Property Record
912 CLINTON ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | W.T. LYLE BUILDING |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 28714 |
| Location (Address): | 912 CLINTON ST |
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| County: | Waukesha |
| City: | Waukesha |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1893 |
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| Additions: | 1929 1910 |
| Survey Date: | 1979 |
| Historic Use: | funeral parlor |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Downtown Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 10/28/1983 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | Multiple Resources of Waukesha |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. In 1977, the building was repainted in its original colors of deep red wall surface with contrasting black-green trim. This very fine Queen Anne commercial building was apparently constructed in two phases. By 1890, a two story building occupied this site. According to the 1910 Sanborn Perris Map, the third floor and the oriel windows were added in the early twentieth century. The facade is intricately detailed, with carved brownstone details and decorative brick work accenting the deep red tones of the face brick. The facade is symmetrically arrranged, but this aspect of the design is secondary to the variety of ornamentation. Two shallow oriels project on the second story and are capped by pediments. Third story windows rise above this and are framed by broken pediments supported by consoles. Visually, the second and third stories flow into each other, creating a strong vertical expression. String courses and entablatures provide a counterpoint to this vertical emphasis. The W.T. Lyle buliding provides, with in Waukesha, an excellent example of the Queen Anne style and is architecturally significant as a representative example of a period of construction. The juxtaposition of materials and a variety of details are characteristics of the style; in the Lyons building shapes and materials are skillfully manipulated to create a lively facade which contrasts nicely with the simplicity of adjoining buildings. The majority of the Queen Anne designs in the commercial district are sited on corner lots, rather than in the center of the block. Consequently, those designs depend primarily on volumetric shapes (turrets, bartizans) and active silhouettes rather than complex facade treatment, for effect. See the New Putney Block at 802 Grand Ave. (WK 77/9), the Nickel Building at 338-340 W. Main Street (WK 77/22), the Yanke Building at 200 Madison St., the Columbia Block at 321 South St. (WK 6/17), and a building located at 332 South St. (WK 77/19). W.T. Lyle, an undertaker, built this double storefront commercial building. It was expanded and the facade made more elaborate in 1910. It has had a series of commercial uses over the years. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Building Books at the Waukesha Co. Historical Museum. (B) The Five Points Downtown Historic District Walking Tour, Waukesha Landmarks Commission. (C) Sanborn-Perris Maps of Waukesha, 1890, 1901, 1910. (D) Waukesha CIty Directories, 1890 to 1934. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |