Historic Preservation Awards

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral - Bell Towers Restoration

Category:  Building Historic Restoration

The Cathedral was dedicated in 1881, but the original construction only included the lower portions of the towers - the upper belfry portion wasn't finished until 1904.  A few years ago, church maintenance found pieces of bricks on the sidewalk in front of the church.  A closer look skyward showed significant brick masonry damage, and closer inspection revealed deteriorated flashings, roof tiles, and interior wood supports.  900 pound stone blocks set in the walls were found to be losing their corbelled brick masonry support.  After the 120 foot high scaffolding was built around each tower, the brick masonry was repaired with 3500 new bricks, new flashings were installed, and the broken slate shingled dome roofs were replaced with new copper roofs topped by copper-clad crosses.  After $500,000 for masonry repointing and replacement and $250,000 for new steeple work, the restored towers now stand proudly to greet the Cathedral's visitors below.

605 George Street, De Pere

Category:  Building Adaptive Reuse

This building was originally a residence, and more recently had been divided into apartments.  When Steve and Carey Danen purchased the building, their first intention was to restore it to its original condition, but multiple interior and exterior renovations, including replacement of the wood siding with a brick veneer, made that rather unfeasible.  At about the same time, Steve Taylor and Charles Aslakson were looking for a new business location, and this building caught their eye.  Together, the four of them redesigned the interior to suit the new business, while the exterior brick masonry was restored, the roof replaced, and the doors, windows, and trim either repaired or replaced.  The business is thrilled with their new offices, and the building now lends a dressed-up look to edge of downtown East De Pere.

Reedsville Granary, 2200 Dickinson Road, De Pere

Category:  Preservation Activities

In the 1850s, a three-story 8,800 square foot flour mill was built in the Town of Reedsville (about 20 miles south of Green Bay), and in the 1920s, it was converted into a granary.  While it served the community well, it eventually fell victim to modern technology, was vacated, and was destined for demolition.  Days before it was to be torn down, Pat Drury learned of the building and asked if he could help save it.  When he found that Paul Renard and John Michaud were interested in having the building for their new offices, the dream started to become a reality.  The building was dismantled and re-erected in the Town of Ledgeview.  The interior still displays much of the original materials - the timber framing was made visible, the old wall sheathing boards that had been covered by metal siding were reused as wood flooring, and artifacts such as the pulley drive elevator were reinstalled for display.  The old Granary now lives on in its handsome new use.

Arketype, Inc., 612 Stuart Street, Green Bay

Category:  Building Adaptive Reuse

Founded in 1838, Grace Presbyterian Church congregation has had a long history in Green Bay.  The present church was built in 1910, and was expanded with a rectory addition in 1918 and the sanctuary addition in 1929.   In recent years, however, the congregation was declining, and by 2003, the building was no longer in use as a church.  Around the same time, Arketype, Inc., a Green Bay creative design and advertising firm, was trying to juggle business success with increasingly cramped quarters on Washington Street.  In 2004, the firm decided to purchase the church building and renovate it for their new offices.  Their goal was to maintain the architectural integrity of the building, while at the same time taking advantage of open spaces well suited to a design studio.  The maple floors have been refinished, several gothic-style light fixtures were restored, and the majestic stained glass windows were repaired and cleaned.  As a bonus, two stained glass windows that had been hidden behind a wall were also brought to new light.  The open-concept spaces are given a new brightness with the white-painted walls and glassed-in offices.  Ever respectful of the building's history, Arketype invited the former congregation for an open house, and while many were still wistful at the loss of their church, all were enthusiastic about the wonderful transformation of their building.  The perfect new testament for an old building born again.

Polo Resto, Voyageur Park, De Pere

Between 1915 and 1925, a complex of buildings, including a restaurant, a gas station, and some cabins, were constructed on the north side of De Pere.  Due to its proximity to the De Pere Polo Field across the street (on the site of what is now St. Norbert College's Minihan Field), the complex became known as the Polo Resto.  The sport of polo was thriving in the 1920s, and with horses being brought up for the matches from Milwaukee and Chicago, the Polo Resto facilities were available for players, crew, and spectators alike.  The Polo Resto Gas Station, which was one of the first filling stations on that road between De Pere and Green Bay, was operated by the Wadham Oil and Grease Co., who owned stations throughout Wisconsin.  In an effort to catch the attention of the passing motorist, Wadham, like other early oil companies, used exotic filling station designs that resembled pagodas or English cottages. 

In the 1950s or 60s, ownership and use changed, and the buildings eventually became the Village Gate Shopping Center, which more recently included a flower shop, an antique store, and a bird feeder store.   In 2004, the property was sold and slated for demolition.  While some of the original buildings had been demolished or significantly altered over time, the gas station was still rather intact.  Concerned citizens, with the cooperation of the De Pere Historical Society, initiated a campaign to move the building down the hill to Voyageur Park along the Fox River Recreation Trail.  The former gas station, restored to include the original gas pumps, now serves as a rest stop and information center run by the De Pere Historical Society.

Lyga Residence, Green Bay

In 2002, newlyweds Chris and Teri Lyga set out to find themselves a new home in a nice neighborhood, hoping to find an affordable Victorian style house with many original features still intact.  While it was obvious that the 100 year old house on South Huron needed work, they felt that they had found their home.  Chris has meticulously researched the history of the house, uncovering nearly a dozen owners over the years.  Significant changes had been made over the years, including removal of the covered front porch, and a conversion to a two-family dwelling in 1949 and a conversion back to a single family in the 1980s.  Many details survived, however, including hardwood maple floors downstairs and simple wide plank flooring upstairs, leaded and etched glass windows, an ornate paneled front door with intricate scrollwork, and the original claw-foot bathtub.  Exterior renovation work has included replacement of a stairs, repainting the porches and trim, and complementary landscaping.  The to-do list is still long, but they feel that the efforts required to bring the house closer to its Victorian beginnings has been worth the time, effort, and investment.

