Property Record
2705 E NEWBERRY BLVD
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | VALENTINE FINA HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27991 |
| Location (Address): | 2705 E NEWBERRY BLVD |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
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| Year Built: | 1929 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1991 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Spanish/Mediterranean Styles |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Raymond Dwyer |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Newberry Boulevard Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 3/7/1994 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 7/9/1993 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | RAYMOND DWYER WAS THE BUILDER. FINA WAS THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CLUM MANUFACTURING C. HE WAS BORN IN AUSTRIA ON FEBRUARY 4, 1882. HE WAS TRAINED AS A MACHINIST IN AUSTRIA AND HIS WORK THERE INCLUDED BOILERMAKING, BRIDGE WORK, AND MACHINE BUILDING. SHORTLY BEFORE COMING TO THE U.S. HE WAS THE MANAGER OF A PAPER MILL WHERE HE WORKED ON IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PLANT. IN SEPTEMBER 1903 HE CAME TO MILWAUKEE WHERE A BROTHER AND 2 SISTERS WERE ALREADY LIVING. HE WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH AND HAD ONLY 9 DOLLARS. HE FOUND WORK AS A MACHINIST FOR THE FILER AND STOWELL CO., A MANUFACTURER OF SAWMILL EQUIPMENT. ON MAY 25, 1911, HE AND JOSEPH PICHLER FOUNDED THE FINA-PICHLER CO. TO MANUFACTURE LABOR SAVING TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR INDUSTRY. FINA BECAME SOLE-OWNER ON NOVEMBER 12, 1918 AND SOLD THE FIRM IN JUNE 1919. IN 1918 HE BOUGHT THE CLUM MANUFACTURING CO. HE MOVED THE PLANT TO THE CORNER OF S. 6TH ST. AND W. NATIONAL AVE. EMPLOYEES INCREASED FROM ABOUT 85 IN 1918 TO 400 BY THE EARLY 1920S. PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS OF THE FIRM INCLUDED ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICES FOR AUTOMOBILES, TRUCKS, AND TRACTORS. HE LIVED HERE AT LEAST THROUGH 1950. BY 1960, HOWEVER, WILLIAM B. MINEHAND WAS THE OCCUPANT. Photo code is CW1-11. Estimated original cost - $20,000. |
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| Bibliographic References: | PERMIT. HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE, VOL. III, PP. 140-143. CITY DIRECTORIES. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |