514 West Madison Street
Eau Claire, WI, USA

Brady Anderson and Waldemar Ager House

The Brady Anderson and Waldemar Ager House is a historic house located at 514 West Madison Street in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Additionally, it has been designated a Literary Landmark by the National Association of Friends of Public Libraries.

History
The house was built from 1892 to 1894 by craftsman Brady Anderson. It was purchased by Norwegian newspaperman and author Waldemar Ager in 1903. The Ager family owned the house until 1962, when it was bought by the local hospital. In 1993, when the hospital need the land to expand its complex, the house was donated to the Waldemar Ager Foundation. Originally located on Chestnut Street, the house was then moved to its current location. Afterwards, the house was restored to its appearance during the 1900s. The second floor has since been converted into a resource library.

National Register of Historic Places - Brady Anderson and Waldemar Ager House

Statement of Significance:

The Anderson-Ager House is architecturally significant at the local level under Criterion C. It is a fine example of the Queen Anne style and retains excellent integrity. The period of significance for architecture extends from 1892, the year that construction began on the original section of the house, through circa 1925, when the second contributing addition was built. The Anderson-Ager House is also significant under Criterion B in ethnic heritage for its association with Waldemar Ager, a Norwegian-American author and editor of regional importance. The period of significance for history coincides with the years in which Ager lived and worked in the house, 1903 through 1941. It should be noted that the Anderson-Ager House was nominated to the National Register as part of the Eau Claire Multiple Resources in 1983 but was not listed due to the objection of the owner. At that time, it was determined eligible for listing both for its architecture and for its association with Waldemar Ager. The house was subsequently moved to its present location.