Property Record
14 E EAU CLAIRE ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | UNITED STATES POST OFFICE - RICE LAKE |
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| Other Name: | UNITED STATES POST OFFICE - RICE LAKE |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 17069 |
| Location (Address): | 14 E EAU CLAIRE ST |
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| County: | Barron |
| City: | Rice Lake |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1937 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1998 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Art Deco |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | LOUIS A. SIMON; NEAL A. MELICK |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| 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. DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL AREA: THE RICE LAKE POST OFFICE IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF EAST EAU CLAIRE STREET, ABOUT ONE BLOCK WEST OF THE SHORE OF RICE LAKE AND ABOUT ONE-HALF BLOCK EAST OF MAIN STREET AND THE CITY'S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. THE SURROUNDING AREA IS PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL, WITH MOSTLY ONE-STORY WOOD FRAME AND BRICK BUILDINGS NEAR THE POST OFFICE, INCLUDING AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, A BEAUTY SALON, A RETAIL STORE, AND A MOOSE LODGE. NONE OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE HISTORIC AND THE POST OFFICE IS NOT LOCATED WITHIN A NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT. GENERAL CONDITION OF PROPERTY: THE RICE LAKE POST OFFICE STANDS ON A FLAT LOT. THE ONLY VEGETATION AROUND THE BUILDING ARE A FEW SMALL PATCHES OF GRASS GROWING AT THE FRONT. BEHIND THE POST OFFICE A PAVED PARKING LOT SURROUNDS THE MAILING PLATFORM. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW ALTERATIONS TO THE BUILDING SINCE IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1937. THE ORIGINAL WOODEN DOORS WERE REPLACED WITH ALUMINUM AND GLASS DOORS AT AN UNKNOW DATE. ALL OF THE DOUBLE HUNG SASH WINDOWS WERE REPLACED WITH SINGLE PANE FIXED SASH IN 1976, AND THE ROOF SKYLIGHT WAS REMOVED AND ENCLOSED AT THE SAME TIME. THE MAILING PLATFORM WAS ENLARGED IN THE 1970'S. OTHER CHANGES INSIDE THE POST OFFICE HAVE RESULTED FROM EFFORTS TO MODERNIZE AND INCREASE EFFICIENCY. FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONING WERE INSTALLED IN THE 1970'S. A NEW SCREENLINE WITH A STEEL CURTAIN REPLACED THE ORIGINAL BRASS GRILLES IN 1966. DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING MATERIALS: THE FOUNDATION, WALLS, PIERS, AND FLOORS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF REINFORCED CONCRETE. EXTERIOR WALLS ARE COVERED WITH REDDISH-BROWN BRICK LAID IN AMERICAN BOND WITH EVERY SIXTH COURSE COMPOSED OF HEADERS. THE SILL IS FACED WITH GRANITE, BUFF-COLORED LIMESTONE IS USED FROM THE SILL UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOWS, AROUND THE THREE-BAY CENTRAL FACADE OPENINGS, AND AS A STRINGCOURSE. A SET OF GRANITE STEPS WITH CHECK BLOCKS LEADS UP TO THE CENTRAL ENRANCE WHICH IS ACCENTUATED BY THREE TALL WINDOWS WITH PANELS AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM ENTRY. ALUMINUM LETTERS ATTACHED NEAR THE CORNICE SPELL "UNITED STATES POST OFFICE, RICE LAKE WISCONSIN." THE FLAT ROOF IS COVERED WITH COMPOSITION. A BRICK CHIMNEY RISES FROM THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE BUILDING. JOHN KRATOCHVIL FROM NEW PRAQUE, MINNESOTA WAS THE ORIGINAL BUILDING CONTRACTOR FOR THIS POSTAL STATION. THE STRUCTURE WAS FIRST OCCUPIED IN MAY OF 1937, OCCURRING THE SAME MONTH AND YEAR OF ITS COMPLETION. THE PUBLIC LOBBY FEATURES A PATTERNED TERRAZZO FLOOR OF GRAY SQUARES DIVIDED BY 1/4"-THICK BRASS STRIPS ENCLOSED WITHIN A GRAY MARBLE BORDER. BLACK MARBLE IS USED AS THE BASE, GRAY MARBLE FOR THE WAINSCOT; THE UPPER WALLS, MOLDING, AND CEILING ARE MADE OF PLASTER. OTHER ORIGINAL FEATURES THAT REMAIN INTACT INCLUDE SOME LOCK BOXES, THREE HOLLOW METAL GRILLES ABOVE THE CUSTOMER WINDOWS, AND THE THREE-SIDED WOOD AND GLASS VESTIBULE. ON THE WEST WALL ABOVE THE POSTMASTER'S DOOR IS A 6' X 12' MURAL ENTITLED "RUAL DELIVERY" PAINTED IN 1938 BY FORREST FLOWER UNDER COMMISSION TO THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S SECTION OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE (LATER KNOWN AS THE SECTION OF FINE ARTS). THE