8 December 2020
In 1902, the Milwaukee Gas Light {Company|Business} {built|developed|constructed} a coal gasification plant in the Menomonee Valley to {convert|transform} coal to {natural gas|gas} and it {hired|employed|worked with} {architect|designer} Alexander C. Eschweiler to {design|develop|create} the {buildings|structures}.
While it’s possible that it’s {purely|simply} coincidential that {six|6} years {earlier|previously} the {same|exact same|very same} {architect|designer} {designed|developed|created} {a {beautiful|gorgeous|stunning|lovely} and palatial |a palatial and {beautiful|gorgeous|stunning|lovely}} {residence|home|house} for the {company|business}’s {general|basic} {manager|supervisor}, Edward G. Cowdery– after all the Boston-born transplant was {a respected|an appreciated} and {busy|hectic} artist– it’s {also|likewise} {entirely|completely|totally} possible that it was no coincidence at all.
Eschweiler’s coal gasification plant complex {survives|makes it through|endures} now as {a home|a house} to City Lights {Brewing|Developing}, Zimmerman Architectural Studios and {Four|4} Seasons Skate Park, and the {home|house} he {designed|developed|created} for Cowdery continues to shine as {a stunning|a spectacular|a sensational} upper East Side gem.
The {roughly|approximately} 10,000-square-foot 1896 Tudor Revival {home|house} at 2743 N. Lake Dr. is {also|likewise} for sale. The asking {price|cost|rate} is $2.85 million. You can see the listing here.
The {home|house} {has|has actually} been owned {since|because|considering that|given that} 1997 by recently-retired Hal Leonard Publishing CEO Keith Mardak and Mary Vandenberg.
It’s a striking one that you likely {have|have actually} {noticed|discovered|observed|seen} if you {{walk|stroll} or drive|drive or {walk|stroll}} along Lake Drive.
{Set back|Hold up} from the street with an arching driveway– which {these days|nowadays} passes in front of, {rather than|instead of} through {a projecting|a forecasting|a predicting} porte cochere– the {home|house} is {faced|dealt with} in an orange-ish {pressed|pushed} brick {trimmed|cut} in lighter orange {terra cotta|terra-cotta} {details|information}.
A report produced by Milwaukee’s {Historic|Historical} {Preservation|Conservation} Commission {described|explained} it as,”{a somber|a mournful} {medieval|middle ages} inspired {design|style} with German overtones in the {terra cotta|terra-cotta} {ornament|accessory},” though it feels {lively|vibrant|dynamic} to these eyes, {especially|particularly|specifically} thanks to the gnomes and dwarves that can be seen on its {facade|exterior}.
And it {must|should|needs to}’ve felt that {way|method} to {a number of|a variety of} {prospective|potential} {home|house} {builders|contractors} who {purchased|bought|acquired} lots in the {booming|flourishing|thriving|growing} chi-chi upper East Side {neighborhood|community|area} in the following {decades|years}, as, {noted|kept in mind} the report, “although this was Eschweiler’s {first|very first} {design|style} to be {built in|integrated in} the district, in {succeeding|being successful|prospering} years he would be commissioned to {design|develop|create} {many more|a lot more|much more} {large|big} {homes|houses} along Lake Drive.”
By the time the {home|house} was {built|developed|constructed}, Cowdery– who {had|had actually} {arrived|shown up|gotten here} in Milwaukee with his {wife|spouse|partner|other half|better half} Jennie Van Fleet Cowdery in 1877– {had|had actually} been an engineer and {general|basic} {manager|supervisor} at Milwaukee Gas Light {Company|Business} for {three|3} years.
In 1896, he paid $10,000 to {buy|purchase} a lot in the {fashionable|stylish|trendy} and {rapidly|quickly} growing {Prospect|Possibility} Hill {neighborhood|community|area}. The land was {purchased from|bought from} the {Prospect|Possibility} Hill Land {Company|Business}, which was {developing|establishing} the {neighborhood|community|area} (and about which I {wrote|composed} a bit about here).
{In that|Because} post, I {noted|kept in mind} that the {neighborhood|community|area}– which {had|had actually} been {laid out|set out} by E.P. Hackett and S.H. Hoff after they {purchased|bought|acquired} a farm in 1893 in the {newly|recently|freshly} designated 18th Ward– was {bordered|surrounded} by Kenwood Boulevard and Park {Place|Location} to the north and south, and Downer {Avenue|Opportunity} and Lake Drive and the west and east.
