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Council approves landmark nomination for Benjamin and Amy Butz House in District 6
Summary
The Common Council approved the landmark nomination for the Benjamin and Amy Butz House at 633 East Johnson Street. A volunteer who led the research described the nomination process and the house’s significance to Madison’s African American history.
The City of Madison Common Council approved the landmark nomination for the property at 633 East Johnson Street, known as the Benjamin and Amy Butz House, in District 6.
Robert Clubba, who said he began work on the nomination two years ago and secured the owner’s permission to proceed, addressed the council on behalf of the nomination. Clubba described the costs and research involved in preparing nominations — which he estimated to range from $3,500 to $7,500 — and said the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation took on coordination and funding for this nomination. He told the council the house’s significance derives from its residents’ roles in Madison’s African American community and its contribution to the vernacular context of the James Madison Park neighborhood.
Clubba noted the house’s altered interior and visible condition but argued that the site’s history justifies landmark status to prevent demolition and preserve the stories of underrepresented Madison residents. The council recorded a unanimous vote to approve the nomination.
