Lowell Elementary School

401 Maple Avenue, Madison, WI 53704

Total Students: 365
TESTING PRIORITY: MEDIUM
ABSTRACT: The school, located adjacent to Atwood Ave, was built in 1916 and renovated 10
years later. The main sources of lead contamination would therefore be from lead paint and
leaded gasoline. No forms of mitigation are currently being used. Therefore, soil testing is
recommended.
GARDEN CHARACTERISTICS

Garden type: Vegetables, perennial

When established: 2010
Size: information unknown
Location on school grounds: 80 feet from Atwood Ave, 15 feet from school
Soil type/soil origins: Tilled soil (no imported soil)
Mitigation used: Unknown or none
Has soil been tested: information unknown

NEARBY LAND USE

Major Roads: E. Washington Ave, S. Stoughton Road, Atwood Ave
From the edge of the garden to the edge of the E. Washington Ave is 3,300 ft. From the edge of
the garden to the edge of the S. Stoughton is 6,500 ft. From the edge of the garden to the edge of
Atwood Ave is 80 ft. All of these were established prior to 1937. Lead gasoline was being used
up from the early 1920s until the mid-1970s, therefore, we can assume that cars with lead
gasoline were driving on nearby roads close to the school grounds. (Google Earth was used to
obtain these measurements).
PAST SITE USE
Industries near the school that may pose a low risk of lead contamination would include Schlitz
Hotel (built 1904), and United States Sugar Company (built in 1905).
It should also be noted that the Madison-Kipp Corporation operated in the area. This industry
was responsible for creating steam gas tractors in 1918, producing zinc and aluminum die casting
machines in 1920s, and developed the pneumatic grinder in the 1930s.
Overall, it can be concluded that there is a low likelihood that lead would have entered the soil
through industrial processes. If the Madison-Kipp Corporation used lead in their manufacturing
processes, it may still be present in the area today. However, it could not be determined whether
or not lead was used in these processes.

CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATIONS

Initial Construction: The school was built in 1916.

Renovation: In 1926, two new wings were added. We can deduce from the age of the building
that lead paint may have been used at different times and on different parts of the building.
If demolition occurred during renovation for the addition of new wings, it may have caused paint
chips containing lead to be exposed to the soil. There is a high likelihood that this may have
occurred, as some part of the building would have been torn down in order to incorporate the
new elements.
BUILDING MATERIALS
Paint: The building was built in 1916, so there is a possibility that lead paint is still present in
some form. The additions on the building also mean it is possible that lead paint chips are present
in the soil. The most danger from this would be within 3 feet of the building. However, the
distance from the garden edge to the school building is about 15 feet, further reducing this risk.

https://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/landmark/SchenkAtwoodWalkingTour.pdf
http://www.communitygroundworks.org/sites/default/files/youth-growlocal/LowellElementarySchool.pdf
-Lauren Abrahams