During the 1876 U.S. Centennial celebrations, the old argument that the United States needed an “American” architecture was resurrected, but what at first seemed clear-cut and definable, soon changed into another catch-all style. By 1876, the various revi…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History)
The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that triggered an economic depression in Europe and North America tha… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-colonial-revival/
This style, as developed and named by Richard Norman Shaw in England in the late 19th-century, claimed to be based on design elements used in the time of the English monarch Queen Anne. As the style moved to the United States, it lost many of medieval ele…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History)
The Queen Anne Mess
This style was developed and named by Richard Norman Shaw in England and claimed to be b… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-queen-anne-style/
The Second Empire style features include the mansard roof with dormer windows, decorative brackets, columns, paired columns, half columns, triangular pediments, curved pediments, decorative window crests; the more complex, the better. Even though few exa…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History)
Based on the grand public buildings in Paris designed for Napoleon III, the Second Empire style worked best o… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-second-empire-style/
Though commonly referred to in architecture conversations, often used for any building with a bracket, the Italianate style is almost entirely a domestic style. There are very few public, religious, or commercial examples of the style in the United States…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History)
Italianate means ‘like something in Italy.’ Not a very specific definition for a style of building in the Uni… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-italianate-style/
A look back at the local history stories shared by the La Crosse Public Library Archives in 2023.
Archives staff/volunteers/interns/guest historians put together a lot of great blogs in 2023; please take a moment to check out these local history topics by clicking on the blog … http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/looking-back-2023/
Exotic Revival architecture is mostly understood to be Romantic era homes with added ornamentation inspired by architecture from regions that, at that time in the United States, would have been considered exotic.
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History)
In the book A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia & Lee McAlester, the authors group what they call… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-exotic-revival/
Greek and Roman Revival styles themes are highlighted by the use of classical elements, using old buildings as prototypes to exactly copy or treating various elements from classical buildings as independent items and arranging them to suit contemporary ta…
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History)
Classical is a term for something from the Greek or Roman worlds, often a mixture of both cultures. It's not … http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals-the-greek-and-roman-revivals/
This is the first of a series of blogs on the major architectural styles used in La Crosse during the nineteenth century.
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, UWL Emeritus Professor of Art History)
This is the first of a series of blogs on the major architectural styles used in La Crosse during the ninetee… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/architectural-styles-and-revivals/
In 1853, La Crosse had yet to become incorporated and did not yet have a brewery. John Gund likely saw the opportunity to support his family and use his work experience to his advantage.
(written by Sarah Ludington, Archives staff)
1873 City directory advertisement
Johannes Gund arrived in New York City, from Germany in 1848, just eighteen and with a b… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/john-gunds-empire/
In its 130 years of existence, the five-story building at 116 4th St S has only had two owners: Leithold Music, and the Tillman Bros. Furniture Store. Founded by William and Friedrich Tillman in 1859, the Tillman Bros company served La Crosse for over a c…
(written by Meghan Hoefling, archives staff)
The building occupying 116 4th Street S in La Crosse has been known as Leithold Music for over 60 years. In its 130 years of exist… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-tillman-bros.-cabinet-makers-undertakers-and...-weathermen/
When it formed in 1946, the La Crosse Housing Authority was faced with massive housing shortages. Over the course of the next 40 years, the Authority managed to build 12 public housing developments to help address housing insecurity in La Crosse.
(written by Jenny DeRocher, Archives staff)
In her book about the history of the La Crosse Housing Authority, local historian Susan Hessel explained the national and regional … http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/the-la-crosse-housing-authority-1946-1985/
Wire screen, while an easily overlooked modern convenience now, was an incredible innovation in the late 1800s that dramatically improved the quality of life of La Crosse citizens.
(written by Dr. Les Crocker and Anita Taylor Doering, Archives staff)
Movies and TV productions set in the past always present a sanitized version of how life really was. With… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/stinkytown-and-the-flies/
A look back at the local history stories shared by the La Crosse Public Library Archives in 2022.
Archives staff/volunteers/interns/guest historians put together a lot of great blog posts in 2022; please take a moment to check out these local history topics by clicking on the … http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/looking-back-2022/
Originally called “Halfway Creek” for the stream nearby of the same name by its founder, J.B. Canterbury, Midway was given its present name when the Chicago & Northwestern railroad was built through the community.
(written by Scott Brouwer, Archives staff; “Charleston” information from Bill Petersen, former Archives staff)
Traveling north on Hwy. 35 between Onalaska and Holmen, perhaps y… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/midway-hidden-in-plain-sight/
A pattern book from the Congoleum Nairn company dated 1927 and used by the O. J. Oyen company has recently been donated to the La Crosse Public Library Archives, providing a wonderful insight into floor coverings and people's preferences almost a century …
(written by Dr. Les Crocker, Emeritus Professor of Art History)
A pattern book from the Congoleum Nairn company dated 1927 and used by the O. J. Oyen company has recently been do… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/this-will-floor-you/
In less than 30 years at the beginning of the 20th century, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church went from an exciting new opportunity for Syrian Catholics in North La Crosse to a dilapidated building in such disrepair that it was unceremoniously razed to …
(written by Scott Brouwer, Archives staff)
La Crosse Tribune 19 August 1934
In less than 30 years at the beginning of the 20th century, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Ch… http://archives.lacrosselibrary.org/blog/our-lady-of-lourdes/