New additions to La Crosse’s 2022 Top 10 “most endangered” buildings list

The city of La Crosse’s Top 10 “Most Endangered Buildings” list for 2022 is out.

This is the second year of the Top 10 list by the Heritage Preservation Commission. Most of the list is the same, but since the city lost two historic buildings from last year, new “old” structures were added.

One of the new additions almost didn’t make it to 2022. The Casino Bar on Pearl Street — also known as the John Walter building — was nearly lost in a fire last year. Also added to this year’s Top 10 list are two buildings lumped together for the list on the 600 Block of 4th Street — the J.P. Koller building and the John Halverson house.

The two historic buildings La Crosse lost last year were both located on 3rd Street. The Jehlen Building, also known as Club Tucan, was in such disrepair it was ordered to be torn down.

The City Granite and Marble Works building, located just off the blue bridge coming into La Crosse, was also demolished. One of the reasons for tearing it down was because a large marble column was destroyed when a van hit it.

La Crosse city planning administrator Tim Acklin, who oversees the Heritage Preservation Commission, did discuss, last month on La Crosse Talk PM, some of the city’s endangered buildings.

While this is a Top 10 list, they are in no particular order. None of the buildings are ranked here as more endangered than another.

10 Most Endangered Historic Properties, 2022  (PDF)

1. John Walter Building, 304 Pearl Street
2. 600 Block of 4th Street S. (J.P. Koller Building and John Halverson House)
3. Rublee-Washburn House, 612 Ferry Street
4. MacMillan Apartments, 709 and 711-713 Cass Street
5. W. C. Will House, 503 Caledonia Street
6. C. H. Hegge House,1339 Caledonia Street
7. A. L. Maltman House,1218 Vine Street
8. E. J. Weimar House,1222 Vine Street
9. H. J. Putman House, 231 13th Street N.
10. La Crosse Fire Station No. 4, 906 Gillette Street