08 Oct red slip-glazed terra cotta ornament salvaged from alfred freret’s la crosse post office (1889) joins bld. 51 museum collection

historic american building survey (habs) images of william alfred freret’s richardsonian romanesque style brick and terra cotta la crosse, wisc. post office building (1889) prior to its senseless destruction, the extant building that replaced it in 1979, and red slip terra cotta ornament and exterior sconces that were salvaged during demolition.

the reinstalled figural terra cotta panels are most unusual. i’m believe the terra ornament was executed by the winkle terra cotta, st. louis, mo.

the stock pattern terra cotta blocks used to create field patterns across the facade were likely fabricated by the northwestetn terra cotta company, based on the rear cavity configuration, distinctive incised and painted markings and two of the four alternating patterns found in a northwestern terra cotta catalog housed in the bld. 51 archive. in addition, the red slip glaze is nearly identical to salvaged chicago examples fabricated by northwestern around the same time.

the panels and sconces were carefully removed (see habs images) prior to demolition. additional ornament, including the pressed brick and blocks, were salvaged during its dismantemenrt by local preservationists.

interior wood panel doors, newel posts and spindles, and archtop windows from the tower were installed in la crosse’s pump house regional arts center.

salvage photos courtesy of leslie crocker and the la crosse public library.