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The Pabst Building was a 14-story
The property at the northwest corner of Water and Wisconsin Street was a prime central location of historic significance.
neo-gothic
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...
high-rise building in Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
. Built in 1891, it was Milwaukee's first skyscraper, and was the tallest building in Milwaukee until the Milwaukee City Hall
The Milwaukee City Hall is a skyscraper and town hall located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was finished in 1895, and was Milwaukee's tallest building until completion of the First Wisconsin Center in 1973. The Milwaukee City Hall was ...
was finished four years later. The Pabst Building was demolished in 1981 and the 100 East Wisconsin Building now occupies its site. Having stood at tall, the Pabst Building is the 2nd tallest building ever demolished in Wisconsin.
History and description
The property at the northwest corner of Water and Wisconsin Street was a prime central location of historic significance. Solomon Juneau
Solomon Laurent Juneau, or Laurent-Salomon Juneau (August 9, 1793 – November 14, 1856) was a French Canadian fur trader, land speculator, and politician who helped found the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born in Repentigny, Quebec, Canad ...
's original cabin and trading post had stood at this spot on the Milwaukee River, considered the "starting point" of the city. In 1851 the Ludington Block building was built here. Around 1890 the property was purchased by brewer Frederick Pabst
Johann Gottlieb Friedrich "Frederick" Pabst (March 28, 1836 – January 1, 1904) was a German-American brewer for whom the Pabst Brewing Company was named.
Biography
Early life
Pabst was born on March 28, 1836, in the village of Nikolausrieth ...
, who demolished the Ludington building and hired architect Solon Spencer Beman
Solon Spencer Beman (October 1, 1853 – April 23, 1914) was an American architect based in Chicago, Illinois and best known as the architect of the Urban planning, planned Pullman, Chicago, Pullman community and adjacent Pullman Company factory ...
to design his headquarters, a magnificent symbol of his brewery empire, in its place.
The Pabst Building measured fourteen stories, about 235 feet tall from the sidewalk to the top of the copper tower. It was constructed of brown brick ornamented with terra cotta with a magnificent granite arch at its entrance. The main tower was topped with copper, featuring four large clock faces. The style has been described as "a masterpiece of Romanesque Revival" and as a "neo-gothic high-rise, with Flemish detailing." It quickly became an iconic building of Milwaukee and a popular subject for postcards. The Pabst was Milwaukee's first skyscraper, and held the title of tallest building in Milwaukee for four years, until the Milwaukee City Hall
The Milwaukee City Hall is a skyscraper and town hall located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was finished in 1895, and was Milwaukee's tallest building until completion of the First Wisconsin Center in 1973. The Milwaukee City Hall was ...
was completed.
The Pabst building saw many alterations to its roofline over the years. In the late 1940s the copper towers were removed due to deterioration and the rooflines were squared off. In 1981 it was demolished to make way for 100 East Wisconsin. The crown of the new building was inspired by the Pabst Building's design.
References
Buildings and structures demolished in 1981 Former skyscrapers Demolished buildings and structures in Wisconsin Gothic Revival architecture in Wisconsin Gothic Revival skyscrapers Office buildings completed in 1891 Skyscraper office buildings in Milwaukee 1891 establishments in Wisconsin 1981 disestablishments in Wisconsin {{Wisconsin-struct-stub