125 W MAIN ST | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

Property Record

125 W MAIN ST

Architecture and History Inventory
125 W MAIN ST | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:T. Overson Building
Other Name:The Garment Shop
Contributing:
Reference Number:109173
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):125 W MAIN ST
County:Dane
City:Cambridge
Township/Village:
Unincorporated Community:
Town:
Range:
Direction:
Section:
Quarter Section:
Quarter/Quarter Section:
PROPERTY FEATURES
Year Built:1880
Additions:
Survey Date:1999
Historic Use:retail building
Architectural Style:Boomtown
Structural System:
Wall Material:Brick
Architect:
Other Buildings On Site:
Demolished?:No
Demolished Date:
NATIONAL AND STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
National/State Register Listing Name:Not listed
National Register Listing Date:
State Register Listing Date:
NOTES
Additional Information:Decorative corbelling appears below the stepped parapet. As of 1983, the storefront was made of Cararra glass. The upstairs once possessed a meeting hall.

In 1898, T. Overson rented the first floor to Helbick O. Texley and Casper Bagely, who operated a hardware store. By 1920, the Melster Candy Company utilized the building's basement as a candy kitchen. Brothers Arthur and Harvey Melster developed wholesale markets in Milwaukee and Chicago, while their father Gustav was president of the company. They expanded their product line by acquiring the Madison Candy Company in 1957 and Webster Candy in 1963. Melster Candy Co was purchased by CFS Continental in 1976, though the Melster name is stilled used to this day.

After WWII, the building functioned as a grocery store, and in the 1950s as a clothing store owned by Harlen Kampstad.
Bibliographic References:Historic name taken from insurance document. Circa construction date based upon field observation. Architecture/History Survey. September 1999. Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd.
RECORD LOCATION
Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

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