A Brief Guide to Downtown Algoma’sHistoric Sites

Developed by Community Improvement of AlgomaMain Street Program

308 Steele Street P.O. Box 3Algoma, Wisconsin 54201 (920) 487-5498

ciofa@greenbaynet.comwww.algomamainstreet.org

HistoricHistoricAlgomaAlgoma

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AcknowledgmentsFunding for the development and printing

of Volume II was provided by:Algoma’s Community Development Committee

Algoma Tourism & PromotionShanty Days Endowment Fund

Special thanks to:Leon Raether of the Main Street Design Committee

and local historian for designing, editing, and supplying a number of historic photos

for this brochure.

Printed by ICL Printing

oday’s Main Street District encompasses all of the original town site of Wolf River, platted by

land speculators David Youngs and George Steele in1855. With the construction of a pier and establish-ment of a post office in 1856, the community becameconnected with the outside world. Early merchantsbuilt stores, hotels, and livery stables to serve thegrowing farm community. Warehouses were builtdockside along the river to house goods shipped intothe town and to store lumber and farm produce await-ing shipment to Lake Michigan ports. Immediatelyfollowing the Civil War, the formerly Yankee villagewitnesses the arrival of large numbers of German,Bohemian, and Belgian settlers. Until the arrival ofthe railroad in 1891, the town grew slowly. However,the railroad brought an unprecedented boom in busi-ness, industrial, and residential development.Manufactured products, farm produce, and fresh fishcould be shipped quickly and cheaply.

T

St. Agnes Church c. 1900

St. Agnes was organized in 1877 as Grace EpiscopalChurch. The original structure was constructed in 1878using plans prepared by Richard Upjohn, renowned architect of New York City’s Trinity Church,

1 . St. Agnes Episcopal Church

(K) Reinhart Brothers Shoe StoreProject Leading Artist: David PetriSponsored by The Reinhart Family

Wall Street. That first church was destroyed by fire inMarch of 1884. The present building, an exact copy ofthe first, was built in 1891. The interior, carefullyrestored, is noteworthy for its abundance of beautifuloak woodwork, outstanding statuary carved by artisansfrom Oberammergau, Germany, and colorful Victorianstained glass windows.

The Algoma Packing Company was organized on thissite in 1899. Originally the factory, warehouse, andoffices covered over 20,000 square feet. In the early1900’s the complex was owned by the Van CampPacking Co. of Indiana. By the end of World War I, thecompany had gone out of business. Gradually the sitewas redeveloped for use by the American Legion andthe City of Algoma. Known in the community as the“Dug-Out,” the complex continues to serve as a recre-ational center and is home to the Algoma Golden-Agers and Algoma Youth Club.

The earliest Algoma lighthouse was built in 1892. Theupper portion of today’s cylindrical tower was con-structed in 1908 when the original lighthouse wasremodeled. The lighthouse in its present form dates to1932. A popular subject for photographers, the light-house has come to be the symbol of the community.

Van Camp Packing Company c. 1906

2 . The Algoma Dug-Out

3 . Algoma Lighthouse

(I) Ahnapee BreweryProject Leading Artist: Nancy Bennett-Centerville, IA

Sponsored by Jag Outdoor Advertising

(J) Kodan Feed Mill

(Ghost Sign)Project Leading

Artist: Adam & Sarah May-

Lincoln ILSponsored by

Tom Dallman &Cheri Long

Algoma Pierhead Light early 1900s

St. Mary’s Catholic Church c. 1907

(F) Algoma Net CompanyProject Leading Artist: Michael Clark-Aledo, IL

Sponsored by Baylake Bank

(G) Kohlbeck & Sons Fine TailorsProject Leading Artist: Cameron Bortz-Pawcatuck, CT

Sponsored by The Norb Kohlbeck Family

(H) Commercial Fishing & ShippingProject Leading Artist: Dale Knaak-Sheboygan, WI

Sponsored by Friends of Algoma

Art Dettmann Shanty c. 1940

St. Mary’s Parish was organized by German andBohemian immigrants in 1860. The present building,constructed according to plans prepared by Green Bayarchitect, G. W. Reynolds, was completed in 1906. It isthe third church to stand on this site. The building, withits handsome steeple, prominently sited on a hill, canbe seen for miles around and is listed on LakeMichigan navigational maps. The eight carved stonelions at the base of the steeple were the work of Frenchstone cutter Simeon Navarre. Three magnificent woodaltars, designed and carved by Father Adalbert Cipininthe 1880’s for a previous building, continue to grace theinterior of the church.

