HISTORIC PRESERVATION WATCH LIST

Faced with their survival, older buildings are often at the mercy of a multitude of factors, including nearby development pressures, obsolescence of use, and inadequate maintenance.  For some Brown County buildings, that effort has been lost.  For many others that may currently be facing such transitions, concerned citizens maintain a watchful eye.  For some of those, we are encouraged to note that there is increased confidence in their continued survival.


   

LOST
Green Bay & Western Norwood Yards, Green Bay

    
   

WATCH
Aldo Leopold School, Green Bay

The original St. Joseph's Academy high school building in Green Bay has since been surrounded by a 1960s wing to the east and a 1970s gymnasium to the southwest.  More recent construction started with a modern Phase 1 addition to the south.  Phase 2 plans call for demolition of the original building to make room for more new construction on the crowded site.

    
   

WATCH
Round Barn, Humboldt

Actually a 10-sided barn, the Humboldt Barn is one of the last remaining "round" barns in the area.  It is currently unused, and although the owners want to see it preserved, they have no funds to do it themselves.  While it is still protected by a relatively good roof, the original rooftop cupola has partially collapsed.  

    
   

WATCH
Bishop's Residence, Green Bay

The actual residence for the Bishop of the Green Bay Diocese was relocated some time ago to a more modern house just west of this 1911 historic building on Webster Avenue.  While the original building is now being used solely as offices and record storage, the present needs of the Diocese are beginning to outgrow the building, and costs to bring it up to code far exceed its value.  The Diocese hopes to make a decision soon on the building's fate.

    
   

WATCH
Railroad Bridge & Turntable, Green Bay

The former Porlier Street railroad bridge that crosses over the Fox River in Green Bay has not been used for some time.  The bridge consisted of east and west approaches to a turntable that allowed river traffic to pass through.  Each of the approaches has been damaged by arson, and the east approach has since been converted to a fishing pier.  The turntable now stands isolated as a relic of a former era of railroading.

    
   

WATCH
Allouez Cemetery Chapel, Allouez

The red brick chapel in Allouez Cemetery is no longer used for services, and is experiencing significant brick masonry deterioration.  Operational budgets often do not include funds for building restorations, and continued deterioration raises concerns.

    
   

PRESERVED
St. John the Baptist Church, Howard

When the St. John the Baptist parish in Howard recently built a new church, there was concern for the future of the original 1914 church building, particualry given its location on a prime commercial lot on a busy Howard intersection.  Current plans, however, are for the building to be put to a modern use, possibly as a community center or a museum.

    
   

WATCH
Holy Cross Convent, Bay Settlement

While the Holy Cross church complex in Bay Settlement was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the convent was moved to a nearby newly constructed building. The old convent building is now empty and its options are being considered.

    
   

WATCH
WPS Substation, Wrightstown

Built in the early 1900s and later owner by Wisconsin Public Service, this substation in Wrightstown generated power and served as the Wrightstown depot for the Interurban Trolley from Green Bay to Fond du Lac.

    
   

WATCH
Farmers and Traders Bank, Wrightstown

Built in the early 1900s, the building served as the village's largest bank for almost 60 years.

    
   

WATCH
Old German School, Wrightstown

Built in 1877, the building served as the parochial school for St. John Lutheran Church from 1877 to 1919, and again from 1945 to 1948.

    
   

WATCH
803 Cherry Street, Green Bay

This house remains as a fine example of Second Empire architectural style.  Neighbors are hopeful that its ornate detailing will be mainatined.

    
   

WATCH
Century Lanes, De Pere

The Century Lanes bowling alley, along with the De Pere Journal building next door, have been under pressure from developers who would like to purchase the lots, demolish the buildings, and construct condominiums.

    
   

WATCH
Locktender's House, De Pere

The Locktender's house on Government Island in the Fox River, served as the residence for the De Pere Dam locktender.  The house is currently "mothballed", with boarded windows and locked doors to prevent water infiltration and vandalism.  It awaits the fate of the proposed walking trail across the island that will connect Voyegeur Park to a new Wildlife Observation Pier to be constructed on the foundations of the old Claude Allouez bridge.

    
   

PLANS FOR PRESERVATION
410 Bond Street, Green Bay

This house is believed to be the original Guardhouse of the Fort Howard military complex, built around 1833 and moved to this near west side neighborhood in the 1870s.  More recently a rental apartment, it had fallen into such a poor state of repair that it was recently issued a "Raze or Repair" order from the City.  Once the building's legacy came to light, the order was deferred until a preservation plan could be developed.  In October 2009, the City of Green Bay approved funding to move the building to Heritage Hill.  It will then be secured and stored at the Park until private funds are raised to permanently set the building on a foundation and restore it as the original Guardhouse.

    
   

PRESERVED
Jean Nicolet Statue, Red Banks

With the relocation of Highway 57, the Jean Nicolet statue and rest stop had become orphaned from the road.  With its proximity to the Niagara Escarpment natural area, the DOT and DNR wanted to move the statue to a location more accessible to the public.  In the Summer of 2009, the statue and stone landscaping was relocated to its new home at Wequiock Falls County Park

    
   

WATCH
Joannes Brothers Stable, Green Bay

This building is thought to be the stable for the Joannes Brothers Grocery in Green Bay.  It has miraculously survived in the midst of downtown commercial development on Monroe Street.

    
   

LOST
Green Bay Trolley Barn

In 1900, this building was constructed on South Washington Street to house the trolley cars of the Fox River Electric Company, whose lines ran from De Pere through Green Bay to Duck Creek.  In later years, the building served as the transit garage for the city buses.  While the original facade had been partially obscurred by several additions and alterations, the building still retained its distinctive exterior cornice and its impressive timber roof trusses.  With the construction of the new bus terminal and garage on University Avenue, the old car barn was demolished in 2002.

    
   

WATCH
Allouez Water Department Pump House

The ca1925 Allouez Pump Station #1 was in use until recently, when the Town switched from a municipal well to water piped in from Lake Michigan.  All the pumping equipment has been removed, although the water reservoir containers remain.  The building is not yet officially for sale, but the Town is open to private adaptive reuse proposals.

    
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