Razing began this week of the old Montgomery Wards auto center building on the northeast corner of Third and Vine streets in downtown La Crosse. Erected in 1965, the one-story brick building (0f ho-hum architectural value) served as Wards auto center until 1986 when Wards packed its bags and left La Crosse. In more recent years the building has served as the Huber Center for La Crosse County and is being removed to make room for a $29 million La Crosse County Jail expansion. Hard to imagine now but during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century this site was home to a Northwestern Railroad passenger depot with steam trains chugging in and out of La Crosse. Unfortunately, there are very few photos of the depot and the train activity once common on this corner.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Old Wards Auto Center Being Razed
Razing began this week of the old Montgomery Wards auto center building on the northeast corner of Third and Vine streets in downtown La Crosse. Erected in 1965, the one-story brick building (0f ho-hum architectural value) served as Wards auto center until 1986 when Wards packed its bags and left La Crosse. In more recent years the building has served as the Huber Center for La Crosse County and is being removed to make room for a $29 million La Crosse County Jail expansion. Hard to imagine now but during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century this site was home to a Northwestern Railroad passenger depot with steam trains chugging in and out of La Crosse. Unfortunately, there are very few photos of the depot and the train activity once common on this corner.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
That truck looks almost as big as a caboose.
I think we still have a few of those old Wards auto centers around the Metro Detroit area.
Post a Comment