Hackett and Hoff, {noted|kept in mind} architectural historian H. Russell Zimmermann in a Milwaukee Journal {article|short article|post}, {spent|invested} $50,000 laying asphalt streets and concrete curbs, which were groundbreaking {developments|advancements} in {a residential|a domestic|a property} {neighborhood|community|area} in Milwaukee at the time.
In addition to {hiring|employing|working with} Eschweiler, whose Milwaukee practice {had|had actually} opened in 1892, Cowdery ({pictured|imagined|visualized|envisioned} {below|listed below}) {enlisted|employed|got} carpenter Henry Ferge and mason George F. Graham of Graham Brothers to {create|produce|develop} his masterwork, which was {estimated|approximated} to cost $14,000.
According to one online calculator {equates|corresponds|relates} to {a mere|a simple} $433,980 in 2020 dollars. While that’s a lot, {of course|obviously|naturally}, one can’t {{help|assist} {but|however} {wonder|question}|{wonder|question} {but|however} {help|assist}} what it would cost to {build|develop|construct} the {same|exact same|very same} {home|house} with the {same|exact same|very same} {craftsmanship|workmanship} today. {Surely|Certainly|Definitely|Undoubtedly}, {at least|a minimum of} one {zero|no|absolutely no} {should|ought to|must|need to} be {added to|contributed to} the right of this {sum|amount}.
The lot was {directly|straight} {across|throughout} the street from Lake Park, on which work {had|had actually} {begun|started} 1889 according to {plans|strategies} by the {respected|highly regarded|reputable} Frederick Law Olmsted.
{Carving|Sculpting} the park out of the landscape continued for {many years|several years} and Cowdery and his {family|household} moved into their {new|brand-new} {home|house} around the time the {new|brand-new} “lion bridges” were {built|developed|constructed} {across|throughout} the {ravines|gorges}.
{Architect|Designer} Howland Russell’s striking Milwaukee Electric {Railway|Train} and Light {Company|Business}’s {tram|cable car} station {had|had actually} been {completed|finished} a little over a year {earlier|previously}, {just|simply} a block to the north.
{{However|Nevertheless}, Cowdery didn’t {enjoy|delight in|take pleasure in} the {home|house} {very long|long}, as his position with Milwaukee Gas Light {came to|concerned|pertained to} end in March 1903 and he decamped to {a new|a brand-new} {job|task} in St. Louis.
| Cowdery didn’t {enjoy|delight in|take pleasure in} the {home|house} {very|extremely|really} long, as his position with Milwaukee Gas Light came to end in March 1903 and he decamped to {a new|a brand-new} {job|task} in St. Louis.
} {Later|Later on}, he ‘d {become|end up being} president of the Peoples ‘Gas, Light and Coke {Company|Business} in Chicago, which would itself {become|end up being} {connected with|gotten in touch with} Milwaukee in 2007 when it was {merged|combined} into We Energies.
For the next {few|couple of} years, the {home|house} was {rented|leased} to William Hinrichs, who was VP of the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Co., {until|up until|till} it was {purchased|bought|acquired} by Albert C. Elser, either in 1906 or 1908, {depending on|depending upon} whether you {believe|think} the Wisconsin {Historical|Historic} Society or the Milwaukee Historic {Preservation|Conservation} Commission.
Elser, unlike Cowdery and his {architect|designer}, was a Milwaukee {native|local}, born here in 1871, the {son|child|kid|boy} of German immigrant butcher John Elser, who {had|had actually} been born in Wurtemburg in 1835.
The {younger|more youthful} Elser {attended|went to|participated in} Milwaukee Public Schools, the German-English Academy and the Spencerian {Business|Company|Service|Organization} College, {and that|which} education {earned|made} him {a job|a task} as a clerk at Northwestern Mutual Life {Insurance|Insurance Coverage} {Company|Business} when he was 17, {most likely|probably|more than likely} working in what {became|ended up being} {known as|referred to as|called} the {Loyalty|Commitment} Block, which you can {read about|check out} here.
After {three|3} years, Elser left Northwestern Mutual to work as a cashier and {bookkeeper|accountant} in his {father|dad|daddy}’s meat {business|company|service|organization}, and this was his position when he {purchased|bought|acquired} {the house|your home|your house} that Cowdery {{built|developed|constructed} and moved|moved and {built|developed|constructed}} in with his {wife|spouse|partner|other half|better half} Mathilde and {three|3} {young children|children|kids|young kids}, Gertrude, Elizabeth and Alfred (and {later|later on} Marianne).