4 . St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Constructed in 1935, the Art Dettmann fish shanty is anoriginal example of the type of structures built by com-mercial fishermen in the 1920’s and 30’s. This buildingis now listed on the National Registry of HistoricPlaces.

5 . Art Dettmann Shanty

This building was constructed in 1868 to serve as theAhnapee Brewery. After the brewery closed in the1890’s, the structure at various times served as awarehouse, fly net factory, gas-powered washingmaching factory, and feed storage facility. Dr. Charles Stiehl restored the building in 1967 for use as a

6 . Ahnapee Brewery

(C) Ahnapee & Western RailroadProject Leading Artist: Bill & Jane Diaz, Pontiac, IL

Sponsored by Algoma Hardwoods, Inc.

(D) Hennemann’s Cream City HouseProject Leading Artist: Dave & Susie Butler-Syracuse, IN

Sponsored by Isaksen Architects, LLC

(E) Commemorative FenceProject Leading Artist: Mike Meyer-Mazeppa, MN

Sponsored by WS Packaging Group

Ahnapee Brewery in 1876

Ahnapee Manufacturing in 1899.

Now known as the Netto Palazzo, this three-story struc-ture was built in 1891 as a furniture factory. From 1921to 1980, the Algoma Net Company occupied the build-ing. Originally this firm produced fly nets for horses. In1993, Community Improvement of Algoma procuredthe long-vacant building in order to turn it over to adeveloper for restoration and adaptation into shop space.

winery. Von Stiehl Winery has been owned by theSchmiling family since 1981.

7 . Ahnapee Manufacturing

(A) Algoma Sport FishingProject Leading Artist: Andy Goretski-Tomahawk, WISponsored by Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce

(B) Orange Crush (Ghost Sign)Project Leading Artist: Bernie Gietl-Carlinville, IL

Sponsored by Algoma Optimist Club

Organized in 1863 as the First Evangelical German St.Paul’s Church, the congregation has owned this site atFourth and State Streets since 1869. The presentchurch, designed by Boston architect C.C. Buck, wasbuilt in 1896. The Cream City brick, of which it is con-structed, was hand-molded and fired at the brickyard ofthe parishoner, Ferdinand Storm. The tower clock wasinstalled in 1902. The interior of the church retains theoriginal altar, pulpit, and distinctive bentwood pews, allmade locally by the Ahnapee Seating and VeneerCompany. Also noteworthy are the Victorian stainedglass windows.

8 . St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

St. Paul’s Church c. 1906

In 2007, the Algoma Main Street Program continuedits historic preservation efforts in the downtown byorganizing the incorporation of ten historic murals,which included two ghost sign restorations, one panelinstall and seven direct applications to brick buildingfacades.

The artwork design and creation of the murals wasaccomplished through the efforts of a group of inter-national artists known as the Walldogs, under thedirection of local Walldog artist Dave Petri. These“keepers of the craft” contribute their time and talentsto preserving the one-time prevalent means of adver-tising signage applied directly to buildings.

Algoma is proud to showcase the results of this effort,while further supporting the historical awarenessdepicted in the murals and the artisans of old throughthe purveyors of this unique craft. Watch for addition-al murals as the project continues to develop.

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WALLDOG WAVE PROJECT AREA

This handsome late-Victorian store building was builtin 1902 by business partners Frank Lidral and IsadoreAndre. It served as a hardware store until 1920. Overthe years it has been a plumbing shop, Western Autostore, a bank, floor covering shop, home décor store,auto parts shop and computer store.

Built in 1881, this building served as a drug store until the1950s; the second floor was a photo studio from 1891 to1936. From the 50’s to the 70’s, Lindy’s, an ice cream par-lor, magazine and newspaper shop, operated here.

9 . Lidral and Andre Hardware

10. Wilbur Building

Lidral and Andre Hardware in 1903

Wilbur Building: Fluck’s Drugstore 1917

This pair of commercial buildings dates back to 1891and 1905 by John Cepek. The building on the cornerfirst served as a tavern and later as an implement shop,hardware store, photo shop, and antique shop. The1905 section was built to be a hardware store. This two-building complex was known for many years asGerhart’s Hardware.

23. Gerhart Building

Gerhart Building, 1891-1905

Local industrialist Melvin Perry built this impressivehouse as his residence in 1909. Designed by Appleton-based architect W.W. De Long, the interior decor incor-porated materials produced by Perry’s firm, AlgomaSeating and Veneer, to showcase the company’s productline to potential clients. Sadly neglected for many years,the house has recently been carefully restored and is nowa bed and breakfast.

