Why the East-Side Neighborhoods

Architecturally significant homes from the 1860s through the 1940s are found throughout the East-Side neighborhood. The neighborhood lies within a dozen blocks of downtown Oshkosh. It's a wonderfully diverse neighborhood, that changes from block to block, and is filled with character and inspirational designs. These Oshkosh homes are indicative of the quality of homes in store as your fingers walk through our on-line neighborhood.

Each street is different yet the same. You know your neighbors, but you work on the line and they own a store. At the block party you learn the family three doors down has a daughter in your class. On that first warm spring morning you see half the neighborhood is stretching their legs with a jog on the Menominee Park trails. This is life on the East-Side. Neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend.

History

The tree-lined streets of Oshkosh today rose from the boom of the lumber milling industry which saw the growth of Oshkosh's population explode to 25,000 by 1880. The first settlements of the East-side reflected the post-Civil war boom but also the prosperity of the community as many residents desired to build a second home in an area becoming a fashionable middle income neighborhood.

A visitor to the East-Side Neighborhood is left with the impression of a fine neighborhood which has been and continues to be well maintained by its residents. When walking through the neighborhood you have a sense belonging to the area. There is the impression that homeowners in the neighborhood take a special pride in their homes. The Neighborhood is also characterized by many rehabilitations and restorations of the older homes.

Through the neighborhood, many architectural styles stand out, Italianate, Queen Ann, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and finally the Bungalow, designed by some of the best know architects of the time, William Waters, E.E. Stevens, and the firm of Auler and Jensen during the later period of the neighborhood's building boom.

Walk Around

Before deciding on a home to purchase, walk around the neighborhoods, get a feel for the people and the area. The old saying, location, location, location is true to a point. The location could be fantastic, but does it fit you, your lifestyle, your dreams? You could buy the most fabulous home in town, is that all that matters? Once you move to the East-Side it is hard to ever see yourself living anywhere else.

The City of Oshkosh Landmarks Commission has put together a great map for the East-Side Washington Avenue Historic District. It has a neat little history on the district and many of the homes that are registered historic properties. Use this link to download (in .pdf) the map. But don't limit yourself to just the historic district. There are incredible homes throughout the East-Side, one is bound to be perfect for you.

Links

On the left hand side of the page are lists with links where possible to learn more about the opportunities the East-Side has to offer to fulfill your home buying dreams.

Credits

Research and some verbage from the Oshkosh Landmark Commission