click zoom to display a high-res image
Summary
Merrill City Hall
717 East 2nd Street, Merrill, Lincoln County
Architect: T.D. Allen
Date of Construction: 1889
Pioneers carved the city of Merrill out of the forested wilderness of northern Wisconsin. In 1889, community leaders constructed Merrill City Hall as a symbol of civic pride and as a focus of community life. All of city government, as well as a variety of social and humanitarian services, took place in the building. One of the first libraries in northern Wisconsin was opened in city hall in 1891. The library also formed an early traveling library, sending books to small towns and lumber camps throughout the county. Other services housed here included the City Nurse Service, the Merrill City Band, Red Cross, Humane Society and the Chamber of Commerce.
Built with elements of the Ricahrdsonian Romanesque style, this imposing civic monument is the focal point of Merrill's main street. Elaborate towers decorate the building. A framed turret adorned with Moorish arches crowns the tall octagonal tower at the façade. The curved balcony above the front entrance served as a podium for speeches and announcements.
After facing demolition, a developer converted the vacant building into 17 unique apartments using the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit. The building is not open to the public. Please respect the privacy rights of the residents.
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.
Bennett and Main Sts.
79000341
Located in Mellen, Ashland County
105 N. Dickason St.
79000065
Located in Columbus, Columbia County
174 E. Wisconsin Ave.
80000205
Located in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County
