Eight Locations Designated as First Historic City Landmarks

Petrie, Bob. The Sheboygan Press. May 22, 2007, page A7.

It's official. Sheboygan City Hall is now a historic city landmark, along with seven other buildings and parks around the city.

The Common Council, on a 15-1 vote on Monday night, approved the first ever city landmarks, as recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission.

"I'm pleased the council and the Historic Preservation (Commission) are taking a hard look at some of the buildings that we have that have an incredible historical significance and integrity," Mayor Juan Perez said.

Besides City Hall, built in 1915-16 at 828 Center Ave., the other newly christened city landmarks are:

  • Sheboygan Fire Station No. 1, North Ninth Street and New York Avenue, 1906-07
  • Heritage School, 1208 S. Eighth St., 1876
  • Fountain Park, Erie Avenue and North Eighth Street, 1836
  • Sheridan Park, New Jersey Avenue and South 14th Street, 1847
  • Little Red School House, 1116 Huron Ave., 1868
  • The Sheboygan Press, 632 Center Ave., 1924
  • A private residence at 710 Michigan Ave., circa 1895

The properties selected will each have a plaque attached to it, signifying it as a city landmark. The designation makes it tougher for someone to heavily remodel or tear down the building or property, by requiring a hearing before the Historic Preservation Commission and a vote by the Common Council.

Ald. Bill Wangemann, who serves as the city historian, said cities such as Sheboygan Falls and Plymouth have been more aggressive at saving historic buildings, adding that Sheboygan has lost several old structures over the years.

The eight properties were selected from a roster of about 1,600 properties tabbed as potential landmarks in a building-by-building historical survey conducted from 2002 to 2006.