By the time {a brief|a short|a quick} 1909 {biography|bio} was {published|released}, Elser was active in society, {including|consisting of} the Deutscher Club and Milwaukee Athletic Club, which {between|in between} 1902 and 1917 {occupied|inhabited} the Wells {Building|Structure}.
” He is allied {with no|without any} political {organization|company} and exercises his right of franchise for {men|guys|males} and {measures|steps|procedures} that he {thinks|believes} will best {help|assist} {the public|the general public} weal,” {noted|kept in mind} that {biography|bio} in “Memoirs of Milwaukee County,” {edited|modified} by Jerome A. Watrous.
“Although {a comparatively|a relatively} {young man|boy} he {has|has actually} {risen|increased} to a position of prominence in the {commercial|industrial|business} circles, and is much {esteemed|respected} by all who {know|understand} him.”
Such was his standing in Milwaukee “society” that in 1900, Elser {married|wed} into the {powerful|effective} Uihlein {family|household}, of Schlitz {Brewing|Developing} fam. His {wife|spouse|partner|other half|better half} Mathilde was the {daughter|child} of Alfred Uihlein, president of the brewery.
After {20 years|twenty years} working {alongside|together with|along with} his {father|dad|daddy}, who {had|had actually} {died|passed away} in 1906, Elser {became|ended up being} a director and vice president of the {Second|2nd} Ward {Savings|Cost Savings} Bank (the {headquarters|head office} of which are now home to the Milwaukee County {Historical|Historic} Society) in 1912, where according to William George Bruce’s 1922 ‘History of Milwaukee, Vol. 2,” he was, “active in {formulating|developing|creating} the policy and directing the activities of the {Institution|Organization}.
“{During|Throughout} the world war Mr. Elser was active in promoting the {various|different|numerous} Red Cross and Liberty Loan drives. He is {identified with|related to} the Association of Commerce and {gives|provides|offers} hearty {aid|help} and cooperation to the {plans|strategies} of that {organization|company} for the city’s {benefit|advantage} and upbuilding. He is {prominently|plainly} and {popularly|commonly|widely} {known|understood} in club circles, having {membership|subscription} in the City, Rotary, Milwaukee Athletic, Milwaukee {Country|Nation}, Milwaukee and Town Clubs, and his {friends|buddies|pals|good friends} in these {organizations|companies} are legion.”
{Later|Later on}, Elser {became|ended up being} president of the bank and when it {merged|combined} into the First Wisconsin National Bank in 1928, he was {elected|chosen} executive vice-president.
After moving into the Lake Drive {mansion|estate}, Elser {added|included} a garage in 1911 and 12 years {later|later on} a 22×34-foot addition on the south side of {the house|your home|your house}, both drawn by {architect|designer} Max Fernekes. (A pre-addition view of the {home|house} is {pictured|imagined|visualized|envisioned} {further|even more} up in this {article|short article|post}.)
In 1925, the {home|house} was the {site|website} of a 50th anniversary {celebration|event} for Mathilde’s Uihlein {parents|moms and dads}, and the Elser {family|household} would long continue to be active in the Schlitz Brewery.
{In {fact|truth|reality}, Alfred Elser was a director at the brewery {until|up until|till} his death in 1942 and, {later|later on}, his {son|child|kid|boy} was {also|likewise} an executive there.
| Alfred Elser was a director at the brewery {until|up until|till} his death in 1942 and, {later|later on}, his {son|child|kid|boy} was {also|likewise} an executive there.
} {Two|2} years after his {passing|death}, Mathilde {died|passed away} and their {son|child|kid|boy} Alfred Uihlein Elser and his {wife|spouse|partner|other half|better half} Gertrude Deuster– {daughter|child} of a newspaperman and {politician|political leader} (like his {father|dad|daddy})– {lived in|resided in} the {home|house}, which {remained|stayed} in the Elser {family|household} {until|up until|till} the dawn of the 1980s. (In {an interesting|a fascinating|an intriguing} aside, Deuster, after a divorce, {married|wed} Gustave Pabst Jr., from whom she was {also|likewise} {later|later on} {divorced|separated} {before|prior to} {marrying|weding} {a third|a 3rd} time, this time not, {apparently|obviously}, to a latter-day beer baron.)
