Historic Preservation and Restoration Priorities Survey

1.Meteor Whaleback Museum
Location: 200 Marina Dr.

The last above-water Whaleback ship in the world, used as a museum and owned by the City of Superior.

The structural integrity of the ship is being jeopardized due to the ever changing climate and its berth in sand on the island. Major projects include removal of oil in the cargo holds, mud jacking and water drainage away from the vessel, asbestos and lead paint mitigation, upgrades to outdated electrical systems, concrete repair, and much more.

2.Carnegie Library
Location: 1204 Hammond Ave

Built in 1902, the Superior Carnegie Library is the oldest of 63 such libraries in Wisconsin. The Neoclassical Revival style building has been vacant since 1991. The current restoration proposal involves transforming the building into a business incubator site.

The roof is failing and allowing significant water damage throughout the interior. A new and permanent roof is needed very soon in order to prevent significant restoration cost increases or even total loss of the property. Other building envelope issues may need similar attention, as well as some parts of the interior already damaged by water and moisture.

3.Princess Theater
Location: 1310 Tower Ave

Opened in 1913 and remodeled in 1930, the Princess Theater was later converted into a photography studio and then a bar. It has been vacant since 2015 and is currently owned by Douglas County after tax forfeiture. One proposed reuse is to restore it to a performing arts center.

Water intrusion is significant, from a combination of roof leaks, frozen pipes, summer humidity, and other infiltration. Needed repairs include roof work, interior redesign and rebuild, and façade improvements.

4.Tower Avenue Arch
Location: Intersection of Tower Ave and Broadway St

The original arch was built in 1900 and removed in 1921. The arch was a memorial to Civil War veterans, and various proposals to rebuild the veterans’ memorial landmark have been presented in recent history. The Tower Avenue redesign contains infrastructure to support a new arch, and the project has support from the WI DOT and WI Historical Society.

A design has not been settled on; whether recreating the historic arch or instituting a new design. Two requests for proposals have previously been released, with no applicants completing them.

5.Old Fire Hall Museum
Location: 402 23rd Ave E

The last remaining of Superior’s 1890 Fire Halls, built in 1898, the Old Firehouse originally housed five horse-drawn rigs, including the city’s first steamer.

The flat roof is reaching 30 years of age and has areas that, even though patched, continue to fail. Various areas of the brick walls are beginning to crack and the floor is shifting, so masonry work is needed. Window blocks are also broken and need repair and/or replacement. The tile on the stairs leading to the second floor is cracking, which is a safety hazard and are most likely asbestos, so they will need to be repaired in a safe manner.

6.General Restoration along Tower Avenue Downtown – scope of work or specific projects to be determined. Many buildings along Tower Avenue, even when functional on the first floor, contain vacant and unused spaces on second and third floors that could be restored for business or residential use.

7.General Restoration/Preservation of Industrial Waterfront – Scope of work or specific projects to be determined. Fires in January destroyed two warehouses, and remaining wall of one may be salvageable but would need reportedly $185,000 allocated to shoring up the wall for future development.

8.Nemadji Cemetery – Scope of work or specific projects to be determined. Coordination with appropriate parties would be needed. Markers need cleaning and re-leveling, drainage issues contribute to erosion and slippage at the site. It is likely that there are also unidentified graves or remains.

12.First Church of Christ, 1902 John Ave has potential for re-use as a community hall or performance space, but current owner is unable to develop the site.

13.Presbyterian Organ Bells were removed from what is now the Accordion Museum, at Hammond Avenue and Belknap Avenue, when the Presbyterian church merged.

15.Fairlawn Mansion/Pattison House
Location: 906 E 2nd St

The mansion has not been fully painted since the 1990s restoration. The first level maroon was painted in 2021, but remaining sections of the first level and other floors need to be completed. This would include repairs to the original siding. The parking lot is in need of repaving. Inside projects include plaster repair and further renovations on the second and third floors.

16.Former City Hall
Location: 1323 Broadway St

The former City Hall has undergone significant restoration work, but improvements such as an elevator could allow the entire building to be put into productive re-use while maintaining its historic integrity.

17.Revolving Loan Fund or Grants to fix privately owned historic homes The city of Superior has 14 properties or sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A 2019 Wisconsin Historical Society survey identified seventy-one properties or sites that could be eligible, as well as four potential historic districts. A revolving loan fund could help with historically appropriate preservation or restoration work that owners of these properties may not otherwise be able to afford.

18.Are there other properties or sites that should be preserved or restored, but are not listed here?

19.Are there other programs or initiatives for historic preservation or restoration that you would like to see, but are not listed here?