Property Record
703 WASHINGTON AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Danish Brotherhood Hall |
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| Other Name: | Fellowship of Christian Believers |
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| Reference Number: | 10956 |
| Location (Address): | 703 WASHINGTON AVE |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
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| Year Built: | 1910 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1980 |
| Historic Use: | social recreational/fraternal hall |
| Architectural Style: | English Revival Styles |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | GUILBERT & FUNSTON |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| 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. TUDOR ARCHED ENTRY. Originally founded in 1878 as a Veterans Society by a group of veterans of the Danish-German Wars, it became the Danish Brotherhood in 1882. By 1912, it had almost 850 members and was the charter lodge of a national organization of about 150 lodges in the nation. Although primarily a benefit and fraternal society, the Danish Brotherhood also had an extensive library and put on plays, dances, and musical entertainment. Its Hamlet Singing Society, like the Dania Glee Club, specialized in Old World music, while its sisterhood, founded in 1886, concentrated upon charitable and cultural activities. Both organizations also had Young Peoples Societies to prepare youths for later membership. Even after the exodus of Danes to West Racine, both organizations remained in the area of first settlement, Dania on State St. and Danish Brotherhood at Washington and Grand. The danes also founded the United Danish Societies of America, and the Wergeland, the Workingman's, the Waalbenbrade, and Veteran's Societies. The Racine immigrant population was dominated by Danes from 1870-1920. Danes were the most numerous immigrants to Racine from about 1870 to 1920. In 1878 some of them who had served in the wars between Denmark and Germany founded a veterans'society which in 1882 became the Danish Brotherhood. in 1886 a sisterhood was organized and later a young people's society. The clubhouse was opened in 1911 and was maintained by the Brotherhood until 1984. Resurveyed November 2009; 2-story brick staircase or elevator enclosure added to west elevation, plate glass windows in front entry bay replaced with colored glass. 2009: "This 3-story Tudor Revival building was constructed in 1910-1911 by the architecture firm of Guilbert & Funston. It is rectangular in plan with a concrete foundation, red brick walls, and an asphalt-shingled gable roof. The front (north) facade has a projecting central entry bay with arched doorway. Windows are 1-over-1 and plate-glass casement. A 2-story brick staircase or elevator enclosure has been added to the building's west elevation with minimal detriment to the building's appearance. The plate-glass windows inside the front entry arch have been replaced with colored glass and an illuminated sigh reading "Fellowship of Christian Believers Church" has been mounted above the entry arch." |
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| Bibliographic References: | Inscription. Blueprints. Assessor's records. Burckels, Nicholas C., Ed., Racine: Growth and Change in a Wisconsin County. Racine: Racine County Board of Supervisors, 1977, p. 104. Stone, vol. 1, p. 470. HISTORIC 6TH STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT WALKING TOUR GUIDE, 1990. "Architecture/History Survey of 7th Street from 9th Street to Main Street in the city of Racine, WI. October, 2009. WHS Project #10-0922, Prepared by Gail Klein." |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |