The HistoryThe Mitchell building was built for Alexander Mitchell in 1876 and designed by renowned architect Edward Townsend Mix (also known as E.T. Mix). This building was used as a head quarters for his bank The Wisconsin and Marine Fire Bank, which later became today's Bank one. They founded the company in 1840 as an insurance agency because private banking was illegal as of 1837 and was later legalized in 1852. It's believed that this building was built at the sight of Solomon Juneau's residence, one of the original founders of Milwaukee. In 1960 the building was bought by Charles Ashley and is now office space in memory of Alexander Mitchell, though some features have been changed, most of it is the same.
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Second Empire Style
Second empire style evolved from the early renaissance styles of the 1700's, and also related to many early European styles, but most closely related to Baroque architecture, but with more square based domes and mansard roofs added. The mansard roofs are the most obvious link to early French architecture. The tower element, should be as tall or one to two stories taller than the rest of the building or house. The crest (as seen in this picture and the Mitchell building at the top of the mansard roof) was decorated with iron trim. The exterior of second empire style was built with brick, wood, or stone. Some of the most intricate and beautiful buildings of this style had paired columns and sculpted details in the doors, windows and dormers (as seen in the example to the left and the Mitchell building).
Alexander Mitchell
Alexander Mitchell was born in Scotland on October 17th 1817, and immigrated to the United States in 1839. Alexander Mitchell founded today's Bank One, in 1840, as the Wisconsin and Marine Fire Bank. He had more of an interest in banking though and in 1853, when the law was passed that private banking was legal, he became a banker. In 1865, he began working in the railroad business with the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway company as the president. When he started they had only 270 miles of railways, by the time he was done in 1887 they had 5000 miles worth of railways. From 1870 to 1875 he served two terms as a congressman. In 1887 Alexander Mitchell died.