This week in Wisconsin history

WOOD COUNTY–On Feb. 24, 1894, Milwaukee City Hall was built. Architect Henry C. Koch and Company was chosen to complete the project. The building cost $945,311 to complete, with $71,624 spent on interior design. Adjusted to today’s inflation, the building would cost over $30 million to build, and almost $3 million in interior design.
On Feb. 27 in 1904 the second State Capitol building burned in Madison, Wisconsin. At two in the morning, night watchman Nat Crampton smelled smoke and stumbled upon a recently varnished ceiling in flames. A second watchman was called to assist, but the water pressure to operate a hose was not enough to extinguish the fire. Governor Robert M. La Follette called in neighboring fire departments in Janesville and Milwaukee for assistance, and the fire was finally extinguished completely the next day by ten o’clock in the evening. Losses were totaled around $1 million, adjusted to today’s inflation would cost approximately $32 million.
On Feb. 27 in 1969 students at the University of Wisconsin Madison protested through campus in regards to low enrollment numbers of Black students.
In pop culture, on Feb. 26 1975, the number one song was “Best of My Love” by The Eagles. The best selling movie in America on Feb. 26, 1975 was The Towering Inferno, directed by John Guillermin. The Towering Inferno follows a high rise building that catches on fire, filled with A-list guests played by Paul Newman, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, and more.
Wisconsin History provided by The Wisconsin Historical Society.