Civic Center Historic District (Kenosha, Wisconsin)

The Civic Center Historic District is a group of six large Neoclassical Revival buildings around Civic Center Park in Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States, reflecting the city's history as Kenosha County seat.

Civic Center Historic District
The United States Post Office (1933)
LocationRoughly bounded by 55th St., 8th Ave., 58th St., and 10th Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin
Coordinates42°35′4″N 87°49′19″W
Area10 acres (4.0 ha)
ArchitectCharles D. Chubb (Kenosha High School)
Lindl, Lesser & Schutte (Kenosha County Courthouse and Jail)
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.89000069[1]
Added to NRHPJuly 26, 1989

History

In the 1900s, the City Beautiful movement gained national recognition. As a result, cities like Kenosha, Wisconsin sought to develop aesthetically pleasant town centers. After World War I ended, Kenosha officials appointed a committee to establish a city plan. In 1922, Kenosha citizens voted to approve this plan, part of which was to develop a new town center. Harland Bartholomew was commissioned to submit a city plan, which he submitted in 1925.[2][3]

Like many centers developed in the wake of City Beautiful, the civic district is largely Neoclassical in design. Kenosha native Joseph Lindl, in association with Charles Lesser and Albert Schutte, designed the Kenosha County Courthouse and Jail, which was completed in 1925.[4] The Kenosha High School, planned by school design specialist Charles D. Chubb, was completed a year later.[5] The Loyal Order of Moose built a clubhouse at the corner of 56th Street and Tenth Avenue. They used the building until 1943.[6] The final two buildings of the district were added in 1933. The former United States Post Office, constructed in 1909 in another part of the city, was moved to the civic district. Designed by Supervising Architect James Knox Taylor, the building was re-purposed as the Kenosha Public Museum.[7] The last building constructed in the district was a new post office on Sheridan Road.[8][2]

On July 26, 1989, the National Park Service recognized the district with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The courthouse and jail was listed individually in 1982.[1]

gollark: Yep!
gollark: ++eval 9223372036854775807 + 1
gollark: If it overflowed it *should* just crash.
gollark: I'm not a mathologist.
gollark: Let's hope nobody else notices.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Carol Lohry Cartwright (1988-04-28). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Civic Center Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved 2018-05-16. With 16 photos.
  3. "Civic Center Historic District - Visitors' Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-07. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  4. "Kenosha County Courthouse". Wisconsin Historic Society. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  5. "Reuther Central High School". Wisconsin Historic Society. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  6. "Moose Lodge". Wisconsin Historic Society. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  7. "U.S. Post Office". Wisconsin Historic Society. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  8. "U.S. Post Office". Wisconsin Historic Society. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
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