Johnson Residence, Green Bay

In 2003, Teri Johnson went to an estate sale on Emilie Street.  Oblivious to all the household belongings on the tables and the floors, Teri's attention was directed upwards at the architectural features and solid construction of the house.  Having restored several houses in the Milwaukee area, she knew exactly what she and her husband Jonathon would be looking for as their next project.  She called him on the phone and proclaimed "John, it's straight!".  Thus began a labor of love as they began to reclaim and restore the house.  Designed in the 1920s by local architect Henry Foeller, the house was constructed by Foeller's brother to be his own residence, but soon after completion, he sold it to Dr. W.C. Kelly and his wife, whose family occupied the house until just a few years ago. 

John's first task was to obtain a copy of the original Foeller design drawings that were still in the archives of Berners-Schober Associates Inc. (the descendent company of Foeller's original firm). 
With the original design in hand, John and Teri identified and preserved the original features of the house.  The kitchen and bathroom were completely gutted so that heavily corroded piping could be replaced with new free-flowing copper.  The bathroom was restored to its original layout, while the kitchen was modernized in a style in keeping with that of the house.  The rest of the house was repainted inside and out, with dated interior wallpaper replaced with a fresh paint scheme.  Over the years, the edge of the side alley had "expanded" to within inches of the house, and the backyard had become overflow parking for the neighbors.  John located and identified the legal limits and easements, and reclaimed and restored the back and side yards to once again accent the house.  The residence is once again an attractive jewel in the Astor Neighborhood.

Blonde Homestead, Green Bay

In 2002, Dan and Michelle Schrap purchased the house that was constructed by the Blonde family in 1898.  While it was not in the best condition, they knew that they wanted to preserve as much of the original as possible, and with Dan's experience as a homebuilder, they felt that they could take on the project.  The carpet was lifted to expose hardwood floors, which they beautifully refinished.  Since the original siding was quite deteriorated, it was removed and replaced with new, freshly painted cedar siding.  The original windows have been restored, and walls have been cleaned and painted to provide a bright and cheery interior.  The house once again stands proudly on the hill overlooking Preble.

Snow White Cottage,  Edgewater Beach, Green Bay

In 1923, Max Schober, a well known Green Bay architect, purchased an Edgewater Beach property and began to build a cottage, by himself, by hand.  At 400 square feet, this was to be neither a practical dwelling nor a traditional cottage, but a rustic cabin with design features that would display his vivid imagination.  The walls are built of fieldstones pulled up by sled from the shore at the bottom of the hill.  Each window has mullions made of branches, and shutters with intricate animal carvings. The doors, which are covered with a decorative pattern of narrow cedar half-logs, are flanked by colorful stone benches. During the lean years of the Depression, Max could often be found working out at the cottage, but as work picked up during World War II, he was able to spend less and less time on the project. Finally, in 1940, he sold the unfinished cottage to Carl Emmel, who finished the interior and added the stone fireplace and chimney.  Subsequent owners installed a bathroom and a copper roof.  In 2002, the property was placed for sale, and based only on photographs, John and Gaye Meyer of Stoughton fell in love with the cottage and finalized the purchase, sight unseen.  To restore the image of a rustic "forest cabin", the Meyers removed the obtrusive driveway and installed a stairs as the only access down from Edgewater Beach Road.  General restoration has included the reproduction of the original intricate shingle pattern on Max Schober's log-framed gazebo.  The Meyers anxiously make the 3 hour drive to enjoy their newly preserved, uniquely charming cottage.

Curly Lambeau Boyhood Home, Irwin Street, Green Bay

In 2003, after reading a book about Green Bay Packer legend Earl "Curly" Lambeau, Ken Calewarts and his son, John, became curious about the location where Lambeau lived after his birth in 1898.  Although it was known that Lambeau lived on the east side and attended East High School, the city directory at that time listed the Lambeau family as residing at 615 North 12th Street, a street name that no longer exists on the east side.  After much research, they discovered that "12th Street" was renamed "Irwin Avenue" about 100 years ago.  615 North Irwin Avenue, which was confirmed as Lambeau's boyhood home, had the added distinction of being one of the oldest homes in Green Bay that retains its original exterior walls and is standing on its original foundation.  Calewarts formed a group of investors to purchase the house.  Based on plans prepared by Mike McMahon (a former BCHS Preservation Award recipient), the house has been brought to code, the exterior renovated, and the lot enclosed with period fencing with a memorial plaque placed in front.  The group hopes to sell the restored house, with proceeds going to benefit Nicolet School located across the street.

LeMieux Chapel, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Campus

In 1925, Joe and Odile LeMieux built a chapel along the limestone ridge, behind their house located on the west side of Bay Settlement Road.  Since their son was studying to become a Catholic priest, and since Odile would occasionally have health problems, she thought that a chapel would be a quiet place for him to meditate when he came home and a convenient place for her to pray on days when travel to Holy Cross Church would prove too difficult.  Joe, a mason, and Odile's brother Fabian, a carpenter, constructed the chapel using limestone from the ridge.  The Chapel was dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost articles.  The Chapel was used continuously by the LeMieux family and their descendants (including the VanLanens and the Jadins).  In 1984, the property was sold as part of the land required for the creation of the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, and while the house was demolished, the chapel was preserved with the provision that it be maintained by UWGB as long as it remained structurally sound.  In 1999, the family painted the woodwork and repointed the masonry, while UWGB constructed a small wooden bridge to connect the site to their arboretum trail.  The chapel remains unlocked for all visitors to enjoy the history and solitude.