Property Record
107 E 1ST ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | |
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| Other Name: | AMERICAN LEGION HALL |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 21822 |
| Location (Address): | 107 E 1ST ST |
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| County: | Lincoln |
| City: | Merrill |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
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| Year Built: | 1929 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2006 |
| Historic Use: | meeting hall |
| Architectural Style: | Craftsman |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Oppenhamer and Obel |
| 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, State Historic Preservation Office. HIGH FOUNDATION W/PAIRED WINDOWS. PROJECTING ENTRANCE PAVILION W/HIP ROOF. SEGMENTAL ARCH FANLIGHT TRANSOM OVER CRAFTSMAN STYLE DOORS. WIDE OVERHANGING EAVES W/BRACKETS. PAIRED 3/1 CRAFTSMAN STYLE WINDOWS. BUILT IN 1929 ON A LOT DONATED TO THE AMERICAN LEGION BY THE MERRILL CITY COUNCIL, IT IS A PRAIRIE STYLE FORM WITH ITS LOW, ONE STORY, RECTANGULAR BRICK FORM. ON OCTOBER 24, 1919 CAPTAIN A.H. SMITH, HAROLD MORGAN, AND OTHERS FORMED THE EDWARD BURNS POST NO. 46 OF THE AMERICAN LEGION. THE POST RECEIVED ITS NAME FROM A LINCOLN COUNTY SERVICEMAN WHO HAD DIED IN WORLD WAR I. BY 1924 THE LEGION HAD GROWN FROM 15 TO 163 MEMBERS. IN 1921 THE LADIES AUXILIARY TO THE LEGION FORMED. THE LEGION ASSUMED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY, SUPPORTED GOOD SCHOOLS AND ROADS, AND SPONSORED MEMORIAL DAY AND ARMISTICE DAY EXERCISES. SOME OF ITS EARLY SOCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED COMMUNITY PICNICS, A PROGRAM ON U.S. GRANT'S ON-HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY, PLAYS, AND FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS. LEGION PROJECTS AND FUNDRAISERS CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS TODAY. THE AMERICAN LEGION BUILDING IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PRAIRIE SCHOOL STYLE-INFLUENCED PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE IN MERRILL. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) MERRILL CITY DIRECTORIES, 1893-1945, LOCATED AT T.B. SCOTT FREE LIBRARY, MERRILL, WI. (B) "AMERICAN LEGION SPRING CONFERENCE AND LUMBERJACK JAMBOREEE." 1936. (PAMPHLET FOR JAMBOREEE LOCATED AT MERRILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY). |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |