07 Apr transplanted: an 1850s workers cottage and rediske cobbler shop saved by the preservation alliance la crosse (pal)
April 7, 2026
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, Travel, Uncategorized
a cobbler shop and workers cottage in la crosse, wisc. all of this was accomplished by preservation alliance la crosse, who at the time, i greatly admired.
rediske cobbler cottage, originally built in 1889 for shoemaker carl rediske, was relocated by the preservation alliance of la crosse (pal) to 6th street north in 2002 to avoid demolition. rediske handmade shoes for la crosse families for over 65 years at this shop. now, it stands among other historic structures like the moses clark house near the hixon house.
in early 2023, pal and habitat for humanity volunteers repainted the cottage. recognized as a la crosse historic landmark since 1991, it’s one of the city’s few remaining examples of small-scale late-19th-century “boom-town” architecture.
the greek revival house (dating back to the 1850s), now located at the corner of 6th street north and badger street in la crosse, wi, stands as a rare relic from the city’s pioneer days. recognized as one of la crosse’s oldest remaining “working class” homes, its preservation and move were led by the preservation alliance of la crosse (pal).
key details about the house and its relocation
original construction: built around 1858 for moses clark, an early settler who arrived in prairie la crosse in 1848.
original location & purpose: the house was first placed at 422 n. 8th street. by about 1903, it had been relocated to the back of the lot and repurposed as a garage or barn, where it was boarded up.
rediscovery and move: found largely untouched in the early 1990s in a north 8th street alley, the building retained much of its historic integrity.
1998 relocation: in june 1998, pal partnered with the western wisconsin technical institute, arranging for the house to be moved by truck to prevent demolition.
current location: today, the home sits on the grounds of the historic hixon house at 426 north 6th street and serves as a historical exhibit.
