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Property Location
Location (Address)
425 MORRIS ST
County
Fond du Lac
City/Village
Fond du Lac
Township
Unincorporated community
Town
Range
Direction
Section
Quarter Section
Quarter Quarter Section
Property Features
Year Built
1919
Additions
Survey Date
2011
Historic Use
Architectural Style
Structural System
Wall Material
Aluminum/Vinyl Siding
Architect
Other Buildings On Site
Demolished
No
Demolished Date
Additional Comments
This small, linear district is comprised of seven two-story, Craftsman-influenced homes located along the east side of Morris Street between 421 and 449 Morris Street. Four are front-gabled in form, while three are side-gabled and all rise from a concrete block foundation. All have been re-sided with modern sheathing; however, a few retain their original eave bracketing/knee braces, with others retaining some of their multiple-light windows. All homes feature a front porch along its entrance facade and all but one has been enclosed. See Appendix D for the list of addresses and the original occupants of each.
These seven homes were built by the Fond du Lac Home Building Company between 1919 and 1920. In July of 1919, the local paper reported that the slogan of the company was "Boost Fond du Lac" by building homes and stock-selling in the home building company began. The first meeting of the company was held on September 1st; officers included P.B. Haber, president; W.W. Wild, vice president; S.D. Wyatt, secretary; and H.R. Potter, treasurer. By-laws were drawn up and the directors voted to call in 25% of the capital stock subscribed to get the home building going in the shortest possible time. Within three short weeks, C.M. Dykhoff and M.M. Cory were elected to replace Haber and Wyatt, respectively, who resigned for reasons related to both business and personal issues (but they were still strongly in support of the efforts fo the building company). One week later, it was announced that property on both Morris Street and Western Avenue had been purchased. Although no specific information was found regarding the Western Avenue location (which was purchased from D.L. Ramsey), it was reported at the beginning of October that six new houses would be started as of the following week.
On land purchased from Margaret Hass and located in the J.G. Hass Second Addition, a series of six homes were built from a standardized plan and constructed by Louis Schroeder, who had been awarded the contract. Schroeder cited that a force of twenty men would be out so that the homes could be put under roof and plastered before the cold weather sets in. Plans were available at the office of the secretary E.T. Markle, where they could be reviewed by anyone interested in purchasing one of the homes. Each home was to have a living room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor, while the second level would include three bedrooms and a bathroom. All houses were to be wired for electricity but not equipped with actual fixtures as it assumed a home buyer would want to make those decisions. Similarly, the furnace was also to be left as a choice for the prospective buyer. The homes were identified as four blocks from the street car, as well as in close proximity to the new Nunn, Bush & Weldon shoe factory. it was also noted that the street was anticipated to be paved within the next two to three years. Although only six were initially cited to be built, it is clear that a seventh one was built from the same plan either from the start or shortly thereafter. Unfortunately no additional newspaper articles were found regarding completion of the homes.
The houses are either front or side-gabled in form, exhibit limited Craftsman-influenced detailing and all have been re-sheathed with modern materials and/or windows. However, regarding Criterion A: History (Planning and Development), the string of seven houses were a direct product of the community's concern for the lack of available quality housing in the City of Fond du Lac at a time when housing was in great shortage in the state, as well as throughout the United States. Standing as a direct product of the Post-World War I housing shortage, the Fond du Lac Home Building Company Historic District is significant under Criterion A. Although not appearing to be mandatory to the eligibility of the subject district, additional research should be conducted in order to determine whether or not the above-reference Western Avenue lots, or any others, were ever improved by the Fond du Lac Home Building Company.
The earliest known owners/occupants of the house (1921) were Russell J. & Norma Harden; Russell worked as a foreman for the Soo Line.
These seven homes were built by the Fond du Lac Home Building Company between 1919 and 1920. In July of 1919, the local paper reported that the slogan of the company was "Boost Fond du Lac" by building homes and stock-selling in the home building company began. The first meeting of the company was held on September 1st; officers included P.B. Haber, president; W.W. Wild, vice president; S.D. Wyatt, secretary; and H.R. Potter, treasurer. By-laws were drawn up and the directors voted to call in 25% of the capital stock subscribed to get the home building going in the shortest possible time. Within three short weeks, C.M. Dykhoff and M.M. Cory were elected to replace Haber and Wyatt, respectively, who resigned for reasons related to both business and personal issues (but they were still strongly in support of the efforts fo the building company). One week later, it was announced that property on both Morris Street and Western Avenue had been purchased. Although no specific information was found regarding the Western Avenue location (which was purchased from D.L. Ramsey), it was reported at the beginning of October that six new houses would be started as of the following week.
On land purchased from Margaret Hass and located in the J.G. Hass Second Addition, a series of six homes were built from a standardized plan and constructed by Louis Schroeder, who had been awarded the contract. Schroeder cited that a force of twenty men would be out so that the homes could be put under roof and plastered before the cold weather sets in. Plans were available at the office of the secretary E.T. Markle, where they could be reviewed by anyone interested in purchasing one of the homes. Each home was to have a living room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor, while the second level would include three bedrooms and a bathroom. All houses were to be wired for electricity but not equipped with actual fixtures as it assumed a home buyer would want to make those decisions. Similarly, the furnace was also to be left as a choice for the prospective buyer. The homes were identified as four blocks from the street car, as well as in close proximity to the new Nunn, Bush & Weldon shoe factory. it was also noted that the street was anticipated to be paved within the next two to three years. Although only six were initially cited to be built, it is clear that a seventh one was built from the same plan either from the start or shortly thereafter. Unfortunately no additional newspaper articles were found regarding completion of the homes.
The houses are either front or side-gabled in form, exhibit limited Craftsman-influenced detailing and all have been re-sheathed with modern materials and/or windows. However, regarding Criterion A: History (Planning and Development), the string of seven houses were a direct product of the community's concern for the lack of available quality housing in the City of Fond du Lac at a time when housing was in great shortage in the state, as well as throughout the United States. Standing as a direct product of the Post-World War I housing shortage, the Fond du Lac Home Building Company Historic District is significant under Criterion A. Although not appearing to be mandatory to the eligibility of the subject district, additional research should be conducted in order to determine whether or not the above-reference Western Avenue lots, or any others, were ever improved by the Fond du Lac Home Building Company.
The earliest known owners/occupants of the house (1921) were Russell J. & Norma Harden; Russell worked as a foreman for the Soo Line.
Bibliographic References
"Boost Fond du Lac by Building Houses," The Daily Commonwealth, 16 July 1919; "Directors Elect First Officers," The Daily Commonwealth, 2 September 1919; "Board Changed; C.M. Dykhoff is New President," The Daily Commonwealth, 23 September 1919; "Home Company is Starting Six New Houses on Monday," The Daily Commonwealth, 4 October 1919;Margaret Haas to the Fond du Lac Home Building Company," Warranty Deed, 8 October 1919, Vol. 207/page 92, Doc. #111277; Fond du Lac City Directory, 1921.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
National/State Register Listing Name
Not Listed
National Register Listing Date
State Register Listing Date
Contributing
Yes
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
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