Milwaukee, WI. – The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Koeffler-Baumgarten Double House (Milwaukee, Milwaukee County) on the State Register of Historic Places on August 14, 2020.
Built in 1898, the Koeffler-Baumgarten Double House is an excellent example of the German Renaissance Revival style having Flemish-inspired shaped gables, a bell-domed tower, and limestone trim. The architecture of the Koeffler-Baumgarten Double House is reflective of the German character of the neighborhood when Milwaukee was one of the most German cities in the United States. As a result, this popularized the creation of an ethnically influenced revival style with stronger cultural association than the more standard national fads. This era of ethnic-influenced architectural design in Milwaukee was relatively brief, spanning the period from the 1880s to World War I.
The residence also specifically reflects the cultural affinity of its sibling owners, Charles Koeffler, Jr. and Hermine (Koeffler) Baumgarten. Born in Milwaukee to German immigrant parents, both maintained ties to their ethnic roots. Their relationship as siblings, and shared business interests, prompted them to build a double house, which is a relatively uncommon building type in the city.
The Koeffler-Baumgarten Double House was designed by the noted Milwaukee architectural firm of Ferry & Clas who also designed important landmarks as the Milwaukee Public Library, State Historical Society building in Madison, and the Marie and Captain Frederick Pabst House in Milwaukee, which has been cited as furthering the popularity of the German Renaissance Revival style in the city.
The State Register is Wisconsin’s official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin’s heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.
