Property Record
7113-7115 W NATIONAL AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | John Welsand Building |
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| Reference Number: | 145084 |
| Location (Address): | 7113-7115 W NATIONAL AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | West Allis |
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| Year Built: | 1927 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20072015 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Twentieth Century Commercial |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | A.L. Steffel |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | John Welsand ran his harness shop out of the lower level. Louis Wolter was the contractor. German Renaissance Revival influenced parapet. 2015- "This two-story commercial building is faced with brick and features a stepped parapet with stone coping along its primary (north) elevation. The former first-floor storefront has been boarded-over, however, the central, recessed entry is still accessible. The second level includes two pair of double-hung sash that are underscored by a continuous stone sill and topped with a row of soldier brick; corners are accented with stone insets. An additional stone inset is located under the central rounded parapet. The building’s west elevation immediately abuts the building to the west, while the portion of the east elevation that is visible beyond a tree line is comprised of common brick and a hipped roof wall dormer is located near the rear (south) end of the structure. Completed in 1927, this was originally the harness shop and residence (above) of John Welsand. Welsand was born in 1878 in Wisconsin, the son of Polish immigrant Michael Welsand, who was also a harnessmaker. By no later than 1918, John had set up shop along W. National Avenue, one block west of the subject building and along the north side of the street. His time at the 1927 combined shop and home was short, as he died in 1933. However, the shop continued in his name through 1945, with his widow Pauline remaining on the second floor. As of 1950, the first floor was identified as Dooley’s Fur Shop; by 1967, the Gritzmacher Printing Company had moved into the building." -"W National Ave- S 76th St to S 70th St", WisDOT #2410-00-07, Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (Schnell), (2015). |
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| Bibliographic References: | Building Permit, 15 November 1926 (1 store, 2 apartments, 2 car garage; Wright's West Allis 1932 City Directory. 2015 survey citations: Building permit for 7113-7115 W. National Avenue (one store, two apartments and a two-car garage), 15 November 1926; Occupancy permit, 29 August 1967; West Allis City Directory, 1918, 1927, 1932, 1940, 1945, 1950; U.S. Federal Census, Population, 1910, 1920, 1930; Birth and death dates for John A. Welsand available online at www.findagrave.com, Accessed October 2015. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |