Miramar Drive in Allouez

The Village of Allouez owns a rich history. The very name of the village is that of Claude Allouez, a Jesuit missionary who in 1671 founded the St. Francis Xavier Mission at what is now De Pere. A portion of its history is reflected in the architecture that is to be found within the confines of the village. One example is the Cotton House. The Cotton House is a major attraction at Heritage Hill State Park, but unlike some of the structures in the park, it is an Allouez product. Originally located at the corner of South Webster Avenue and Beaupre Street, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance in 1970. It was moved to the park in 1977.

Now there is a possibility that an entire Allouez neighborhood may become a Historic District. The Allouez Historic Preservation Committee has begun the process of nominating a portion of Miramar Drive as a listing on the National Register of Historic Districts. The committee received positive feedback from residents, so last spring the village leadership invited Daina Pekiunas, a representative of the Wisconsin Historical Society, to come and speak to Miramar Drive homeowners. She explained how neighborhoods become Historic Districts and some of the possible benefits to homeowners.

The path to a neighborhood becoming a Historic District begins with the nominating process. Buildings and neighborhoods are nominated based on their particular significance in national, state or local history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture. Nominations are reviewed by staff members of the Wisconsin Historical Society. They are then reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Review Board, which is the approving authority. National Register nominations are approved by the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. The entire process may take up to 18 months. Often private consultants are hired to assess properties and navigate the nomination process.

Ms. Pekiunas pointed out that the principal benefit of having your home designated as part of a Historic District is the knowledge that you are helping to preserve your local, state and national heritage. A more tangible benefit is the possibility of state and federal tax credits for rehabilitating historic properties. There is also the opportunity to become eligible for official State Register of Historic Places plaques.

As with most things in this area, anything related to the Green Bay Packers generates interest. It happens that two of the most famous of Packers have ties to the Miramar neighborhood. Curly Lambeau and Don Hutson owned homes on Miramar Drive and both are listed in the Wisconsin State Historical Society’s Architecture and History Inventory.

Curly Lambeau was a co-founder of the Green Bay Packers. He went on to coach the Packers to six National Football League Championships in the 1920’s and 1930’s. He is a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, inducted in 1963. Curly built a brick Tudor Revival home on Miramar Drive in 1931. He was a colorful character and his story is a large part of Green Bay Packers lore. He and his wife Marguerite divorced in 1934, but Marguerite continued to live in the home until 1997.

Don Hutson was a star receiver for the Packers in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He was twice named the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player and was also inducted as a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Julia, purchased a white stucco Tudor Revival home on Miramar drive in 1935. The house was built in 1927 and is an excellent example of this particular architectural style.

There are several other examples of Tudor Revival homes in the neighborhood. Some characteristics of Tudor Revival homes are steeply pitched roofs, dormer windows and pillared porches.  Another popular style represented is that of Colonial Revival. These homes are typically of the two story variety with elaborate front doors, symmetrical windows flanking the door and columned porches. An excellent example of the American Foursquare style of architecture can be found on the east side of DuCharme. A popular style in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characteristics include large front porches, a central dormer, and a general boxy design. The shape provided large interior space while fitting into small city lots.

So Miramar Drive has homes that are significant architecturally and homes that have a connection with the organization that for many, defines the city of Green Bay. Will Allouez soon have its first historic district? It is possible, so keep an eye out for those State Register of Historic Places plaques on Miramar Drive.