Property Record
5876 S HOWELL AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church |
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| Other Name: | St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church |
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| Reference Number: | 44274 |
| Location (Address): | 5876 S HOWELL AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1884 |
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| Additions: | 1927 1908 |
| Survey Date: | 19952011 |
| Historic Use: | house of worship |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | Brick |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | Adolphus Druiding; SCHUNK AND BOTT |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 2009 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| 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 State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. This church is the major surviving element of the rural settlement of New Coeln which was founded by Germans from the Koln area. The parish was established in January of 1847; by that time about fifty families had settled in New Coeln. The first church was a 30'x40' frame building; land, labor, and materials were donated by parishioners. The present church was built on the same site. A fire in 1908 gutted the structure, leaving only the walls. Another fire in 1926 destroyed the interior and the roof. The early rectory and school, built in 1886 and 1888 respectively, no longer exist. The present rectory dates from 1927. The school was built in the 1950s with an addition in 1962. St. Stephen's is a large, symmetrical, cream brick Victorian Gothic Revival style structure that features a soaring tower centered on the front elevation. The altar end faces east. The church's symmetrical massing and central steeple are features that strongly associated it with German-inspired church design in Wisconsin. A rectory designed in a simplified English Cottage style is attached to the south elevation of the church. A large, non-contributing, contemporary style school is located about 150 feet east of the church and rectory. Portions of the unincorporated village of New Coeln were annexed by the city of Milwaukee throughout the 1950's until it was completely absorbed in the later part of the decade. 2011: The church is no longer extant; a Home 2 Suites hotel stands in its place. Fire damaged the church tower and steeple in April 2008. A new church was completed in the Winter of 2009 at 1441 W. Oakwood Road.\ 1995- "This architect-designed brick church was constructed in 1897 and was rebuilt in 1908 and 1927 following fires. The Gothic Revival Style church was built with cream-city brick with stone trim. The main facade is dominated by a square tower with an octagonal spire. The church was built by a congregation of German immigrants, who had founded the community of New Coeln in which the church was located in the 1840s." - "Gen. Mitchell Int'l Airport Noise Abatement Program", Prepared by Mead & Hunt, Inc (1995). |
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| Bibliographic References: | Kerstin, Edward, Milwaukee Journal, 5/6/1976. St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church: Milwaukee Landmark. Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission. n.d. St. Stephen's Congregation: 125th Anniversary Souvenir, 1847-1973, pp. 7-23. St. Stephen's Congregation 135th Anniversary: 1847-1983. "Old Times at the Airport". The Milwaukee Journal, December 3, 1987. Karen Mahoney, "St. Stephen Parish Prepares to Move to Oak Creek, WI," 17 September 2009, Available online at www.chnonline.org/news/local/262-St-Stephen-Parish-Prepares-to-Move-to-Oak-Creek-WI., Accessed in December 2011. “Architecture/History Survey: Rehab STH 38/S. Howell Ave.: Ryan Rd. To Grange Ave. WHS project number 12-0910/MI. December 2012. Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |