’ design; store fronts flanking stairs to the second floor, sets of triplet windows on the upper floor and intricate brick cornice capped with pediments.  I had to learn more. 

Directories and maps of the time were the best resource.  The earliest directory I found was for 1877, at the time Appleton lacked a coherent numbering system for buildings and so descriptions of location were provided, an example would be (sic) n s Atlantic e Durkee, meaning the north side of Atlantic east of Durkee.  Commercial concerns would often indicate the business block which housed them.  There were several references to The Union Block in the early directory and newspapers, with the aid of fire insurance maps I concluded the building was the Union Block.  The Appleton Post of 12/31/1874 published an article about several of the new building to town, one being the Union Block owned by, Dr. Stansbury, Capt. Edwards, Samuel Phinny and David Smith.  The contractors of the building were William Johnson and Robert Pride, no mention was made of the architect.  I recognized the name of David Smith as being a client of Mr. Waters for such building as the Manufacturers Bank and a residence, perhaps Mr. Smith enlisted architect Waters once again.     

The Tischer Block

An article in the Oshkosh Northwestern of July 17, 1873 listed the many jobs William Waters had in other cities.  There were several in Appleton one of which was a store for Mr. Tischer.  My early research on the subject yielded nothing but I thought I’d try again. I’ve since learned that Fred Tischer at age twenty-eight in 1854 came to this country from Germany and settled in Greenville west of Appleton.  When the civil war started he joined the 15th regiment of Wisconsin volunteers, and returned to Appleton after the war.  In 1873 Fred planned to erect a business block, a note in the Appleton Crescent of April 19,1873 tells of the cellar excavation for the building.  Also, there were numerous advertisements throughout 1873 for the Berg and Tischer Meat Market.  The Appleton city directory of 1877 listed Mr. Tischer as a clerk at Hackert’s Store and residing on the south side of College Ave., east of Oneida.  In 1885 there were ads for May and Tischer, groceries and provisions.  He died in July of 1893 at age sixty-seven.

The question remained, where was the Tischer Block and what did it look like?  A notation in a newspaper from 1874 said the Tischer Block was opposite the Levake Hotel, which was on the north side of College Ave., just east of the corner of Morrison St.  With that information as well as the listing of Mr. Tischer’s residence as being on the south side of College, east of Oneida, I knew where  and what to look for, a building of two stores with a stairway between them a, favored lay out of architect Waters.  Consulting the earliest Sanborn map of that area I found two likely buildings; one was the Warner and Whorton Block and the other was further west.  Next, I traveled along E. College via Google and low and behold found what I was looking for, the building at 111-109 E. College fit the criteria.  There was one feature that truly marked it as the work of Mr. Waters, that was the segmented pilasters that flanked the center window of the second floor.  Alteration were made over the years, new store fronts and smaller windows chief among them.