You can view the Martin P. Schneider Architectural Drawings Collection on Recollection Wisconsin.
Martin P. Schneider (1890-1970) – Noted Local Architect
Martin Peter Schneider was born in 1890 in Lodi, Wisconsin, where his parents ran a store. During the summers between 1908 and 1911, Schneider worked as an architectural draftsman in the Chicago office of architect Carl Nielsen. He graduated in 1912 with an engineering degree. Soon after that, he went to MIT as a graduate student. Later that same year, Schneider was back in Madison, starting his practice in his home. While a student, Schneider lived at 401 W. Doty Street. Later, he moved in 1941 to another house at 2202 Kendall Avenue, where he lived until he died in 1970.
Schneider served several terms as Madison Fourth Ward alderman. While an alderman, Schneider proposed a promenade, now known as Lake Shore Drive, and a bathing beach named after him at the end of Broom Street.
Schneider’s impressive architectural work includes designs in most styles popular from the 1910s through the 30s. His designs include both residential and commercial buildings. Many of his buildings are still standing and are recognizable Madison landmarks today.
Eleanor Apartments
The Eleanor Apartments (405-407 North Frances Street) is somewhat of a local landmark because of its pleasant design and intact storefronts as a “flat-iron” building close to the university campus.
A.H. Schubert Building
The A. H. Schubert Building (544-548 West Washington Ave.) was constructed in 1927. It still has its original leaded glass transoms and an original storefront with stained glass transoms.
Corcoran Building
The Corcoran Building (2609-2611 University Ave.) is iconic for its curved entry transom. Built in 1937, it has an unusual and intact storefront.
Joseph Buechner Apartments
The Joseph Buechner Apartments (later known as Schneider Apts) are located at 2202 Kendall Avenue. Schneider lived and worked there until he died in 1970.
Petersen Building
The Petersen Building, designed by Madison architect Martin P. Schneider in the Craftsman style, was erected in 1923-1924. Various commercial enterprises have been located in the storefront, including a bicycle repair shop, a secondhand store, a furniture salesroom, and a radio store.
Hoff General Store
The Hoff General Store (101-103 East Main Street, Mt Horeb), located in the Modern Broadfront commercial Building, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The brick building housed the Hoff General Store, co-founded by Norwegian immigrant Andrew Hoff in 1886 in a previous building on this site. In 1929, Hoff bought out the Dahle Brothers Department Store, making it Mount Horeb’s largest department store. It remained so until it closed in 1984.
Digitizing the Collection
The Dane County Historical Society has received a Wisconsin Historical Society Collections Care and Management Grant to help organize and preserve an extensive collection of architectural plans and drawings for local commercial, retail, and residential buildings created by Martin P. Schneider, who is responsible for some of the most recognizable buildings in the county. The collection includes buildings constructed or planned from 1912 through the 1970s. The plans are primarily hand-drawn; the medium for most of these drawings is lightweight paper or tracing paper; several plans are also on blueprint paper.
This collection of hundreds of drawings was discovered in 2012 in Mr. Schneider’s desk, which had been donated to St. Vincent DePaul. On the advice of local historian Ann Waidelich, St. Vincent donated the plans to the Dane County Historical Society.