click zoom to display a high-res image
Summary
Adams Elementary School
1138 East Memorial Drive, Janesville, Rock County
Dates of Construction: 1939, 1952, 1976, and 1995
Architect: Law, Law, and Potter
Adams Elementary School was constructed in 1939 with the assistance of the Public Works Administration (PWA) in the City of Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin. Adams Elementary School was constructed in fulfillment of the Janesville Board of Education’s early twentieth century building program and the State Department of Education’s recommendations to establish a three-tier school system in Janesville consisting of graded elementary, junior high (also referred to as middle school), and senior high schools in the 1920s and 1930s. It is one of the four elementary schools constructed in Janesville between 1929 and 1939, pursuant to the State Department of Education’s recommendations, and is one of the four oldest operational modern elementary schools in the city. Adams Elementary School is significant at the local level in the area of Education as a representation of the establishment of the contemporary public school system in Janesville and the adaptation of the buildings to meet changing educational needs.
In the area of Architecture, Adams Elementary School is significant at the local level under as a distinctive example of a Classical Revival educational building. The Madison-based architectural firm of Law, Law, and Potter designed Adams Elementary School in the Classical Revival style with influences of the contemporaneous Stripped Classicism and Art Deco styles. Emblematic of the Classical Revival style, the school exhibits balanced facades, classically derived entablatures and pediments, and a distinctive, classically derived entrance and cupola. The influence of Stripped Classicism and Art Deco are present in the austere execution of the classical details and the incorporation of reeded and angular features on secondary elevations and in the interior. The first addition was constructed in 1951–1952 and was similarly designed by Law, Law, Potter, and Nystrom to be consistent with the architectural character of the original school. Subsequent additions were constructed in 1976 and 1995.
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.
316 S Ringold St
100011593
Located in Janesville, Rock County
3 Janesville Elementary Schools Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Thursday, April 17, 2025
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of three Janesville elementary schools in the National Register of Historic Places on April 1, 2025.
Adams Elementary School Listed in the State Register of Historic Places
Friday, December 06, 2024
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of Adams Elementary school in Janesville (Rock County) on the State Register of Historic Places.
Washington Elementary School Listed in the State Register of Historic Places
Thursday, December 19, 2024
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of Washington Elementary school in Janesville (Rock County) on the State Register of Historic Places.
