Property Record
4212 HIGHLAND BLVD
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Cold Springs Repair Shops |
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| Other Name: | TMER&L Co, Milwaukee County Transit System |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 117589 |
| Location (Address): | 4212 HIGHLAND BLVD |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1911 |
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| Additions: | C. 1930 |
| Survey Date: | 1979 |
| Historic Use: | station |
| Architectural Style: | Twentieth Century Commercial |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Co. |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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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. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The central headquarters of the T.M.E.R. & L. Company is a sprawling, voluminous complex on the city's West Side. Constructed over a period of years from c. 1895 to 1930 it is chiefly of Cream City brick and is functional and utilitarian in design and form. A complete working unit it consists of offices, garages, repair shops, hot galvanizing room, brass foundry, armature room, forge shop and machine shop. Construction date, circa 1895 to 1930. No main building permit. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company (T.M.E.R. & L. Co.) was a result of numerous mergers prior to the formation of the company. There were a number of smaller street railway concerns that operated by horse or mule drawn cars. Henry C. Payne brought to the attention of New York financier Henry Villard the need for efficient electric transport in Milwaukee. At the time no one company could make such an investment for the transfer to electric power. Villard, who had controlling interest in the Milwaukee City Railway Co. merged with Cream City Railway in 1890 as Milwaukee Street Railway. In 1891 the West Side Railway Co. was purchased. By 1894 all within the city limits were absorbed with Villard retiring as president in 1892. Payne served in the position until 1895. In the same year the Whitefish Bay Railway and the Wauwatosa Motor Railway Company were incorporated into the parent company. Previous to this the Badger Illuminating Company and the Edison Electric Illunimating Company were purchased respectively in 1890 and 1891. T.M.E.R. & L. Co. was officially organized in 1896 with William Nelson Cromwell as president and Payne as Vice-President. |
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| Bibliographic References: | 1. Sanborn Ins. Maps, 1910, vol. 7, pl. 776. 2.Gregory, J. C. History of MIlwaukee, 1931, vol. 2, pp. 1199-1200. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |