State employees at the office building at 1 West Wilson Street during World War II. In response to the conditions for workers in the Capitol described above the state authorized construction of an office building in 1929. Construction of the first unit at 1 West Wilson Street was completed in 1932. SHSW Classified File 202

Bill Dawson has been writing a series of articles which have graphically portrayed the deplorable conditions under which scores of state employees are working in the state capitol. The great state of Wisconsin has no right to ask its employees to work under conditions which the state would not permit in private industry. . . . Throughout the building there is crowding on a scale which precludes efficiency. . . .There are those who say the way to improve conditions is to fire about 40 percent of the employees at the capitol. This is the answer of demagoguery. Capital Times, 1928

Capital Times | State employees | State Office Building (1 West Wilson St.) | Wilson Street