State historic preservation staff eyes local buildings
Wisconsin Historical Society staff Jennifer Davel, deputy state historic preservation officer, and Daina Penkiunas, state historic preservation officer, visited several local sites and buildings with PdC Historical Society President Mary Antoine (far left). Also pictured are Nathaniel and Abigail, children of PDCHS vice-president Chad Fradette. (Submitted photo)
By Correne Martin
Wisconsin Historical Society historic preservation staff paid a visit to Prairie du Chien in late January to look at historic structures, particularly French-Canadian log houses and the Fort Crawford commanding officers home site.
“They were looking at these places to see if any are eligible to be on the National Registry of Historic Places,” said Prairie du Chien Historical Society President Mary Antoine.
Specificially, the commanding officers house site is located near the old Satter Building property, now privately owned by the Thornburg family. Antoine said the house is gone but the foundation remains and is exposed. There are also two outbuildings from the period still there, including one that was a kitchen.
PDCHS Vice President Chad Fradette said “discussions are ongoing” with the Thornburg family about maintaining the buildings.
The WHS women—Jennifer Davel, deputy state historic preservation officer, and Daina Penkiunas, PhD, state historic preservation officer—also broabched the topic of possible grants for a number of Prairie du Chien historical sites for archaeological work, building preservation and interpretation, Fradette noted.
In addition to the commanding officers house site, the log houses personify the underrepresented cultures in the community, Antoine said.
The historical society is also working with the city, she added, to take preliminary steps toward becoming a “certified local government.”
“Blackhawk Avenue is already considered eligible for this historic district designation,” Antoine stated.
If this process continues, the city applies and is approved, she said, property owners within the historic district could receive up to 40 percent in tax write-offs for upgrades like roofing, heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, exterior work, etc.
