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Veterans Affairs in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers

 
 
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
1. National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Marker
Inscription.
The National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was established by Congressional legislation and approved by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1865. Its purpose was "...to care for him who shall have borne the battle..." as stated in President Lincoln's second inaugural address. In fall of 1866, Milwaukee was designated as the site of the Northwestern Branch, one of the three original Homes. An estimated 60 soldiers moved from the temporary Milwaukee Soldiers Home on West Water Street to these grounds in May of 1867. The name of the institution was changed to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in 1873. In July 1930, the National Home and the Bureau of Pensions was consolidated into the Veterans Administration. In 1989, Congress created the Department of Veterans Affairs which includes the Veterans Health Administration, National Cemetery Administration, and Veterans Benefits Administration.

"Old Main" is a 5-story structure with an imposing center tower. It is designed in the Victorian Gothic style, characterized by flat surfaces, tall pointed arches in doors and windows and contrasting colors of materials. Construction of the "T" shaped building began in 1867 on the site's highest elevation and was designed to hold all administrative and domiciliary functions. It also held the dining facility, a chapel,
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meeting hall, reading room, laundry and bathrooms. Due to budgetary constraints, the building was never finished according to Edward T. Mix's original design. In 1876, corner towers were added to alleviate overcrowding. The elevator, installed in 1883, was the first at any National Home. By 1886, the dining room had been sufficiently expanded to seat 1,000 men.

The National Home provided housing, food and medical care, as well as entertainment, spiritual support, productive work and an environment conducive to reflection and relaxation. This was not charity, but a "home" and a reward to the brave and deserving soldiers.

The home was run in military fashion. Soldiers were separated into Companies, with men of similar health problems grouped together. Each man was issued uniforms and bedding and was expected to keep them in order. There were curfews, restrictions and a long list of rules. Men who were capable of working were assigned jobs, which included cooking and cleaning, as well as upkeep of the buildings and grounds.

The Officers of the Home included the Governor, Treasurer, Quartermaster and the Adjutant/Inspector. The Governor was the commander of the Home. The Treasurer was in charge of all public property and accounts. The Quartermaster was responsible for all supplies bought for the Home and for food preparation. The band, firing squad and the
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
2. National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Marker
At "Old Main" (Building 2)
general cleanliness of the grounds were overseen by the Adjutant/Inspector.

Edward Townsend Mix was a leading architect in Milwaukee from the 1860s through the 1880s. He received his architectural training in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1856, Mix moved to Milwaukee as a partner of Boyington & Mix. The following year, Mix left the firm to start his own, designing the Wisconsin Club (formerly the Alexander Mitchell mansion), the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance block, the Chamber of Commerce and many other buildings in the Milwaukee area. He also served as state architect from 1864-1867. From 1867-1869, by appointment of the National Board of Managers, Mix designed and supervised construction of the main building ("Old Main") of the National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Milwaukee.

Created by: Andrew Jasniewski, Boy Scout Troop 595, Eagle project
 
Erected 2006 by Andrew Jasniewski, Rotary Club of West Allis, Soldiers Home Foundation, and Milwaukee Foundation.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial SitesMan-Made FeaturesPatriots & PatriotismWar, US Civil
"Old Main" (Building 2) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
3. "Old Main" (Building 2)
. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, the National Cemeteries, the National Historic Landmarks, and the Rotary International series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1867.
 
Location. 43° 1.587′ N, 87° 58.565′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in Veterans Affairs. Marker is on Mitchell Boulevard near General Wolcott Boulevard, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in front of Building 2 (Old Main), on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5000 West National Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53295, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Volunteer-'98 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Erastus B. Wolcott, M.D (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Mr. Baseball" (approx. ¼ mile away); Robin Yount (approx. ¼ mile away); In Honor of the 1901 Milwaukee Brewers of the American League (approx. ¼ mile away); Henry Aaron (approx. ¼ mile away); Allan H. Selig (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.
 
Related markers.
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Symbol image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
4. National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Symbol
Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of markers regarding the soldiers' home.
 
Also see . . .
1. Wood National Cemetery. (Submitted on November 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Soldiers Home in Milwaukee gains national landmark designation. (Submitted on April 26, 2013, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin.)
 
NHDVS "Old Main" circa 1876 image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
5. NHDVS "Old Main" circa 1876
Officers of the Home, circa 1889 image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
6. Officers of the Home, circa 1889
Edward Townsend Mix (1831-1890) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
7. Edward Townsend Mix (1831-1890)
NHDVS Library Building image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
8. NHDVS Library Building
NHDVS Theater Building image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
9. NHDVS Theater Building
NHDVS Theater Window image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
10. NHDVS Theater Window
"Presented to the National Soldiers Home
Milwaukee Wis
from the 21st Annual Encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic
by the citizens of St Louis Mo
"Old Main" of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 5, 2010
11. "Old Main" of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,396 times since then and 13 times this year. Last updated on September 24, 2014, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on November 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • William J. Toman was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 29, 2024