08 Oct bld. 51 museum archive acquires red slip terra cotta ornament salvaged from william alfred freret’s demolished la crosse, wisc. federal building (1889)

the historic federal building and post office in la crosse, wisconsin, was designed by supervising architect of the treasury william alfred freret in the richardsonian romanesque architectural style. year built: construction on the grand brick and terra cotta structure began around 1889.

• demolition: the building was tragically demolished in 1977, a loss that helped spark the local historic preservation movement in la crosse.
• the replacement: a modern post office building was constructed to replace it, opening in 1979.
• terra cotta salvage: during the 1977 demolition, beautiful red slip terra cotta ornamental panels were salvaged from freret’s building. to honor the lost masterpiece, several of these salvaged panels were integrated into the exterior of the new 1979 post office facility, where they still hang outside today as a nod to the city’s architectural past.

images and artifacts courtesy of bld. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2026.