Green Bay’s first skyscraper

GREEN BAY – On May 27, 1903, the creation of a new three-story building on the northeast corner of Washington and Cherry streets in Green Bay hit the pages of the Press-Gazette.

Initial plans called for a building “two stores in width” which would take the footprint of Henry D. Wilner’s existing building and the “Cent store” and Wisconsin Telephone Company next door.

A week later, the plans went through and the first tenant was announced — Henry Herrick and Henry Van — who would operate a “first-class clothing house” on the first floor.

The plans for Wilner’s new building would be handled by Architect J.E. Clancy with construction of the now four-story building handled by Thomas Roy.

“The new building will be of solid brick with a pressed brick or other ornamental front,” a Press-Gazette article read. “The front will be of plate (wood) extending across the two stores with a large entrance in the center of the building.”

The Knox & Wilner shoe store, which had been operating on the site was temporarily moved to the Funke building on the corner of Main and Adams streets.

As demand grew for office space in the city, Wilner soon looked to add a fifth and sixth story.

“At the present time, but the southern half of the building — 22 feet in width — can be built. The Cent store and the Wisconsin Telephone Company have leases of the other side of the building which prevent any work on it for the present,” a July 31, 1903, Press-Gazette article stated.

“In order to raise the northern half of the building, the north wall of the present building will have to be rebuilt and this will of course necessitate the vacating of the building.”

After much debate, an October 1903 Press-Gazette announced the Green Bay would have its first “sky scraper.”

“The south 22 feet of the Wilner corner will be run up the six stories in height as planned…“

By the end of the year, the odd-looking building was ready for occupation.
On Jan. 9, 1908, as the clock started a new day, firemen were battling a blaze that broke out in the six-story building.

A southeast wind fanned the flames as the firemen fought to keep the blaze that started in the basement confined to the main floor.

However, by the time they had control over the fire, it had reached five adjoining buildings downtown, causing $45,000 in damage — $1.5 million today.

Wilner lived in a room in the building and was able to get out through a fire escape.

In October 1921, in what was defined as one of the largest real estate transactions to occur in the city’s downtown to date, Henry Herrick purchased the building from Wilner at a cost of $80,000.

In the summer of 1926, suffering from an attack of the “flu,” and according to newspaper reports “refusing to go to the hospital,” the man who built Green Bay’s first skyscraper passed away at the age of 65.

Three years later, the Herrick Clothing Company made plans to move the store to an expanded space in the City Center building at Adams and Main streets — the last store to vacate the six-story building.

“The company was the first, and will be the last tenant in the ‘Wilner Skyscraper’ since the building is to be razed immediately upon their departure,” a Nov. 19, 1929, Press-Gazette stated.

“The site has been leased by the F.W. Woolworth company for a period of 50 years, and it is the announced plans of the new company to raze the present building and erect a new one suited to the needs of the company.”

In early February of 1930, the crews began to demolish the building.
Crushed brick from the razed structure was used to fill the road to the cottages east of Green Bay’s Bay View Beach.