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(Photograph by Andrew Hope) -
(Photograph by Andrew Hope)
The daughter of John Black, a longtime Milwaukee politician who served as mayor, Elizabeth Black rose to local social prominence by hosting his many political and civic functions. After her father’s death in 1899, she commissioned and moved into this house, where she lived for more than twenty-five years. Her English Renaissance house features wall dormers with dramatic curved gables. Red brick laid in English bond imparts a rich texture to the walls, which are further embellished by carved limestone quoins and window frames. The two-story-high central entrance on E. Albion Street is surrounded by extensive stone decoration. The original matching carriage house, next door at 1422 E. Albion, has shaped gables, elegant brickwork, and stone trim. Even this small building, elegantly fitted to match the house, suggests the wealth of Prospect Avenue’s turn-of-the-twentieth-century homeowners.