POSTMASTER'S OFFICE HAS A CARPET OVER A WHITE OAK FLOOR, A WOOD BASE, CHAIR RAIL, PLASTER WALLS AND CEILING, AND FLUORESCENT LIGHTS. THE WORKROOM HAS A MAPLE FLOOR, 4'6"-HIGH TONGUE AND GROOVE WAINSCOT, PLASTER WALLS AND CEILING, FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONING. THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN CONSISTS OF A RECTANGULAR PUBLIC LOBBY WITH THE POSTMASTER'S OFFICE AND BATHROOM IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER. THE WORKROOM IS ESSENTIALLY AN OPEN RECTANGULAR SPACE BEHIND THE LOBBY WITH A VAULT AND JANITOR'S CLOSET ON THE WEST END, AND A WOMEN'S BATHROOOM, MAILING VESTUBULE, AND STAIRCASE DOWN TO THE BASEMENT ALONG THE SOUTH WALL. THE BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN CONSISTS OF THE FUEL ROOM, BOILER ROOM, SWING ROOM WITH BATHROOM, POSTAL INSPECTOR'S OFFICE, THREE STORAGE ROOMS, AND AN UNEXCAVATED SPACE IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER. ABOUT THE ARTIST: FORREST FLOWER (1912-1948), A PAINTER AND PROTEGE OF ZONA GALE, STUDIED AT THE LAYTON SCHOOL OF ART IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. HE EXHIBITED IN A NUMBER OF SHOWS IN THE 1930'S INCLUDING THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON, D.C. IN 1935, AND THE FIRST NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF AMERICAN ART, ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK CITY, IN 1936. HE RECEIVED AWARDS AT THE LAYTON ART GALLERY AND THE WISCONSIN SALON OF ART IN 1938. HIS PAINTINGS ARE NOW IN MANY WISCONSIN COLLECTIONS INCLUDING THE MILWAUKEE ART CENTER AND THE CHARLES A. WUSTUM MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, RACINE. HE EXECUTED TWO MURALS UNDER THE SECTION OF FINE ARTS, FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY AT THE RICE LAKE AND VIROQUA, WISCONSIN POST OFFICES. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: ALTHOUGH THE WINDOWS AND INTERIOR SCREENLINE HAVE BEEN ALTERED, THE RICE LAKE POST OFFICE NEVERTHELESS DISPLAYS HIGH ARTISTIC VALUES THROUGH ITS LOBBY MURAL, WHICH MERITS SIGNIFICANCE UNDER NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERION A FOR ITS HISTORIC ASSOCIATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DEPRESSION ERA NEW DEAL PROGRAMS TO BRING ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART TO THE PUBLIC AND TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO ARTISTS. THIS MURAL MEETS CRITERION C AS AN INTREGRAL PART OF A BUILDING REPRESENTING A SIGNIFICNAT TYPE, PERIOD, AND STYLE OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. FINALLY, THE MURAL IS POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICNAT UNDER CRITERION D FOR ITS INFORMATION POTENTIAL RELATING TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND TECHNIQUE OF THE PERIOD AND THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE LOCALITY DEPICTED. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: CONSTRUCTED IN 1936, THE RICE LAKE POST OFFICE IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT CONTRIBUTES TO A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY DURING THE NEW DEAL ERA. IN PARTICULAR, THE LOBBY MURAL IS ONE VITAL PART OF THE ONLY CONPREHENSIVE PUBLIC COLLECTION OF ART PROTRAYING THE CULTURE AND CHARACTER OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR A GIVEN PERIOD. UNLIKE THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION FEDERAL ART PROJECT, WHICH WAS DIRECTED TOWARD PROVIDING FINANCIAL RELIEF TO ARTISTS TO PRESERVE THEIR SKILLS, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S SECTION OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE SOUGHT TO PROVIDE MURALS AND SCULPTURES FOR NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS. IN THE NINE YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE, THE SECTION COMMISSIONED APPROXIMATELY 1,200 MURALS AND 300 SCULPTURES FOR POST OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. DESPITE ITS ALTERATIONS, THE RICE LAKE POST OFFICE IS SIGNIFICANT UNDER NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERION A FOR ITS HISTORIC AFFILIATION WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S DEPRESSSION ERA NEW DEAL PROGRAMS THAT BROUGHT INNOVATIVE WORKS OF ART TO SMALLER COMMUNITIES SUCH AS RICE LAKE. |
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| Bibliographic References: | . |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |