historically important gothic style exterior henry rohkam residence terra cotta fence segments join bldg. 51 museum archive

four original red slip-glazed gothic style exterior terra cotta fence segments salvaged from northwestern terra cotta executive henry rokham's house (1887) in the 1980s, joined the bldg. 51 museum collection of historically important terra cotta earlier this month. rokham's victorian-era home was designed by architect theodore karls to showcase the use of ornamental terra cotta on a residential building. the house is comprised of milwaukee cream or yellow brick with several examples of buff-colored terra cotta ornament fabricated by his company, then known as the northwestern terra cotta works.

the house is located at 1048 w. oakdale, on what's commonly referred to as "terra cotta row," where other executives of the company followed suit by erecting homes punctuated with terra cotta ornament. the highly contrasting red-slip terra cotta fence and gate posts remain largely intact, but when reconfigured during alterations over the decades, segments were no longer needed and were later given to various individuals involved in subsequent restorations. 

images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 museum archive. all rights reerved. 2023.