| Additional Information: | 2007 community survey eligibility recommendation write-up: This three-story school structure rises from a concrete foundation and is faced with brick. The building's primary facade faces W. Lapham Street and consists of a stone-trimmed, stepped, central entrance tower that is flanked at either side by three bays which are vertically articulated with brick piers. Each floor of each bay carries a bank of three windows and, like nearly all of the other West Allis schools of this general era, window openings remain intact; however, original windows have been covered on the exterior by translucent material. The primary elevation terminates at either end by single bays of solid brick walls devoid of fenestration, but exhibiting a geometric stone ornament near the center. The tower entry, as well as either end of this facade, is articulated with incised stone ornament, while pier caps feature incised vertical lines. Turning to the east, this facade features a secondary, tower-like entry right of center and a series of bays that are again vertically divided by brick piers with stone caps incised with vertical lines.
This educational facility was originally built in 1935 and was known as the John Dewey Junior High School. The school, which was named after educator and philosopher Dr. John Dewey of Columbia University, opened for classes on 10 December 1935. Although the cost of the school structure was estimated at about $110,000, an article cites that the total actual cost was approximately $155,000, thirty percent of which was to be paid by the federal government. The majority of the students to attend the school were to be drawn from the existing high school, as well as two groups from the Lincoln School and one from the McKinley School. The school was to have fifteen or sixteen teachers; however, the facility was not equipped to teach physical education or manual arts. The architectural firm of Lindl & Schutte, Inc., was responsible for the original block, the 1938 addition, as well as the south addition in 1951. In 1973, the school was converted as/renamed Lincoln Elementary School and the work was completed by the firm of Schutte & Mochon. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Dates of Construction from permits: 11 March 1935, $109,139.00, Lindl & Schutte, Inc., Paul Reisen & Sons, contractors; 20 December 1937, two story addition plus basement, $141,900.00, Lindl & Schutte, Foster-Morris Co., contractors; 15 February 1951, addition to south end, $338,000.00, Thomas H. Bentley & Son Inc., contractors.
Original permit for 7815 W. Lapham Street, dated 11 March 1935, est. cost $109,139.00, Paul Riesen & Sons, contractors; Permit for addition (two-story plus basement), dated 20 December 1937, est. cost $141,900, Foster-Morris Co.; Permit for addition (to south), dated 15 February 1951, est. cost $338,000, Thomas H. Bentley & Son, Inc., contractors; Permit for conversion from a junior high to an elementary school, dated 19 December 1973, est. cost $43,700; "Open New Junior High School Next Week," West Allis Star, 5 December 1935, page 1 and 5, clipping located in the John Dewey Junior High binder, WAHS. |
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