139-year-old Eastcastle Place Building Listed in the National Register of Historic Places; Will Receive Federal Protections and Benefits

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Eastcastle Place retirement community is proud to announce that their original building has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. An honor bestowed on them by the Secretary of the Interior, this recognition names the Milwaukee Protestant Home for the Aged at 2449 North Downer Avenue, which is the original name for the community, with this federal designation. The community was founded in 1884 when a group of publicly spirited women became interested in the needs of Ms. Elizabeth Trevor Thomas, a retired school teacher. This motivated these women to create a home where seniors could age in comfort and with confidence. The founders started the home in a rental building, which they quickly outgrew, so construction began on the new building on Downer Avenue which is being honored today.

Designed by renowned Milwaukee architects Henry Koch and Herman Esser in 1892, the original Victorian Gothic building was styled after the châteaus of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century France, and boasts original woodwork, Tiffany memorial stained glass, Cyril Colnik metalwork staircases, steeply pitched roofs and towers, long verandas, and more. To meet the changing needs of East Side seniors, Eastcastle Place built considerable additions, expanding in 1962, the mid-1970s, 2000 and 2023.

“This is a tremendous honor,” shares Michael Brever, philanthropy director for Eastcastle Place, “With this recognition, our building will now receive the benefits and protections of the program, which include eligibility for both state and federal matching grants for restoration.”

Additions to the structure were made by Koch in 1897, as well as other additions throughout the years to accommodate the growing needs of the community. At present, Eastcastle Place serves more than 200 seniors and is a beloved part of Milwaukee’s East Side. As a Life Plan Community, seniors are drawn to the full continuum of care available should their health needs change.

“Our goal is to ensure our community is around for many more years and to support the seniors who desire our services,” elaborates Brever, “And with this listing, we are better set up for success to achieve that goal.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.