Alfred Clas

Alfred Clas (1859 - 1942) was an architect in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] He was a partner in the firm Ferry & Clas with George Bowman Ferry and in 1913 Alfred C. Clas partnered with his son Reuben F. Clas and with John S. Shepherd, as junior partners, to form the firm of Clas, Shepherd & Clas. Shepherd withdrew in 1931 and the firm became Clas & Clas, Inc., with Alfred Clas remaining president until his death in 1942.

Clas was born in Sauk City, Wisconsin.[2] He and Ferry were responsible for much of the city planning and development that was happening at the time.[3] Clas was a City Planner and a member of City Park Board and designed the Milwaukee Auditorium and other public buildings.[2]

The City of Milwaukee commemorated a park in Clas's name in appreciation of his work as a city planner. Alfred C. Clas Park is located in Milwaukee County, just off N. 9th St and Wells St (Latitude: 43.0405556, Longitude: -87.9238889).[4]

He partnered with Ferry from 1890 until Ferry 1912.[5]

Clas Park on the southern side of the Milwaukee County Courthouse is named for him.

Midsummer Carnival Shaft at the Court of Honor in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Clas Park at the Milwaukee County Courthouse

He was a member of the American Institute of Architects.[6]

The Pabst Mansion at 2000 West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee was the first project of the Ferry & Clas partnership and was completed in 1892.[7]

In 1912 his A Scheme for the Improvement of the Milwaukee River was published.[8] His speech Civic Improvement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; An Address Delivered before the Greater Milwaukee Association, December 14, 1916 was also published.[9]

The Milwaukee Public Library has a portrait of him.[10]