Industrial District of West St. Paul Avenue recognized in State historical registry

The Wisconsin Historical Society has listed the West St. Paul Avenue Industrial Historic District, in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley, on the State Register of Historic Places.

This district consists of 22 industrial buildings along 10 blocks between 11th and 21st streets. Each of these properties is now eligible for historic tax credits, which help offset costs associated with restoring historic buildings.

The West St. Paul Avenue Industrial Historic District represents a period of industrial growth and prominence of the Menomonee Valley from the 1880s to the 1950s. The district was built by booming manufacturing businesses that produced a wide range of products, including tin ware, wood products, heating supplies, and electronic controls.

Some well-known manufacturers who built their legacy on the street include Cutler-Hammer, National Enamel and Stamping Company (NESCO), and Geuder, Paeschke & Frey. The district will now be recommended for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, which is expected by the end of January.

Menomonee Valley Partners, a nonprofit organization working to revitalize the Menomonee Valley, coordinated the district’s nomination to encourage investment along the street. The West St. Paul Avenue corridor was highlighted for its catalytic potential in the Valley 2.0 Plan, a strategic plan for the continued revitalization of the Valley, adopted by the City of Milwaukee in 2015.

“The historic district listing is an exciting part of building St. Paul Avenue’s identity and positioning the corridor for further redevelopment,” said Corey Zetts, Executive Director of Menomonee Valley Partners. In the last 15 months, four new businesses have moved to the street’s historic industrial buildings and three buildings are currently being restored, soon to become home to three additional businesses.