The Starcks

When a prominent family works with a renowned architecture firm to build an otherwise ordinary single-family house in a typical neighborhood, how does that influence impact the style of the cultural landscape?

Claude & Starck: Architecture Firm

Formed in 1895, the reputable firm consists of Baraboo native Louis W. Claude— a young architect who worked under Allan Conover and Alder & Sullivan— and Edward F. Stark— the son of major Madison development contractor John Starck— and is responsible for the design of over 175 Madison buildings. The firm is often associated with their 'modular' Carnegie Library design found across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois, as well as institutional and commercial buildings like Breese Stevens Field, MG&E Powerhouse, and the Wiedenbeck-Dobelin Warehouse.

Claude and Starck are also recognized for their notable work in the residential architecture, designing distinctly styled houses such as the George A. Lougee House, William D. Pence house, and the Bascom B. Clarke house. (shown Left to Right respectively)

Joseph H. Blied, who initially owned 444 W. Mifflin and the land it sits on, was married to Mathilda Starck. Joseph's brother, Frank C. Blied, married Mathilda's sister Josephine. Mathilda and Josephine are the sisters of Edward Starck.

(Left) In 1902, 444 W Mifflin was renovated from a single story dwelling to become a 2 story, single residence home with a stylish Mifflin porch. This design was produced by Claude and Starck, a rather inconspicuous design for the firm.

(Right) A Mifflin home is not entirely uncommon for the firm, as in April 1901 the construction of an ornate home on W Mifflin just northeast of 444 is announced in the Wisconsin State Journal. These two Mifflin houses seem to be anomalies in the Claude & Starck Portfolio

Uncommonly Ornate Design in Mifflin

The newspaper clipping to the right details the intricacies and crafted details included in the Claude & Starck design of 444 W Mifflin. This specific attention to detail in the common spaces of the house offer a view into the high-style interior, likely with attention paid to classicisms. Quality woodwork, high ceilings, antique furniture, and archways paint a picture of an elegant home fit for a family business conglomerate. This level of detail is uncommon and somewhat modish (while beautiful detail is often generally considered stylish and/or appreciated in most contexts) in our cluster of houses and likely within the whole Miffland neighborhood.

Blieds & Starcks: A Family of Mifflin Residential Architecture Influencers?

444 W Mifflin (Blied House)

526 W Mifflin

538 W Mifflin

552 W Mifflin

Style, Mode, and Influence

A Madison business powerhouse family, such as the Blied Family, is bound to have influence on other city residents. When coupled with familial ties to respected Architecture firm Claude & Starck (who themselves have significant ties to major architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan and the overall development of Madison) it is no surprise that the visual style seen in the Blied's 444 W Mifflin designed by Claude & Starck is seen closely replicated elsewhere on the same street as an example of what was considered stylish in this early 1900's 'Miffland' cultural landscape. Does this style come from what was truly deemed tasteful and useful at the time, or merely the desire to replicate the success of the Blieds and Claude & Starck?

For these same reasons, the existence of 444 W Mifflin could also be considered modish in some ways. The presence of an definitive, well-known, architecture firm in the remodeling of the house as well as a connection to a major Madison business family who also owned numerous other buildings nearby are certainly modish when considering the working-class context of early 20th century Mifflin Street.

How does the mass property ownership of the Blied family, including 444 W Mifflin, differ from the property management company monopolization of Mifflin Street today?

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