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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 1012 MAIN ST (AKA 1015 WISCONSIN AVE) |
|---|---|
| County | Racine |
| City/Village | Racine |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1856 |
|---|---|
| Additions | 1922 |
| Survey Date | 1975 |
| Historic Use | house |
| Architectural Style | Italianate |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Cream Brick |
| Architect | Edmund B. Funston (1922 addition) |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments | 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. ORNATE BRACKETS UNDER EAVES. PEDIMENTED DORMERS. ATTACHED TO THE EGYPTIAN REVIVAL MASONIC LODGE. THE MASONIC LODGE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 1920. DURAND WAS ENGAGED IN LUMBERING, LUMBER MILLS, SHIPPING, RAILROADS, AND LAND SPECULATION. Its battered walls, winged Masonic symbol with cobras emerging from its compass points, coved cornices with lotus and papyrus motifs, and cartouche in the form of a winged scarab suggest an Egyptian temple. Long before the Egyptian Revival craze that emerged after the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922, Freemasons favored images from ancient Egypt, to which they traced the roots of their fraternal mythology. It is the work of Edmund B. Funston, a local architect and member of the temple. "The large Italianate house at 1012 South Main was built in 1856 for Henry Durand. Durand had come to Racine in 1843 from Hartford, Connecticut. From that time until his death, he was actively involved in a wide range of business activities which included lumber mills, coal trade, shipping, banking, railroading, and city planning. He and three other bought the land and laid out the town of La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 1844 he opened an insurance company where the first policy written in Wisconsin was issued. He was believed to have had the most extensive library in the world on insurance law. The home's fine exterior styling was equaled inside (over a period of years) by 11 fireplaces of varied design, matched Philippine mahogany woodwork, and a dome of Tiffany glass over the shower. The house is presently used by the Masonic Temple Association as a clubhouse. It is attached to a striking Egyptian-styled temple, fronting on Wisconsin Avenue." Renewing Our Roots: A Guide To Racine, Wisconsin, Central City, Southside, Preservation-Racine, 1977. |
| Bibliographic References | PRESERVATION RACINE, INC. NEWSLETTER SUMMER 1994. Buildings of Wisconsin manuscript. Racine Landmarks Preservation Commission, South Side Historic District Walking Tour Guide, 1993. Renewing Our Roots: A Guide To Racine, Wisconsin, Central City, Southside, Preservation-Racine, 1977. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Southside Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Oct 18, 1977 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing | Yes |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
