click zoom to display a high-res image
Roughly bounded by Virginia Ter., Regent St., S. Spooner Ave., and Illinois Central Railroad
West Lawn Heights Historic District
98000223
Roughly bounded by Virginia Ter., Regent St., S. Spooner Ave., and Illinois Central Railroad
Dane
Madison
Summary
West Lawn Heights Historic District
Bounded on the south by Illinois Central Railroad tracks, the west by Forest Hill Cemetery and the north by Regent Street, Madison, Dane County
Dates of contributing buildings: 1906-1946
The 1890s was a period of rapid growth for the city of Madison. The downtown area was growing denser and older neighborhoods were beginning to deteriorate. Spurred by the introduction of streetcars, developers platted new suburban neighborhoods. University Heights and Wingra Park were among the first suburbs developed in Madison. In 1903, as city services and schools became available, West Lawn Heights was platted between the two.
Development was slow until 1913 when investors created a new hybrid company to act as both a real estate sales agency and a land development company. The result was the innovative Madison Realty Company (MRC), which both sold lots and built homes on them. The MRC promoted the physical and social attractiveness of the development by advertising beautiful views of Lake Mendota and the surrounding countryside. Limited city zoning powers led suburbs like West Lawn Heights in adopting deed restrictions to ban liquor sales and enforcing more stringent building rules and restrictions. The MRC's approach became an effective model for suburban land development in Madison.
West Lawn Heights illustrates the evolution of early 20th century residential design between WWI and WWII in Madison. The city's best architects, including Alvan E. Small, recognized by his Prairie School designs, supplied plans for many of the homes, creating a distinctive concentration of early 20th century progressive to late Period Revival homes.
The homes in this district are private residences. Please respect the rights of the owners.
Property Details
Resources Within The Property
Designations
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or have other questions about the registers, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Roughly bounded by Odana Rd, Manitou Way, Mohawk Dr, and Whenona Dr
98000168
Located in Madison, Dane County
Roughly bounded by Regent, Allen, Lathrop Sts., and Kendall Ave. (both sides)
82001844
Located in Madison, Dane County
Roughly bounded by Monroe St., Garfield St., Chandler St., S. Randall Ave., Drake St., Vilas Ave., and Edgewood Ave.
99001257
Located in Madison, Dane County
North Sherman Boulevard roughly bounded by West Keefe Avenue and West Lisbon Avenue
04000271
Located in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
Generally bounded by Ridgeway Boulevard, Oakdale Avenue and Glenwood Avenue
07000370
Located in De Pere, Brown County
