Winchester Academy to host program on William Waters

Richard Nebel will present “William Waters: Wisconsin Architect” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 31, at the Waupaca Area Public Library.

Sponsored by Winchester Academy, the program is free and open to the public.

Waters was an architect who lived from 1843 to 1917. He designed numerous public and private buildings in Wisconsin that eventually were listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

He was responsible for designing the Wisconsin building for the Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893.

His work in Oshkosh and other cities was varied including courthouses, schools, banks, opera houses, churches, hotels, stores and homes. In total, he designed more than 150 structures.

Waters designed several buildings in Waupaca, including the Danes Home, now called the Danes Hall, located at 301 N. Main St.

Constructed in less than four months in 1894, the 8,500-square-foot Danes Home cost $7,000.

One of the most conspicuous commercial buildings on Main Street Waupaca in the 1880s was the Roberts Block, the first section of which was constructed in 1884 using plans drawn by Waters.

Another Waupaca project undertaken by Waters was in 1890, when attorney Irving P. Lord hired him to design a Main Street business block with two retail spaces on the first floor and offices on the second floor.

Nebel, an Oshkosh native, blogger, actor, theatrical set designer and builder, will share his passion for Waters. Nebel has been researching the work of this nationally recognized designer for four decades.

Winchester Academy programs are funded through sponsors and tax-deductible donations. Helen Robinson is the sponsor of Nebel’s program.

For more information about Winchester Academy, check winchesteracademywaupaca.org, follow on Facebook, or contact Executive Director Ann Buerger Linden at 715-258-2927 or [email protected]