700 Main St. | National or State Registers Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

National or State Registers Record

700 Main St.

National or State Register of Historic Places
700 Main St. | National or State Registers Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:Prentice Co-operative Creamery Company
Reference Number:85002329
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):700 Main St.
County:Price
City/Village:Prentice
Township:
SUMMARY
Prentice Co-operative Creamery Company
700 Main Street, Prentice, Price County
Architect: None
Date of construction: 1906

This utilitarian building was originally constructed by the U.S. Leather Company to house animal hides. The main block of the building is constructed of brick and is one and a half stories tall. Its simple construction was typical of small scale industrial buildings of the early twentieth century. Steep gable roofs cover the building along with large metal vents that were a common feature of dairy operations.

Following the passage of Wisconsin's Cooperative Law of 1911, the Prentice Co-operative Creamery Company began operations here in 1915. The 1911 law emphasized service at cost and the personal nature of membership. The Prentice Co-operative Creamery Company played a crucial role in the growth and improvement of area dairy farms as farms were being created from the county's cut-over lands.

From the time of its opening, the creamery received great attention from the local newspaper with production data often appearing on the front page. The county agricultural agent also promoted the creamery by offering technical advice to farmers and admonitions to residents to support the new enterprise. In less than two years, production increased eighteen-fold.

A downturn in the economy eventually led to the closing of the creamery in the 1940s. The building is currently in use as an industrial building and is not open to the public.

PROPERTY FEATURES
Period of Significance:1925-1949
Period of Significance:1900-1924
Area of Significance:Agriculture
Area of Significance:Industry
Applicable Criteria:Event
Historic Use:Agriculture/Subsistence: Processing
Architectural Style:No Style Listed
Resource Type:Building
Architect:Unknown
DESIGNATIONS
Historic Status:Listed in the National Register
Historic Status:Listed in the State Register
National Register Listing Date:09/12/1985
State Register Listing Date:01/01/1989
NUMBER OF RESOURCES WITHIN PROPERTY
Number of Contributing Buildings:1
Number of Contributing Sites:0
Number of Contributing Structures:0
Number of Contributing Objects:0
Number of Non-Contributing Sites:0
Number of Non-Contributing Structures:0
Number of Non-Contributing Objects:0
RECORD LOCATION
National Register and State Register of Historic Places, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

How to Cite

For the purposes of a bibliography entry or footnote, follow this model:

National Register of Historic Places Citation
National Register of Historic Places, "Historic Name", "Town", "County", "State", "Reference Number".

Have Questions?

If you didn't find the National Register listing you were looking for or have other questions about the National Register, please email us and we can help: