Germania Building, Gebäude in Milwaukee
The Germania Building is a commercial structure in Milwaukee built in 1896 to house printing presses and offices. The brick structure features decorative terra cotta and copper details, including copper domes shaped like Prussian helmets and cherub sculptures adorning the roof and entrance areas.
The building was constructed in 1896 by George Brumder as a location for his newspaper business, where papers were printed in both English and German to serve Milwaukee's German population. During World War I, it was renamed the Brumder Building, and symbols of its German origins such as the bronze Germania statue and eagle sculptures were removed.
The building was named after Germania, a symbol representing German tribes, reflecting its connection to German immigrants in Milwaukee. The original bronze statue of Germania and eagle sculptures that once adorned the roof displayed this heritage, though they were removed during a later period.
The building was renovated with approximately 7,000 square feet of street-level space for shops and other businesses and now contains 90 apartments for residents at varying income levels. Visitors can view the restored entrance lobby featuring polished marble floors and decorative woodwork and appreciate the building's exterior features from the street.
The building was once the largest in the city and underwent careful restoration during a 2016 rehabilitation where damaged terra cotta pieces were repaired and original wood windows were preserved. Historic tax credits played a crucial role in financing the project, making the transformation into a functioning residential and commercial space possible.
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