Property Record
300 E WALNUT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Federal Building |
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| Other Name: | Brown County Law Enforcement Center |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 36796 |
| Location (Address): | 300 E WALNUT ST |
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| County: | Brown |
| City: | Green Bay |
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| Year Built: | 1909 |
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| Additions: | 1959 1985 |
| Survey Date: | 19862017 |
| Historic Use: | government office/facility |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | Steel Frame |
| Wall Material: | Limestone |
| Architect: | German & Lignell of Duluth |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Green Bay Downtown Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 5/13/2019 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 2/16/2018 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| 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-Public History. ITALIAN RENAISSANCE REVIVAL INFLUENCE. STRONG RUSTICATED FIRST STORY, QUOINS, PEDIMENTED WINDOWS AND SYMMETRICAL FACADE. Excellent example in very original condition. A one-story entrance pavillion closes the space between the flanking pavillions in the east facing facade (BR 85/19) and has modern windows in triple groups with transom above, the center of which contains the metal entrance hood supported by two pairs of columns. The excellent limestone exterior is otherwise totally intact except for the addition of modern energy-efficient windows. The first floor of the building is rusticated throughout, and all windows are semi-circular arched with the horizontal rustication lines down to imitate vousoirs above each window. A wide limestone beltcourse encircles the building above the first floor and all corners of the building have quoins rising to the denticulated cornice encircling the building below the parapet. The west facing facade (BR 85/18) is five bays wide with the center three placed in a very shallow projecting pavillion divided vertically by four large flat pilasters. The second floor windows in this pavillion have excellent pedimented hood molds supported by consoles. The inner side of each pilaster has a small reveal topped by a volute, suggetsive of an Ionic Column. Except for the Courthouse, this is Green Bay's best building in the style. Federal building constructed for post office, federal court, and other federal agencies. 2017-NRHP District Nomination The cornerstone for the Federal Building was laid in 1907 and was first occupied in 1909. This building was designed by Duluth architects German and Lignell for use as a Post Office and it served in that capacity until a replacement was constructed in 1958 at 101 N. Jefferson Street. This neo-classical building stands three stories tall. The foundation, from grade level to the bottom of the first story, is of granite blocks while the three stories above are clad in Bedford limestone blocks. The entirety of the first floor is rusticated. The predominantly horizontal rustications change course in way of the semi-circular arched tops of all first story windows, thereby giving the visual impression of voussoirs. Second and third story windows are mostly rectangular, 3/3 or 2/2 types, with the exception of the semi-circular arched windows on the rear (east) façade and one on the north façade. A wide beltcourse circles the building above the first story. All outside corners of the building have quoins at the second and third stories. As built, the primary entrance was on the west façade towards N. Adams Street. This façade is five bays wide; the three center bays project slightly from the mass. This projection includes four large, rectangular pilasters that separate the five bays from one another. Each pilaster has a wide center section that projects slightly from its two side sections, and each side section is topped by a single volute in the form of half of an Ionic capital. At the second story, the three central windows have pedimented hood molds supported by corbels. Dentils and modillions adorn the cornice at the top of the third story with parapet and central cartouche above. This building retains a very high degree of exterior integrity. Nonetheless, changes have been made. Many windows are now energy-efficient replacements. Exterior stairs approaching the north and east façade entrances were removed in the mid-1980s. The entrances were replaced with windows matching those elsewhere on the first floor. Alterations done in 1985 and 1986 converted the building to serve as the offices for the Brown County Sheriff and District Attorney. The primary entrance is now on the east façade, where an original one-story pavilion encloses the space between the two-story wings that give the upper floors of the building a C-shape plan. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Sanborn-Perris Map Co., INc. Fire Insurance Map of Green Bay, Wisconsin. New York, 1957. (B) Voyageur, Brown County Historical Society, V. 3, p. 2 (Winter/Spring 86/87) p. 37. http://www.co.brown.wi.us/departments/page_bbdd4433e7e6/?department=6b052f1617e8&subdepartment=a8d31abe04e8 (C) Date stone. (D) Timothy Heggland et al., Green Bay Intensive Survey Final Report (Green Bay: Redevelopment Authority, 1988), 260. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |