The Astor on the Lake (also Astor Hotel) is a low-rise apartment/hotel building located in the Yankee Hill (East Town) neighborhood of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Astor on the Lake | |
 Astor on the Lake | |
| Location | 924 E. Juneau Ave Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°2′45″N 87°54′1″W / 43.04583°N 87.90028°W |
| Built | 1920 |
| Architect | Herbert W. Tullgren |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003715 |
| Added to NRHP | September 6, 1984 |
Designed by architect Herbert Tullgren in Classical Revival style, the Astor Hotel was built in 1920 by developer Oscar Brachman for hotel tycoon Walter Schroeder.[1] The building was originally U-shaped in plan, but an L-shaped addition in 1925 made the building into the E-shape seen today.[2] The building has eight floors[3] and stands 102 feet (31 m) tall.[4]
History edit
When the Astor on the Lake opened it was considered one of the finest Midwest hotels of the time.[1] It offered 125 guest rooms with a monthly rent of $100 to $300 depending on size.[3] The façade is covered with gray limestone and has French Classical details and was constructed using steel-reinforced concrete.[3] A stained glass skylight hangs above the reception area. Many of the rooms, which are now owner-occupied, were of simpler design.[5]
Fire edit
At dawn on February 18, 1935, the Astor Hotel caught fire.[6] The fire was caused by electrical wires in the basement and a dense, oily smoke filled the building.[6] The fire claimed the lives of two adults[6] and two infants.[7] Oscar Teweles, 59, and his nurse, Elsie Saxinger, 40, were killed due to suffocation in his apartment on the fifth floor.[6] Over 300 people had to be evacuated due to the fire and were sent into the city streets.[6] The damage caused by the fire was estimated at $75,000.[6]
External links edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Astor Hotel". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ "Astor on the Lake". Wisconsin Historical Society. January 2012. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
- ^ a b c "Hotel Astor to be Opened in October". The Milwaukee Journal. Sep 29, 1920. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ "The Astor Hotel". Emporis. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ Richard H. Zeitlin (1984-07-18). "NRHP Inventory/Nomination: Astor on the Lake (1920 - 1941)". National Park Service. Retrieved 2019-05-27. With 14 photos.
- ^ a b c d e f "Milwaukee Hotel Burns; 2 Lives Lost". The Telegraph Herald. Feb 18, 1935. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ "Two Dead in Hotel Fire in Milwaukee". The Pittsburgh Press. Feb 18, 1935. Retrieved 10 January 2013.