1124-1128 Oregon St | National or State Registers Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

National or State Registers Record

1124-1128 Oregon St

National or State Register of Historic Places
1124-1128 Oregon St | National or State Registers Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:Baumann Block
Reference Number:100010774
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):1124-1128 Oregon St
County:Winnebago
City/Village:Oshkosh
Township:
SUMMARY
Baumann Block
1124-1128 Oregon Street, Oshkosh, Winnebago County
Date of Construction: circa 1894; (remodeled 1910; 1926)

The Bauman Block, also known as the Star Theater, is a fine example of Queen Anne commercial architecture in the city of Oshkosh. When the downtown area in north Oshkosh was rebuilt after city wide fires in 1874 and 1875, many were designed by local architect William Waters in the Queen Anne style. Much of the downtown is intact today. However, few examples of Queen Anne commercial architecture exist in south Oshkosh.

As a theater, the Bauman Block, also known as the Star Theater, is one of the last remaining examples of a neighborhood theater in Oshkosh. On the interior the Star still has elements of design from its days as a theater. The projection room still exists on the second floor and features the cutouts for the film reels; the ticket booth and swinging doors are in place at the entrance which is also adorned with decorative cast tin sheets.

Built circa 1894, it operated as a grocery store in the north half and a meat market in the south half. In 1910 the grocery section was converted into a movie theater named the Star Theater. In 1926 a fire broke out in the projection room. An extensive remodel took place that same year that included repairs, remodeling and fireproofing. When the building was sold in 1961 it transitioned into a dry-cleaning business on the north half and an insurance business (office space) in the south half. The west facing facade was "modernized" with an infill of wood over the theater's arched lobby entryway reducing the size of the entrance. At some point the theater marquee was removed. The entrance at the corner of W 12th Avenue and Oregon Street was also reduced in size. In 1994 efforts were made to restore the facades to their original look for the building's 100th birthday.

PROPERTY FEATURES
Period of Significance:1894-1926 (C)
Period of Significance:1910-1955 (A)
Area of Significance:Architecture
Area of Significance:Entertainment/Recreation
Applicable Criteria:Architecture/Engineering
Applicable Criteria:Event
Historic Use:Commerce/Trade: Specialty Store
Historic Use:Recreation And Culture: Theater
Historic Use:Domestic: Multiple Dwelling
Architectural Style:Queen Anne
Resource Type:Building
Architect:Unknown
DESIGNATIONS
Historic Status:Date Received/Pending Nomination
Historic Status:Listed in the State Register
Historic Status:Listed in the National Register
National Register Listing Date:08/29/2024
State Register Listing Date:05/24/2024
NUMBER OF RESOURCES WITHIN PROPERTY
Number of Contributing Buildings:1
Number of Contributing Sites:0
Number of Contributing Structures:0
Number of Contributing Objects:0
Number of Non-Contributing Sites:0
Number of Non-Contributing Structures:0
Number of Non-Contributing Objects:0
RECORD LOCATION
National Register and State Register of Historic Places, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

How to Cite

For the purposes of a bibliography entry or footnote, follow this model:

National Register of Historic Places Citation
National Register of Historic Places, "Historic Name", "Town", "County", "State", "Reference Number".

Have Questions?

If you didn't find the National Register listing you were looking for or have other questions about the National Register, please email us and we can help: