Baird Law Office
Encyclopedia
The Baird Law Office in Green Bay, Wisconsin
was built in the 1830s in Greek Revival style
, which was then popular as one of America's first architectural styles that explicitly rejected British practices. The small one-story building measures just 16 x 30 feet (9.1 m) in size and served historically as a professional building.
A plaque from 1964 explains that it was built as a law office for Henry S. Baird
("Father of the Wisconsin Bar") in the early 1830s, then later used as a residence, and it was restored and moved to its then-current site in 1960.
Other sources state that it was instead used first by owner Samuel Beall
as a land office and his residence, and was purchased a few years later by Baird: "Henry S. Baird was an influential figure in local and state history. He found architecture befitting his stature when he purchased what became his namesake in 1841."
The building was listed, for its architecture, on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1970. The listing is for a 4 acres (1.6 ha) area with just the one contributing building and no other structures.
According to the National Register's database, the building was built in 1831. According to the historical park, the building was built in 1835.
The Heritage Park states that the building was constructed by Samuel Beall, in 1835, "at the corner of Main and Monroe Streets", in Green Bay
and "used as a land office and Beall’s residence." It was moved several times, in fact, before being moved to Heritage Hill, in Allouez
, in 1975.
It is now located within what is now Heritage Hill State Park. Also located in the park are several other NRHP-listed buildings.
According to Nick Backhaus, a restoration supervisor at Heritage Hill, the 16 x 30 feet (9.1 m) building might have "survived because of its unique architecture, and people identified that it was unique." He noted that "The architecture is Greek Revival, a style popular in the 1800s, though often expressed on much larger buildings," Backhaus said. "Many prosperous Americans believed that ancient Greece represented the spirit of democracy."
Architectural details include a portico
with four columns, the center two having Ionic
capitals and being round fluted. The outer two, without capitals, are square. The pediment
has a cedar frieze board
and dentils.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
was built in the 1830s in Greek Revival style
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
, which was then popular as one of America's first architectural styles that explicitly rejected British practices. The small one-story building measures just 16 x 30 feet (9.1 m) in size and served historically as a professional building.
A plaque from 1964 explains that it was built as a law office for Henry S. Baird
Henry S. Baird
Henry Samuel Baird was the territorial Attorney General of Wisconsin during 1836-1839, appointed by Wisconsin territorial governor Henry Dodge.He is known as "Father of the Wisconsin Bar."...
("Father of the Wisconsin Bar") in the early 1830s, then later used as a residence, and it was restored and moved to its then-current site in 1960.
Other sources state that it was instead used first by owner Samuel Beall
Samuel Beall
Samuel W. Beall was the second Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. He was born in Maryland; in 1827 he graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York. He moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1835, where he made a fortune in land speculation; in the 1840s he settled in Taycheedah...
as a land office and his residence, and was purchased a few years later by Baird: "Henry S. Baird was an influential figure in local and state history. He found architecture befitting his stature when he purchased what became his namesake in 1841."
The building was listed, for its architecture, on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1970. The listing is for a 4 acres (1.6 ha) area with just the one contributing building and no other structures.
According to the National Register's database, the building was built in 1831. According to the historical park, the building was built in 1835.
The Heritage Park states that the building was constructed by Samuel Beall, in 1835, "at the corner of Main and Monroe Streets", in Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
and "used as a land office and Beall’s residence." It was moved several times, in fact, before being moved to Heritage Hill, in Allouez
Allouez, Wisconsin
Allouez is a village in Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 15,443. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, in 1975.
It is now located within what is now Heritage Hill State Park. Also located in the park are several other NRHP-listed buildings.
According to Nick Backhaus, a restoration supervisor at Heritage Hill, the 16 x 30 feet (9.1 m) building might have "survived because of its unique architecture, and people identified that it was unique." He noted that "The architecture is Greek Revival, a style popular in the 1800s, though often expressed on much larger buildings," Backhaus said. "Many prosperous Americans believed that ancient Greece represented the spirit of democracy."
Architectural details include a portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
with four columns, the center two having Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
capitals and being round fluted. The outer two, without capitals, are square. The pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
has a cedar frieze board
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
and dentils.
External links
- Past mayors site, includes photo of building in 1836 on original site