| Additional Information: | Formerly occupied by La Raza Mexi-Mart. Vacant at the time of 2021 survey.
2020-2024 Targeted Resurvey of Sheboygan recommendation write-up:
This former building is comprised of two periods of construction; the rear/west portion which was built in 1916, while the front, Mediterranean Revival-style salesroom portion, designed by Edgar Stubenrauch, was completed in 1922. While a few of the former showroom windows have been boarded over, the original openings remain discernable. The red brick building was, at some point, painted white and the original green barrel tile either replaced or painted.
This building was erected to serve as an automobile dealership that was known as the Walter A. Knaak Motor Company. Walter A. Knaak was born in 1876 in Germany and, along with his parents, he immigrated to the United States in 1888. After working for the Mattoon Manufacturing Company, he started a bicycle repair shop in the basement of his brother-in-law Ernest C. Zehm’s house. The business grew quickly and he built a small building (no longer extant) at the corner of S. 13th and Georgia streets. By no later than circa 1906, he partnered with his brother-in-law and the name changed to Knaak & Zehms. In addition to bicycle repair, they sold bicycles, as well as handled baseball equipment, skates, tobacco, newspapers, and magazines. By 1906, motorcycles were added. Between 1908 and 1909, the pair built the city’s third garage (a frame-constructed building) and became the sole dealers of the Maxwell and Jackson automobiles. In 1915-16, the garage was rebuilt and presumably finished with brick—by which time Zehms had left the partnership. A 1920 city directory advertisement touted the W.A. Knaak Motor Co. as the “oldest, largest and most up-to-date equipped garage in the city of Sheboygan,” at which time they sold five different auto brands. Two years later, the existing modern showroom addition, designed by Edgar Stubenrauch, was added onto the rear garage portion. At this time, Knaak’s business partner was A.W. Grote, who had been with the firm since 1912. William died in 1951. His obituary cited that he was the oldest automobile dealer in Wisconsin in terms of length of operation. He was also a charter member of the Southwest Side Advancement Association and a director of the South West State Bank since 1923.
By 1956, the building was owned by William Thomson and was the home of Motorville, Inc., thus continuing its use for auto sales. By no later than 1964, Williamson Ford moved into the building, which was still owned by Thomson. Williamson Ford moved out by no later than 1966, at which time it was known as The Boat House and dealt in snowmobile and motorcycle sales and repair. This ended its tenure as am automobile dealership/showroom.
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| Bibliographic References: | LJM Architects, Inc. City of Sheboygan, Wisconsin: Architectural and Historical Intensive Survey Report. City of Sheboygan Historic Preservation Commission & Department of City Development; 2002, 2004 & 2006.
Citations for the 2020-2024 Targeted Resurvey of Sheboygan recommendation write-up:
Sheboygan City Directory, 1904-05, 1906-07, 1908-09, 1920; “City to Have Third Garage,” The Sheboygan Press, 18 November 1909, 4; Newsbrief (re: Knaak & Zehms), The Sheboygan Press, 29 March 1910, 8; “Rebuilding Have Big Sale in Progress,” The Sheboygan Press, 21 October 1915, 3; “Charles Cone Gets The Indian Agency,” The Sheboygan Press, 8 September 1916, 3; “Knaak Motor Co. Plans Addition to its Building,” The Sheboygan Press, 17 June 1922, 1; “Knaak Motor Company Opens its Handsome New Salesroom and Office Building Today,” The Sheboygan Press, 28 October 1922, 2; Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Sheboygan, Wis., 1903, updated to 1949; “William A. Knaak, Local Automobile Dealer, Dies,” The Sheboygan Press, 25 October 1951, 16; “Kaiser, Henry J. Automobiles Sold by W.A. Knaak Motors,” The Sheboygan Press, 10 August 1953, Section 7 (Recreation), 5; Gary C. Klein, “Throwback Thursday: W.A. Knaak Motor Co., Sheboygan,” The Sheboygan Press, 11 October 2018.
“Corporations File Papers With Register,” The Sheboygan Press, 27 November 1956, 4; Troy Laack, “Motorville Families Back in Same Neighborhood,” The Sheboygan Press, 16 January 2005, 27. |
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