"...the finest collection
of 1840's to 1915 architecture of any small town in Wisconsin"
– Wisconsin State Historical Society.
Evansville is a Wisconsin pioneer in the
preservation of historic buildings. In 1976, in the early
days of historic preservation in the United States, the
leaders of the community commissioned a comprehensive survey
of the historic buildings in town. Over 172 residential,
commercial, public and manufacturing buildings were identified
as having architectural or historic significance for the
community. This survey led to the creation of the existing
Evansville Historic District, which was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1978.
More recently, in 2005, a second intensive
survey of Evansville's historic structures was commissioned.
This survey's purpose was two-fold: to identify all the
resources within the study area that are potential for listing
in the NRHP, and to provide the City of Evansville and other
government agencies with a comprehensive data base that
covers all the historic resources within the study area.
This survey
document was prepared in both printed and electronic
form to standards set by the Division of Historic Preservation
of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Today, Evansville has a reputation as an attractive
"New England-like" small town that honors its
past by preserving and protecting its historic buildings.
Additional information about Evansville's
history can be found at Eager Free Public Library.
Historic Overview
With the removal of native people from southern
Wisconsin after the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the establishment
of the Wisconsin Territory in 1836, the glaciated oak savannas
of southeast Wisconsin became very attractive to adventurous
settlers from the east. The first to come to the Evansville
area were mostly "Yankees," who began arriving
in 1839 from Vermont, Ohio, and western New York. By 1845,
this small group of homesteaders called the site "The
Grove" because of a large stand of timber located
just northwest of the small settlement. On Allen Creek,
just north of the settlement, Erastus Quivey built a sawmill
in 1847, followed soon after by a grist mill in 1848. As
more easterners came to the area in search of fertile farmland,
the town grew to include several hundred residents who built
wood frame homes, shops, and churches. The first town plat
was recorded in 1855, over 15 years after the first settlement.
Unlike many other growing communities on the
western frontier, most of the first land buyers in Evansville
were settlers, not speculators. The planned, not chance,
pattern of growth in Evansville provided an element of stability
for the community in the early years. Likewise, when the
Chicago and Northwestern railroad brought the first rail
service to Evansville in 1863, the town continued to grow
steadily, not explosively. Agriculture was the solid foundation
of economic and social growth for Evansville and the surrounding
countryside. Wheat was the main crop during and after the
Civil War, soon supplemented by tobacco. As the region grew
and prospered, manufacturing became important for the local
economy. Most of the businesses were related to serving
the agricultural and domestic needs of area g residents.
By the late 1870s the pattern of city development was established.
The residential, commercial and manufacturing districts
and street grid from that period are clearly recognizable
today.
In the last decade of the 19th century, the
town's population grew to nearly 1900 inhabitants, and in
1896 Evansville was incorporated as a city. By 1920, most
of the building in the historic district was completed.
The pattern of gradual, continued economic development that
began in the early 1840s was a constant in Evansville for
the next 100 years. The emphasis on economic stability and
social continuity that was established by Evansville's Yankee
founders and their descendants is reflected in the mostly
intact residential and commercial streetscapes found today.
Architectural Styles Found in Evansville
A rich heritage of architectural styles can
be seen in the Evansville Historic District, which includes
the commercial district of the City. A walk up Main Street
is a tour of more than a century of diverse styles in domestic
building. Architectural styles that can be found in Evansville
include:
- Greek Revival
(1840s-1860s)
- Italianate
(1860s-1870s)
- Gothic Revival
(1860s-1970s)
- Second Empire
(1870s)
- Stick
(1870s-1890s)
- Queen Anne
(1880s-1900)
- Picturesque
(1870s-1900)
- Classical Revival
(1900s-1920s)
- Prairie Style
(1900s-1940s)
Evansville Historic Preservation Commission
A 22 block area of the City of Evansville
was nominated and accepted as a Historic District by the
National Register of Historic Places in November 1978. The
Evansville Historic Preservation
Commission (HPC) was formed to act as an advisory
committee to provide educational programs on historic architecture,
landscaping and renovation and is responsible for preserving
the character of this prestigious historic district, as
well as promoting interest in local history. Link to HPC meeting minutes and agendas.
This is in keeping with the Wisconsin
State Historical Society's designation of Evansville as
having "the finest collection of 1840's to 1915
architecture of any small town in Wisconsin."
The Commission also provides expertise for rehabilitation
and restoration of historic buildings in Evansville and
can provide information about state and federal historic
rehabilitation tax credits.
The HPC provides a 14-page booklet to aid
property owners in rehab projects so that the architectural
integrity of their property is maintained. Call the City
Clerk, 608-882-2266, for more information about obtaining
Preserving Evansville's Heritage:
Exterior Rehabilitation Guidelines for the Evansville Historic
District. A text-only version of the booklet is available online.
A slide-tape program, prepared by the Commission
to illustrate the architectural heritage and styles of buildings
is available for viewing by tourists to the Historic District.
The program is also used by civic and educational groups
interested in Evansville's history.
Building/Demolition in the Historic District
Any construction, remodeling, or demolition
activities that impact the exterior appearance of any structure,
whether residential or commercial, located within the historic
district must be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission.
The HPC meets on the third Wednesday of each
month to review project applications. To ensure a timely
review, applications must be filed at least 10
days prior to that month’s meeting date. Late
applications may be held for review until the following
month. Review decisions are made within 45 days of the receipt
of an application.
Applications are available at City Hall and
may be submitted year round. A photo of the property and
a description of the proposed work must accompany the application.
Architectural plans, blueprints and/or other documents that
illustrate the proposed changes are encouraged. There is
no application fee. For additional information, please contact
the City Clerk at 608-882-2266.
Historic Preservation Easements
The Historic Preservation Commission has recently revamped its Historic Preservation Easement forms to comply with provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which confirm the availability of federal income tax deductions for donation of historic preservation easements, including requirements and procedural steps to be followed by the taxpayer and by the organization holding the easement.
The Lender Acknowledgement is to be signed by the mortgage lender, to give effect to the subordination of mortgages clause (section 7) of the Easement.
The Easement Addendum is intended to be used on large and valuable properties, where the owner believes the cost of a qualified appraisal and other procedural steps are warranted by the potential tax savings.
Tax Credits for Historic Preservation
If you are considering repairing or renovating
an historic building, please be aware that you might be
able to tailor your project to make it eligible for a tax
credit. Click the following underlined links for information
on tax credits for owner-occupied
properties or for income-producing
properties.
Take a Historic
Walking Tour of Evansville
A Historical and
Architectural Walking Tour brochure has been
prepared by the Evansville Historic Preservation Commission.
 The
booklet easily fits in your purse or back pocket as you
tour the city. Contact the Evansville
Historic Preservation Commission at City Hall for
a copy: 608-882-2266.
Use this guide to become acquainted with the
heritage architecture of this unique Wisconsin community.
It lists the addresses, detailed descriptions, and histories
of 44 architecturally significant homes and buildings around
the city along with six mercantile locations of equal interest
to the historically-minded. A glossary
of architectural terms can be found in back beside
the map and timeline to make
your tour easy and more interesting.
New: a virtual walking tour is now
online......
The Grove Society
Along with the Evansville Historic Preservation
Commission, the Grove Society works to help preserve Evansville's
history, beauty, and architectural significance in Wisconsin.
For more information, contact:
Betsy Ahner
20 S First Street
Evansville WI 53536
608-882-5657
Local Historian
Ruth Ann Montgomery writes a regular column about local history in the Evansville Review. She also maintains a website about the history of Evansville. (This link takes you away from the City of Evansville website). |
