Alfred Clas
Alfred Charles Clas (1859–1942) was an architect in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] Born in Sauk City, Wisconsin,[2] he moved to California in 1879 and worked briefly at an architectural firm before returning to Wisconsin and working as a draftsman with James Douglas. He advanced to a partnership with Douglas in 1885–86 and then worked independently for a few years prior to creating the firm Ferry & Clas with George Bowman Ferry in 1890. The Pabst Mansion at 2000 West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee was the first project of the Ferry & Clas partnership and was completed in 1892.[3]
Ferry and Clas were responsible for much of the city planning and development that was happening at the time.[4] Clas was a City Planner and a member of City Park Board and designed the Milwaukee Auditorium and other public buildings.[2] Ferry & Clas was dissolved in 1912, when Clas partnered with his son Angelo to form the firm Clas & Clas. In 1921 that partnership was restructured as Clas, Shepard & Clas by the addition of his son Reuben and John S. Shepard as junior partners. Shepard withdrew in 1931 and the firm became Clas & Clas, Inc., with Alfred Clas remaining president until his death in 1942.[5]
The City of Milwaukee commemorated a park in Clas's name in appreciation of his work as a city planner. Alfred C. Clas Park is located in Milwaukee County, just off N. 9th St and Wells St (Latitude: 43.0405556, Longitude: -87.9238889),[6] on the southern side of the Milwaukee County Courthouse.


He was a member of the American Institute of Architects.[7]
In 1912 Clas' "A Scheme for the Improvement of the Milwaukee River" was published.[8] His speech "Civic Improvement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; An Address Delivered before the Greater Milwaukee Association, December 14, 1916", was also published.[9]
The Milwaukee Public Library has a portrait of Clas.[10]
Works
[edit]For works by the 1890–1912 partnership with George Ferry, see Ferry & Clas
- Freethinkers' Hall (1884) at 309 Polk Street, Sauk City, Wisconsin[11] NRHP-listed[12]
- Bernard Joseph Eiring House (1888) at 2825 West Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee[13]
- Emanuel and Clara Adler House (1888), 1681 N. Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee.[11] Also known as Emanuel D. Adler House. NRHP-listed[12]
- Sauk City High School (1916) at 713 Madison Street, Sauk City, Wisconsin[10][14] NRHP-listed
- Alfred C. Clas Home (1921) at 2348 N. Terrace Avenue in Milwaukee (his house in retirement)[15]
- Hotel Whiting (1923) at 1408 Strongs Avenue in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Now the Whiting Place Apartments
- Resthaven (1923) in the Columbus Fireman's Park at 1049 Park Avenue in Columbus, Wisconsin. NRHP-listed
- Earle House (1924) at 4521 Bayshore Road in Sarasota, Florida.[10] (Clas, Shepard & Clas) NRHP-listed
- West Wing of Milwaukee Hospital (1925–26) at 2200 W. Kilbourn Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Clas, Shepard & Clas) NRHP-listed[12]
- Crisp Building (1926) at 1970 Main Street in Sarasota, Florida. (Clas, Shepard & Clas) NRHP-listed
- Tripoli Temple (1928) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Clas, Shepard & Clas)[16] NRHP-listed
- Hutchinson Memorial Library (1936) at 228 N. High Street in Randolph, Wisconsin (Clas & Clas) NRHP-listed
References
[edit]- ↑ "Alfred C. Clas | Photograph". Wisconsin Historical Society. December 1, 2003.
- 1 2 "(architecture)." Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ↑ Famous Wisconsin Artists and Architects. Badger Books. 2004. ISBN 9781932542127.
- ↑ "Alfred C. Clas" Retrieved 13 December 2011
- ↑ "Reports. Goll House" (PDF). milwaukee.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ↑ "(county parks).[dead link]" Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ↑ "Alfred C. Clas".
- ↑ Clas, Alfred Charles (1912). A Scheme for the Improvement of the Milwaukee River.
- ↑ Clas, Alfred Charles (1916). Civic Improvement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: An Address Delivered before the Greater Milwaukee Association, December 14, 1916.
- 1 2 3 "Alfred Charles Clas". npg.si.edu.
- 1 2 "Alfred C. Clas". SAH ARCHIPEDIA.
- 1 2 3 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ↑ "Bernard Joseph Eiring House". October 17, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ↑ "Hotel Whiting". LandmarkHunter.com..
- ↑ "Alfred C. Clas House". LandmarkHunter.com.
- ↑ "Clas, Shepherd and Clas". SAH ARCHIPEDIA.