By Michael Bridgeman & Jennifer Gurske Celebrating Madison’s historic places is at the heart of our mission at Madison Trust for Historic Preservation. Since this is a season full of celebrations, there is no better time to spread the joy to be found in vintage buildings than with a gift from the Madison Trust—an annual membership, private or summer walking tour tickets, and note cards, oh my! We also have further suggestions for locally focused gifts, including books, ornaments and even a typewriter mug, that spotlight the places that make not only Madison, but Wisconsin special. Madison ..read more

by Michael Bridgeman Artists sometimes paint self-portraits, authors occasionally write autobiographies, and architects often design their own houses. This month, I look at houses designed by three Madison architects for their own families. Each architect had a career that spanned decades and did a range of work for a variety of clients. Being their own clients did not eliminate the constraints faced by any project, including deadlines, budget, site, and regulations. Keep in mind that these three men were not solo clients; they had to consider the needs of others in their households, too. Clic ..read more

By Scott Lothes The Milwaukee Road’s Varsity passenger train departs Madison for its three-hour run to Chicago late in the afternoon of October 21, 1967, reflected perfectly in Monona Bay. Photograph by Thomas F. McIlwraith, collection of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art, McIlwraith-01-014-02 Railroads—instrumental to the making of the United States as we know it—played a profound role in Madison’s growth and development. At their zenith, steel rails of three companies fanned out from the city in nine directions. Around the turn of the twentieth century, well more than one hundre ..read more

by Michael Bridgeman James Barton Bowen, circa 1880 [1] Madison got off to a slow start. It was a city on paper when selected as the territorial capital in 1836. Ten years later, when Madison received its village charter, there were only 626 residents. But soon, the boom began and Madison attracted entrepreneurs and hustlers, capitalist and swindlers, opportunists and optimists. When chartered as a city in 1856, the population was 6,863. The Bowens Arrive Among the newcomers were James and Susan Bowen, who arrived in 1852. Wisconsin had achieved statehood four years prior and state government ..read more

by Michael Bridgeman The prow roof saw widespread use in the years following World War II, projecting an image of the modern in a country energized by unprecedented growth. At their most exuberant, thrusting and soaring prows evoke the Jet Age, while more commonplace uses demonstrate the adaptability of the form. Last month I focused on places of worship and this month I turn my attention to the prow roof in residential, commercial, and recreational applications. View fullsize Henry T. Wilson House View fullsize 2145 Regent St. Two early prow roofs in Madison date to the first decade after W ..read more

By Michael Bridgeman The prow roof has a long history, but is best known today for its use in mid-century design from the 1940s to the 1970s. Twentieth-century prows are the focus of my posts for the next two months, first highlighting ecclesiastical prows and then featuring prows on nonreligious buildings next month. As is my practice in these posts, the emphasis will be on local buildings which are easily seen in person, though I’ll expand my scope with examples from elsewhere in Wisconsin. Madison has never been a large metro area and remains relatively small today. Consequently, we don’t a ..read more

By Michael Bridgeman James Mackin in 1922 When Mayor Albert Schmedeman presided at the opening of Madison’s Nine Springs sewage disposal plant in June of 1928, he also formally put James Mackin in charge of the new facility. In his first city job in 1897, Mackin supervised laying a sewer line as Madison prepared to open its first sewage treatment plant. He was named superintendent of the system in 1916, a job he held until his death at 66 in 1930. Mackin’s 33 years on the payroll saw big changes in Madison’s treatment of wastewater and its quality of life. Click images to view full screen Wat ..read more

by Michael Bridgeman Buildings change over time. That’s self-evident. It’s also true that there are myriad resources to find out how change comes to the places we build, alter, and (sometimes) demolish. This month I focus on postcards as records of how several buildings have changed. Once ubiquitous, postcards have pretty much been replaced by Instagram, Facebook and the like. There are still lots of older postcards in circulation and they’re generally easy to find in person or online. Though postcards are common, they offer a selective view of the built environment, concentrating heavily on b ..read more

History and Community in South Madison By Kevin Walters  For long-time residents of South Madison, the title of Linda Friend’s 2010 documentary “Style & Grace” needs little explanation. They know that Style & Grace was a barbershop at 1610 Gilson Street that served as a gathering place for the city’s Black community for decades. This past November 3rd, the Madison Trust’s Community Education Comittee was proud to co-host a screening of the film, which shows a day in the life of the barbers, their customers, and the sense of neighborhood belonging they sustained.   The title ..read more

By Michael Bridgeman & Jennifer Gurske Finding the right holiday gift can be a challenge and while the Madison Trust may not have matched pajama sets or fruitcakes, we have plenty to offer those on your list. A present of the past is always in fashion whether it’s historic architecture walking tour tickets, Madison Trust t-shirts, an annual membership or notecards. Here is our annual list of giving ideas for those who love fine vintage buildings. Madison Trust for Historic Preservation 2022 Member Appreciation Event at the State Capitol At the top of our giving list is an annual membershi ..read more