Why the University Neighborhoods?

Architecturally significant homes from the 1850s through the 1940s are found throughout the University 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.

Historically, the University neighborhoods were home to Oshkosh's wealthiest residents. Many were founders, officers and managers in the lumber industry or allied wood products businesses such as the manufacturing of sash, doors and blinds; furniture; and woodworking machinery.

Architecturally the homes in the neighborhood vary in form and style. Queen Anne, Period Revival, Colonial Revival, Tudor, Dutch Colonial, NeoClassical, Mediterranean Revival, Green Revival, Italianate, Romanesque Revival, Bungalow and Prairie.

Each block is different, lumber baron mansions next to the workers bungalows, row houses now student houses, in an 1880 lawyers home now resides an English professor. You know your neighbors, there are block parties, neighborhood watch meetings. PTA meetings at Read or Merrill are a chance to catch up on the weeks travails with the family next door and a play at the Frederick March Theater to cap the weekend. This is life in a University neighborhood. 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 University neighborhood reflected this business boom but also growing prosperity of the community as many residents built homes that reflected their growing status.

A University neighborhood visitor immediately notices the organic nature of the architecture featured in this neighborhood. A walk through the community will display an 1880s mansion living alongside a 1920s bungalow. The people of the University neighborhood provide the same organic nature. A student next door to a professor, a lawyer down the street from a judge, the elderly couple entertaining the children behind them on the swing from their children's life in the home. You have a sense belonging to the area. There is the impression that homeowners in the neighborhood take a special pride in their homes.

Many of the homes were designed by Oshkosh architects, Waters, Hicks, Klapproth and the firm of Auler, Jensen and Brown. There are even one or two examples from nationally famous architects Bryant Fleming and Frank Lloyd Wright.

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 University neighborhood it will never leave you.

The City of Oshkosh Landmarks Commission has put together several great maps for the University neighborhood's historic districts: Algoma Boulevard, Irving Church, Oshkosh Normal School and Paine Lumber. Also check out the North Main Historic District, it focuses on some of the significant architecture of our downtown buildings. On the Landmarks Commission site is a neat little history of Oshkosh and many of the homes that are registered historic properties. Use this link to visit the download page (in .pdf) for the maps. But don't limit yourself to just the historic districts. There are incredible homes throughout the University neighborhood, 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 University neighborhood has to offer to fulfill your home buying dreams.

Credits

Research and some verbage from the Oshkosh Landmark Commission