Washburn's Historic District on East 3rd Street

It may not look like it, but there's something new about East Third Street in Washburn.

Thirty-two homes and structures o are now included on the state's register of historic places.

"It's been approved at the state level and we know it'll be approved at the federal level, we just don't have the piece of paper in hand," Sharon Stewart from the Washburn Heritage Association said.

Besides having curb appeal and interesting designs, the homes are unique because each one was built by the DuPont company who owned an explosives plant nearby.

"At that time Washburn was crammed with so many people that if DuPont wanted their employees, especially their managers, to leave in decent housing they had to build it for them," Stewart said.

The process for historical recognition began in 2008.

Eventually a consultant came in to survey and pin point an eligible area to nominate.

This spring the State Historical Society of Wisconsin said "yes."

"It's really reflective of the level of caring that went into even you know the worker bees," Betty Ferris said. Ferris has owned a home in this area since 1994.

She simply can't stop raving her home and others nearby. "I love this craftsman style, I love it, I love everything about it," she said. "It's impossible to get your hands on the materials that these houses are constructed of."

She's also excited about the historic recognition.

"I'm hopeful that the creation of this historic district will enhance our whole quality of life up here and sort of model future behavior," Ferris said.

Because what may easily be passed up by a wandering eye often has a story to tell.

And that's exactly the case with each home on this stretch in Washburn.

"I think it's important that we recognize and cherish what makes our place special," she said.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, historic districts bring economic value to a city.

To see the East Third Street District yourself, you can join the historic trolley tour during Washburn's Brownstone Days on Saturday, July 26.