24. M.W. Perry HouseM.W. Perry House, 1909

Merchant Sam Perry first built a frame livery stable onthis site in 1870. Sometime in the late 1880s, the struc-ture was greatly enlarged and finished with a brickexterior. The Braun family, long-time owners of theproperty, operated a Case implement dealership herefor many years.

21 . Braun Implement

This brick Victorian Italianate-style house, distinctivefor its bracketed eaves, round topped windows andornate bay window, was built by Paul Gablowsky in1885. The present owner bought the house in the 1990sand has worked over the years to bring the house backto its former elegance.

22. William Clark Residence

Braun Implement, c. 1870

Clark Residence, 1885

Mathias Reinhart and Mathias Melchior built thisstructure in 1879. The Reinhart family operated a shoestore here until 1983. Another owner continued thebusiness until 1991.

Irish-born Samuel Perry built this structure to house hisgeneral mercantile business in 1886. At the time, it wasthe largest such business in Kewaunee County. Thefamily operated the business until 1910, when thebuilding was sold to become an early Ford dealership.From 1936 to 1942, it was the home of AlgomaMotors, a GM and Pontiac dealership. Still later, itbecame a Ford and Mercury dealership. In 1990, it wasrenovated to serve as office space and renamedRichmond Center.

11 . Reinhart Building

12 . Perry Building

Reinhart Shoe Store c. 1910

Completed in 1914, this neo-classical building was thehome of the Bank of Algoma. This institution mergedwith the Citizen’s Bank in 1933 at the height of theGreat Depression. The Algoma City Hall occupied thebuilding from the mid-1930’s until 1974. The upperfloor was home to the Algoma Public Library at vari-ous times between 1921 and 1974. The interior retainsmuch of its original marble detailing.

13 . Bank of Algoma

Bank of Algoma 1914

Perry Mercantile Company c. 1890

The Wisconsin House c. 1890

Kirchmann Hotel c. 1900

William Bastar built the first portion of this structure in1870. In 1880, a 1,944 square foot addition was builtwith additional hotel rooms and a second floor dancehall. Fred Kirchmann bought the hotel in 1903, and thebuilding remained in the family until 1969, serving asa hotel and boarding house.

20. Kirchmann Hotel

The Kohlbeck Clothing Store c. 1910

The Kohlbeck Building was constructed in 1884 tohouse the tailor shop established in 1876 by FrankKohlbeck. In 1907, the business expanded into the for-mer bank building immediately to the east. The busi-ness remained in the Kohlbeck family for five genera-tions, closing in 2001. The building at the right of thephoto was built in 1878 by Michael Melchior andserved as the community’s first bank. From the latenineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century,this building housed the Ahnapee Record and theAlgoma Record-Herald newspapers.

14 . Kohlbeck Building

Designed by Green Bay architect G.W. Reynolds, thishandsome commercial block was built in 1905 forJulius Buschand Michel Cohn. Especially impressiveis the neo-renaissance gable at the center of the façade.This building has housed a furniture store, saloon,funeral parlor, music store, men’s clothing shop, clin-ic, doctors’ offices, and a church office over the years.Professional suites originally occupied the secondfloor, eventually giving way to apartments.

From the time of its construction in 1875 until 1905,this building served as a hotel. It was first known as theWisconsin House, later as Hotel Algoma and HotelMartin. For many years the main storefront housed adrugstore. A grocery and dry goods store once occu-pied the 4th Street storefront.

Busch and Cohn Building c. 1906

18 . Busch and Cohn Building

19 . Wisconsin House

Hotel Stebbins c. 1906

The Baumann (I.) and Melchior (r.) Buildings c. 1900

The Hotel Stebbins was originally built by CaptainCharles Fellows in 1858 and named the AhnapeeHouse. In 1905, the three-story brick portion of thebuilding was constructed, and the original woodenstructure was moved to the northern edge of the lotwhere it still serves as the hotel’s kitchen and diningroom. At that time the name was changed to HotelStebbins in honor of DeWayne Stebbins, early pioneerand state senator.

15 . Hotel Stebbins

Mathias Melchior Building c. 1900

Henry Baumann built the first modest frame false-frontstructure at 222 Steele Street in 1878. Over the years ithas served as a butcher shop, harness shop, and furni-ture store. Since 1956, it has been the home ofHarmann Studios. The brick structure on the cornerwas built in 1894 by Michael Melchior to house hisshoe store. The other storefront was originally a drygoods store.

16 . Henry Baumann andMichael Melchior Buildings

This attractive Queen Anne style building was con-structed by Mathias Melchior in 1894. Over the years,many businesses found their homes here including adry goods store, the post office, law and dentist offices,and jewelry store. Since 1967, the corner shop hashoused a florist business.

17 . Mathias Melchior Building