Property Record
7300 W CHESTNUT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | WAUWATOSA RECREATION BUILDING |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | HART PARK HOWARD MUELLNER BUILDING |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 140438 |
| Location (Address): | 7300 W CHESTNUT ST |
|---|---|
| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Wauwatosa |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1940 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 200220162018 |
| Historic Use: | recreational building/gymnasium |
| Architectural Style: | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect: | Work Projects Administration (builder); Walter Domann (architect) |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| 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, Division of Historic Preservation. Locally designated by the City of Wauwatosa (2012). In 1921, Wauwatosa purchased 19.5 acres of land along the north shore of the Menomonee River and informally named it City Park. A curling facility, playing fields, tennis courts, and skating rink were established in the park by 1926. In 1929, a field house and football field were constructed in the park. The Works Progress Administration actively improved the park with extensive stone walls along the river, an addition to the fieldhouse, offices for the WPA, a new football field, bleachers, plantings, and a parking lot. In 1938, a new indoor curling rink was constructed by the WPA along with a refrigeration plant supported by the Wauwatosa Curling Club. A clubhouse and recreation building, designed by Walter Domann, was completed in 1940. The park continued to be improved with a roller rink and baseball fields completed in 1942. The parking lot was expanded, and the area between the recreation building and the adjacent garages was enclosed and referred to as the annex in 1958. The park was renamed Charles Hart Park, in commemoration of Wauwatosa’s 125th Anniversary, after Wauwatosa’s founder. The football field and other playing fields were used by Wauwatosa High School, and new bleachers and a press box were constructed in 1967. A new park administration and athletic building was constructed near the recreation building in 1968. The recreation building was named after Howard Muellner, the park superintendent for the previous 48 years, in 1974. Resurveyed 2018: no changes. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | .The Wauwatosa Story. Wauwatosa, WI: Wauwatosa Board of Education, 1961. Wauwatosa Historical Society. Wauwatosa, Images of America. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2004. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |