Street number prior to 1925: 1021 Sixth
In 1915 this American Foursquare was built for Albert G. and Philippine Koch, who still resided here in 1925.
This land had been the site of the homestead of early pioneer George Putney. For 50 years the George Putney homestead was located on the northeast quarter of this block at 453 State. Farmers George, Frederick and Lester, and Cora, a student, are all listed in the 1889 city directory. The home was set back much father from the street, and Putney's stables stood on the present site of 511 S. State St.
In 1913 Putney's widow Dollie sold lots 7, 8 and 9 of Block 28 (seen left on the 1889 city plat map) to Louis Wichman, who built a similar American Foursquare home for his wife Augusta and family on State St. Two years later Albert Koch built his home on most of lot 9.
This home was built in 1910 using "ornamental concrete block." This man-made material fashioned from portland cement made concrete blocks a strong, inexpensive alternative to brick or stone. This gave famillies of average means the opportunity to build houses of many different styles at a reasonable price.
Other examples of homes constructed from this material are located at 327 S. Walnut St., 329 W. Prospect Ave., 335 W. Prospect Ave., 340 W. Prospect Ave., 339 W. Sixth St., 608 W. Sixth St., and 419 S. State St.
Portion of: Foote, C. M. 1849-1899. (Charles M.); Brown, Walter S.
Plat book of Outagamie County, Wisconsin, (1889).
The city of Appleton: west central part, p. 23.
Used with permission of the Appleton Public Library.