Virginia Little {bought|purchased} the {home|house} in 1980, hosting Rev. Jesse Jackson there for {an event|an occasion} in 1986 ({between|in between} his {two|2} {presidential|governmental} {campaigns|projects}) {before|prior to} {selling|offering} it {later|later on} that year to Dr. Thomas Pellino, who owned it for about {a decade|a years} {before|prior to} {selling|offering} it to the {current|present|existing} owners.
{Though Mardak and Vandenberg {bought|purchased} {the house|your home|your house} in 1997, they didn’t {move in|relocate} {until|up until|till} 1999 {because|since|due to the fact that} they {undertook|carried out} {so much|a lot} work.
| Mardak and Vandenberg {bought|purchased} the {house|home} in 1997, they didn’t move in {until|up until|till} 1999 {because|since|due to the fact that} they {undertook|carried out} so much work.
} A 4,000-bottle, climate-controlled {wine cellar|wine rack} was {installed|set up} in the basement; the in-ground {pool|swimming pool} was {moved to|transferred to|relocated to} {create|produce|develop} a back {patio|outdoor patio|patio area} with {a hot tub|a jacuzzi}; an elevator was {installed|set up}; an addition was {built|developed|constructed} with {changing|altering} {rooms|spaces} and a sauna for the {pool|swimming pool} and {hot tub|jacuzzi} users; a high-ceilinged {entertaining|amusing} {space|area} with {a lavish|a luxurious|an extravagant} bar ({pictured|imagined|visualized|envisioned} above) and {state of the art|cutting-edge} audio system (that {controls|manages} speakers throughout {the house|your home|your house} and even outdoors) was {installed|set up}; {some of|a few of} the {second|2nd} {floor|flooring} was reconfigured; {a new|a brand-new} {kitchen|kitchen area|cooking area} was put in (and {renovated|remodelled|refurbished} {again|once again} in 2016) and more.
They even had {thousands of|countless} matching bricks {made for|produced} the {exterior|outside} {projects|jobs|tasks}, {which included|that included} extending the {boundary|limit|border} wall.
The {result|outcome} is that now, {noted|kept in mind} {one person|a single person|someone} on the {tour|trip} I got of the {home|house} {this week|today}, it {feels like|seems like} you’re at a resort hotel, thanks to the {amenities|facilities|features}, not {limited|restricted} to the {pool|swimming pool}, {patio|outdoor patio|patio area}, {formal|official} gardens and long screened-in {porch|patio|deck} that {faces|deals with} the {yard|lawn|backyard}, nor to the {copious|massive|generous} {entertaining|amusing} {spaces|areas} {inside|within}, nor the white subway-tiled four-car garage with a (non-functioning) {car|vehicle|automobile|cars and truck} turntable and {an apartment|a house|an apartment or condo|a home} above.
On the {third|3rd} {floor|flooring} of {the house|your home|your house}, there are {bedrooms|bed rooms}, {including|consisting of} a little {girl|woman|lady}’s {room|space} that has what I’m {told|informed} are {original|initial} built-ins, and {an evocative|an expressive} rumpus {room|space} with a 19th century billiards table.
The owners are {moving to|transferring to|relocating to} {a new|a brand-new} {place|location} in Milwaukee and one that {requires|needs} them to {downsize|scale down} a bit, {including|consisting of} {trimming|cutting} that {mind-boggling|mind-blowing|overwhelming} {wine|red wine|white wine} collection.
{Realtor|Real estate agent} Katie Falk {says|states} there’s {already|currently} been {quite a bit|a fair bit} of interest in the Lake Drive {home|house} {and that|which}’s {no surprise|not a surprise}.
In addition to the {modern|contemporary|modern-day} {amenities|facilities|features}, there are {six|6} {beautiful|gorgeous|stunning|lovely} fireplaces (all {converted|transformed} to gas), {a classic|a traditional|a timeless} dark wood library, {hidden|concealed} {cupboards|cabinets} in the {dining room|dining-room}, {lavish|luxurious|extravagant} plaster ceilings and all the {details|information} you ‘d {expect from|anticipate from|get out of} a Victorian {mansion|estate}.
If you can swing the {price tag|price|cost} ({which includes|that includes} framed {vintage|classic} {photos|pictures|images} of the {home|house}’s {interior and exterior|exterior and interior}, a water-spouting re-creation of {one of|among} the {facade|exterior}’s {terra cotta|terra-cotta} dwarves at the {pool|swimming pool} and, {apparently|obviously}, a painted {portrait|picture} of Scots bard Robert Burns), it {really|truly|actually} {is like|resembles} a resort …
… one with a view {across|throughout} to Lake Park.Source: onmilwaukee.com