Italianate Style

Bates-Ryder House, Rochester New York

Date added:April 14, 2010

Col. Thomas C. Bates was a canal forwarder and railroad contractor who had married Maria Blossom. The Blossom family was one of the earliest to settle in the town of Brighton. Thomas Leighton, to whom Bates sold the property in 1875, was the owner of the Leighton Bridge and Iron Works, which he had moved to Rochester from Buffalo in 1873. This $1,000,000.00 a year business employed 200 people and specialized in railroad and highway bridges made of "American Riveted Lattice." Leighton was a director of the Rochester City Hospital and president of the City Bank of Rochester. Thomas B. Ryder was a prominent citizen and drygoods merchant associated with Sibley, Lindsay and Carr, the largest department store in Rochester.

Over-all dimensions: Forty-five feet by forty-eight feet; four bay north facade; two story main portion and three story tower and rear wing; L-shaped plan.

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Chamber of Commerce (Makie) Building, Milwaukee Wisconsin

Date added:October 31, 2009

Imposing example of large commercial structure of of the 1870's, typical of Milwaukee's rapid growth and commercial development following the Civil War. It is also a good example of the prevailing style, which is described in a contemporary document as "simple Italian." It was built originally by Alexander Mitchell under contract with the Chamber of Commerce to occupy the exchange room for twenty years beginning May 1881 at a yearly rental of $3,000.00.

The building is constructed entirely of gray Ohio sandstone with 160' center tower with clock on four faces. Roof is of slate. Window surrounds are elaborate heavy projections with pediments, brackets, and various other motives from the eclectic vocabulary. The entrance door is flanked by granite pillars with figures of "commerce" "bear," and "bull." Actual entrance door has been modernized.

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City Hall, Duluth Minnesota

Date added:June 22, 2010

Exterior view from W. 1st Street-southwest corner

When the 20th Century rolled in, the history of the City of Duluth had been a roller-coaster ride of booms and busts -- a story of repeated promise and disappointment.

But, 1900 was followed by three decades that only the Great Depression could dampen. Construction in the period reflected earlier promise and, more important, the realization of that promise.

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