Downtown in Platteville in Grant County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Civic Memorial Building
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2023
1. Civic Memorial Building Marker
Soldiers, Sailors, Marines
and
Volunteer Firemen
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Notable Buildings • Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. 42° 44.095′ N, 90° 28.709′ W. Memorial is in Platteville, Wisconsin, in Grant County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of North Bonson Street and East Mineral Street, on the right when traveling north on North Bonson Street. The marker is mounted at eye-level on the northwest corner of the Municipal Hall building, facing North Bonson Street. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 75 North Bonson Street, Platteville WI 53818, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, in the Corn Belt, in the Driftless Area Bluff Country, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lincoln's Gettysburg Speech (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Street Commercial Historic District Platteville (within shouting distance of this marker); First Congregational Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Platteville's First Church Building (about 300 feet away); Platteville Carnegie Library
this page online
Regarding Civic Memorial Building. Contributing Property, Main Street Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places #90000377.
From the National Register Nomination:
Designed in an abstracted interpretation of the Classical style (sometimes referred to as Classical Moderne) by Madison architects Law, Law and Potter, this cream brick, two-story, T-shaped city hall exhibits a paneled, limestone entablature topped by a terra cotta cresting featuring a stylized, classical sea-shell and acroteria design. The entablature is visually supported by two-story, fluted limestone pilasters with stylized capitals on the recessed center bays of the facade. These pilasters create vertical bays for the windows. Metal spandrels are decorated with classical dentil trim and circular medallion designs. Plain brick applied pilasters support the entablature on the projecting end bays of the facade as well as on the side elevations. Brick quoins,brick panels and decorative brick patterns inset into the brick elevations further ornament this civic building. Generally well-preserved, the building's exterior has been altered by the replacement windows and doors. Originally built to house the city government as well as the city police and fire departments and an auditorium located in the rear wing, the Municipal Building's interior features an entrance hall with a monumental marble stairway with ornamental iron balustrades leading to the second floor and to the semi-circular balcony of the auditorium. Constructed by Wagner and Sons of Monroe after fire destroyed the 1883 City Hall in 1926, the Municipal building's fire department was remodeled for additional city offices in 1963 when the fire department moved to their new building.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 20232. Civic Memorial Building CornerstoneThe cornerstone, located beneath the marker, is from 1928.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Main Street Commercial Historic District
Also see . . .
1. Our Civic Memorial Building. Excerpt:
It was the September 20, 1929 edition of the Grant County News. If you tell em, you can sell em reads the corner of the front page. A catchy newspaper slogan. The paper is dedicated to the grand opening of our Civic Memorial Building. A photo of the building also graces the front page. The building looks pretty(Submitted on December 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)much the same as today, but there are three bays for emergency vehicles on the north side that no longer exist.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 20233. Civic Memorial Building - Platteville Municipal Hall (west/front elevation)The marker is mounted on the far left/northwest corner of the building.Our Civic Memorial Building or Municipal Building is a grand structure, even by todays standards. I can only imagine the excitement that Plattevilles residents must have felt upon its completion. According to the news reporter, Examination of the plans and elevations show that building has been designed and arranged with unusual taste and skill. Its restrained and dignified architecture would well entitle the structure to an honored place in even the most distinguished surroundings of a much larger city; the rich cream color and texture of its brickwork and Indiana limestone trim are extremely pleasing; its pilasters, delicate quoins, terra cotta cresting, and simple panels, lend the atmosphere of modern life, fast throbbing activity."
2. Main Street Commercial Historic District (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
The district includes the area of Platteville's early business districts on Second Street and Main, platted like an English village with narrow streets, narrow lots, and a village green. It includes the 1928 Art Deco Municipal Building.(Submitted on December 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2023
4. Civic Memorial Building - Platteville Municipal Hall (northwest elevation)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
