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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandmarks Minutes - 12-11-2024CITY OF OSHKOSH LANDMARKS COMMISSION Minutes December 11th, 2024 PRESENT: Shirley Brabender Mattox, Sara Stichert, Paulette Feld, Vicky Redlin, Steve Cummings, and Council Member Jacob Floam ABSENT: Gerald Jacklin, Nikki Stoll Olthoff STAFF: Jeffrey Witte, Principal Planner Agenda: 1) Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 3:00 pm. 2) Approval of November 9th Meeting Minutes Councilmember Floam motioned to approve the November minutes, and Mr. Cummings seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously by voice vote. 3) WHS Certified Legal Government (CLG) Grant Application Letter of Intent The meeting for the Hazel Street Historic District was held at the Oshkosh Public Library on November 25 for the residents of the 500 Block of Hazel Street and 1100 Block of Parkway Avenue. Four homeowners participated in the meeting. Commissioners Ms. Feld and Ms. Brabender Mattox attended the meeting. Elizabeth Hilton, Coordinator for the National Historic Register, and Jason Tish, CGL Coordinator from the State of Wisconsin’s Historical Society conducted the meeting and explained the benefits of being in a historic district. On December 10 Ms. Brabender Mattox met at the library with three homeowners who couldn’t attend the information session, including the owner of the former Henry Auler home. The next step is to complete and submit the application to the State Historic Society by the December deadline. 4) Historic Plaques a. Ms. Brabender Mattox submitted a completed application for a historic plaque for her house at 1313 Jackson. The plaque will read: The Ernest P. G. Schlerf House Postmaster Pastor Built 1924 Bungalow Oshkosh Landmarks Commission Ms. Redlin motioned to approve the historic plaque for 1313 Jackson, and Mr. Cummings seconded. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote with no further discussion. b. Oshkosh 1875 Great Fire Project - Phoenix City. There was a discussion about funding for the plaques. Each plaque costs $288 with each building owner paying $100. There was discussion about establishing a matching fund through the Greater Oshkosh Community Foundation to purchase plaques to recognize the 150th anniversary of the buildings built in 1875 after the Great Fire. The fund will start with $500. Ms. Redlin motioned to approve establishing an Oshkosh 1875 Great Fire project fund at the Greater Oshkosh Community Foundation. Ms. Feld seconded. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote with no further discussion. 5) Merrill School Update Ms. Brabender Mattox stated that she contacted the Oshkosh School District to call attention to saving a frieze (a panel beneath the cornice at the top of a building’s exterior wall which is often ornamented with brackets, dentils, or medallions) above Door #3 and another Art Deco panel. James Fochs, OASD Director of Facilities, stated that they have saved it from the building demolition. Ms. Brabender Mattox will add to and edit the text for a plaque honoring architect Henry Auler that will be part of the Memorial Garden placed at the entrance to the school’s new athletic field occupying the southeast corner of the former school site on New York Avenue. 6) Oshkosh Herald Article Topics a. Ms. Brabender Mattox is submitting two articles about Park Plaza, Welton Beckett, the architect of Park Plaza Mall, and Aristides Demetrios, sculptor of Triad, the 35’ kinetic sculpture in Center Court. Ms. Brabender Mattox provided further background on the history of the Park Plaza Mall. b. Ms. Brabender Mattox and Ms. Feld suggested doing research for an article about the Morgan Houses on the south side of Oshkosh. Homes were built to promote Morgan products and plans in the 1960s. 7) Commissioner Statements Ms. Redlin suggested having a joint meeting with the Oshkosh Museum to discuss coordination of the Osh Hop (historic home tour) event in May. It provides an opportunity to tour historic homes and to educate about historic tax credits. Council Member Floam gave an update on photographing the Miller’s Bay neighborhood focusing on Mid-Century Homes. Ms. Brabender Mattox suggested researching the history of the Morgan Houses built in the 1960s to promote Morgan products and plans. There was discussion about company ownership, location of plan books, and where to find additional information about the production of the homes. 8) Staff Liaison Report a. Monthly Building Permit Report There were no new historic permit applications for November b. Agenda Items for Next Meeting WHS CLG Grant Application, Oshkosh Herald articles. South Side, Mid- Century Neighborhood Photos, Grand Opera House Capital Project. 9) Adjournment Mr. Cummings motioned to adjourn the meeting, and Council Member Floam seconded. The meeting adjourned at 4:35.