Grab a cigar and some brandy – it’s WHAT time and today we are at 309 McClellan Street. Historically this was The Wausau Club, today it is the Wausau Museum Of Contemporary Art.
Founded by a group of prominent business men (The Wausau Group), The Wausau Club was built in 1901-1902 in the Neo-Classical Revival style and designed by architect J. H. Jeffers. The building is two stories with a hipped roof and a field stone foundation. Of note is the large pediments porch with Ionic columns, denture details, and the fan window above the entrance.
The original structure also featured a tiered, balustraded deck along the north and east sides. These were removed in the 1960s.
In 1912 a kitchen was added in the west side. In 1922 a wing with a dormitory was added in the west side.
The smaller side entrance (east side) was intended to be the women’s entrance. It echos the front entrance with two Doric columns and a transom window above the door.
The south and west sides of the building are brick fire walls.
The Wausau Club was built as a social club where professional and social groups could meet. It also hosted many community events and celebrations. Originally the club was for men only, but it first started having Ladies Days and eventually removed that restriction
The Wausau Club closed in 2004 due to declining membership and it sat vacant for several years. It was on the verge of being demolished until it was purchased to become the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art.
Today the building has been reimagined as Wausau’s newest art museum. It hosts several shows a year, as well as classes on a regular basis. And celebrations are once again hosted here
J.H. Jeffers was a Central Wisconsin (Wausau and Stevens Point) architect that also designed Tomahawk’s City Hall, The Philosopher’s Press in Wausau, and the Wisconsin Building for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World’s Fair) in 1904.
