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Property Location
Property Features
This property is a contributing member of the Marshfield Central Avenue Historic District under Criterion C of the National Register of Historic Places. It is representative of the Architecture Theme of the Wisconsin Cultural Resource Management Plan as an example of Commercial Vernacular architecture with Italianate details. The building's architectural integrity on the second story is high, while the first story alterations are reflective of continued use and changing stylistic preferences.
Built between 1891 and 1898, this commercial building housed a saloon on the first floor and a Hall on hte second floor through 1912. In 1925 and 1946 an unidentified store occupied the property. Historically this property has had the same address as it does presently: #101 North Central Avenue;.
By 1904, both the Armory [not extant, site of parking lot on corner of Chestnut Avenue and West Second Street] and the Saenger Hall [upstairs in this building, 101 North Central Avenue, WO 11/18], public meetings. Both were used by a variety of organizations on a regular basis, and probably by occasional groups as well.
By 1921, the Saenger Hall was renamed "Baumann's Hall" in the City Directory listings. Although the Armory was listed as a public meeting place in the 1928 City Directory, the Sanborn Insurance Map for 1925 indicates that a new structure had been built on the site which did not contain meeting space.
The Marshfield Maennerchor met in the Saenger Hall in 1898. In 1915, the "Deutscher Krieger Verein" met at the Saenger Hall.
At the April, 1900 meeting of the City Council, newly inducted council men were welcomed by a depleted treasury and drenched by rains leaking through the roof. At that point the council recognized the need for a new building in which to house city government. By September, 1900, the City Council was meeting at Baumann Hall (101 North Central [WO 11/18]), indicating the meeting space at the moved school house was not satisfactor6y, even for temporary purposes. Construction of the new City Hall began soon afterwards.
This property is a contributing member of the Marshfield Central Avenue Historic District under Criterion A of the National Register of Historic Places. It is representative of the Commercial Theme of the Wisconsin Cultural Resource Management Plan as an example of a retail building providing Goods and Services.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
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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