Property Record
2129 N MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | RACINE ZOO LAGOON - CLAY PITS |
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| Other Name: | RACINE ZOO LAGOON |
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| Reference Number: | 11141 |
| Location (Address): | 2129 N MAIN ST |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
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| Survey Date: | 20082009 |
| Historic Use: | natural feature |
| Architectural Style: | NA (unknown or not a building) |
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| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | REMAINS OF CLAY PITS USED BY BRICK MANUFACTURERS FROM CA 1860-1910. These pits contained an unusual combination of minerals which, when fired, produced "Cream City" bricks. The 1882 city directory lists only the F.N. Burdick brickyard in this area. The 1887 city directory lists the William Bauman, F.N. Burdick, and the Hilker Bros. and Co. brickyards here. The 1894 city directory lists William Bauman, L.P. Burdick, Hammerson and Son, and Hilker Bros. brickyards here. 2009- The Lagoon at the Racine Zoological Gardens was originally the clay pits used by the Bauman and Haumerson Brickyards of Racine. After the zoo moved to its current location on North Main Street, the clay pits were filled with water and used as an ornamental lagoon. The lagoon is roughly hourglass-shaped, with the northern portion (approximately 611ft. in circumference) being significantly smaller than the southern portion (approximately 809ft. in circumference). A wooden bridge spans the narrowest part of the lagoon, between the north and south sides. -"North Main Street Survey," WisDOT ID #2703-02-02, Prepared by Gail Hammerich (2009). 2008- Lagoon appears unchanged from previous survey in 1979. Bridge crosses water feature and has stone abutments and concrete wing walls. Date of construction undetermined. Resurveyed October 2009; appearance unchanged. |
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| Bibliographic References: | 1860-1920 city directories. Racine Journal, Bicentennial Issue, 10/28/1956, "Brickyards Once Flourished in Racine...". Historic Resources Survey, City of Racine. Mead & Hunt, Inc. June 2008. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |