June 2025.
Beyond Columbus’s landmarks (City Hall, Farmers & Merchants Union Bank, and Zion Evangelical Lutheran), I explored downtown more and compiled photos of interesting buildings. I only have one or two for a lot of them, so I usually document them in a larger post like this that covers more ground.
United Methodist Church
Methodism began in Columbus in 1844. This existing church building was built in 1872 as an example of the Gothic Revival style. The Sanborn map simply calls it the Methodist Episcopal (ME) Church, but it was likely renamed Broadway Methodist before 1939, as Dickason Boulevard was known as Broadway by 1915.
In 1939, United Methodist was formed by the combination of three congregations: Broadway Methodist, Ludington Methodist, and Elba Methodist. The latter two were German congregations. A major remodeling occurred in 1950, and the massive footprint of the church today is the result of an addition completed in 1974.
The 1872 brick church has been altered, as it seems to be missing a steeple atop its tower. I’m sure the inside was butchered in the 1950s, too. The church’s website has a picture of one of the naves, but it seems to be the one from the 1974 addition.
Post Office
Columbus’s Art Moderne post office is rather bare on the exterior, but it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was completed in 1938 by architect Louis Simon and built by the Public Works Administration.
The exterior is buff brick with large windows and stone accents, as in the limestone course above with “UNITED STATES POST OFFICE” engraved. It maintains its original triple-hung windows and metal grill above the front door.
The NRHP listing notes the interior maintains its original terrazzo floor and marble wainscoting. The post office was actually listed for its 1940 mural honoring the 100th anniversary of the city of Columbus’s founding, not its architecture. This artwork is significant because it is an example of government-sponsored work during the Great Depression.
George Griswold House/Koepsell-Zeidler Funeral Home
This Italianate house was completed in 1858 by architect E. D. Baldwin for former lawyer George Griswold, who moved to Columbus from New York to open a dry goods store. The success of his business allowed him to move his family to Columbus as well and build one of the larger houses in the city.
Griswold had poor eyesight, so the house’s layout was modeled after the one he grew up in so he could get around easier when his eyesight continued to fail. This may be why the house is so symmetrical, which is uncommon for Italianate designs. Griswold became completely blind soon after the house was completed, and he died in 1891, but his family continued to live there until the 1920s. The house is used as a funeral home today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places.
Columbus Public Library
Columbus’s library traces back to 1877, when a library association was founded by a donation from former governor and Columbus resident James Lewis. At first it was in two rooms over the Griswold Building/Sharrow Drug Store at 100 South Ludington Street. In 1887, the library moved to City Hall and became a subscription library.
In 1910, the Columbus Library Association was founded, and the Columbus Women’s Civic Club asked the Carnegie Foundation for a grant to build a purpose-built library building. The city of Columbus purchased a lot at the corner of James Street and Dickason Boulevard, and the money to build the library was raised by both the Women’s Club and Carnegie Foundation.
Historic photo of the library soon after completion. (Columbus Library website)
The existing library was designed by the firm Claude & Starck, which was known for its library designs. Most sources attribute it to the Prairie School style, but I would consider it a Craftsman design with Arts and Crafts influences (granted, the two styles are closely related). The library was completed in 1912 and has been used by the city of Columbus since. The basement was used as a meeting space over the years, such as by the Red Cross for first aid classes during WWII and by the Women’s Club and Youth Club.
In 1990, the library was renovated by Noble Rose Architects to both improve accessibility and maintain the building’s historic character. It was listed on the NRHP and Wisconsin State Register that year. It was renovated again in 2013, which did more modernization work with the program and interior finishes. A library annex was completed in 2017, which houses organizations such as the Columbus Literacy Council.
Not the greatest photo, but the library is pretty simple compositionally. The eaves and windows make me think Craftsman more than Prairie, as the latter usually has a flat roof and wider windows.
126-128 N Dickason Blvd
This brick Commercial style building includes simple decorative cornices that are reminiscent of Beaux-Arts ornamentation.
134 N Dickason Blvd
A late, low-slung Commercial style design, it may have been an early automobile dealership at one point. The Sanborn map notes its neighbor (which I didn’t cover) is a steel-framed garage. The central bay is emphasized with a datestone in the middle of the parapet. The windows are modern replacements.
154 N Dickason Blvd/Northwestern House
Though very simple in its massing, this two-story commercial building has been decorated with wooden Beaux-Arts details. These include cornices, pilasters, and a pedimented entrance. The transom over the door with the building’s address seems to be original or a faithful reproduction. The segmentally arched windows make me wonder if this was an earlier Italianate building that was altered in the early 20th century.
The Sanborn map claims this was the “Northwestern House” and originally had a stable surrounding it, ostensibly a hotel, but that name was a dead end.
Part 2 continues along West James Street.
Sources:
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4124cm.g095221915/?sp=3&st=image&r=-0.617%2C-0.29%2C2.235%2C1.184%2C0
https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/00001250_text
https://www.columbuspubliclibrary.info/history-library
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR1925
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