Property Record
320 S 5TH AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Washington County Sheriff's House and Jail |
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| Other Name: | Washington County Historical Society |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 14658 |
| Location (Address): | 320 S 5TH AVE |
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| County: | Washington |
| City: | West Bend |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
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| Year Built: | 1886 |
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| Additions: | 1889 |
| Survey Date: | 1987 |
| Historic Use: | jail/correctional center/prison |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | Edward V. Koch |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Washington County Courthouse and Jail |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 3/9/1982 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | County Courthouses of Wisconsin Thematic Group |
| Additional Information: | Another map code for this building is WT 18/20, found on the Hand Drawn map. This three and one half story building, designed in the high Victorian Italianate style, features a square shaped plan configuration, a stone foundation, a cream brick exterior, a brick and wood trim and a red tin shingled and hipped roof. Projecting forward and centered on the front is a three story bay designed with an elaborate parapet containing corbelling and crenelations. A circular vent, segmentally arched openings and flat arched openings further distinguish this bay. Dormers, outfitted each with the same parapet and battlements as the bay, appear at the side elevations. The dormer gables are shaped to connect chimney stacks. A round arched opening on each dormer contains two windows and a geometric design. Brick corbelled arches dilineate the area directly below the molded cornice on the second story. Many of the windows are deeply inset into narrow rectangular openings. On the first story of the centered bay is a decorative portico detailed with a flat roof, a dentil trimmed cornice, a rosetted frieze and bracketed posts. Spindlework is also present on the portico, acenting the horseshoe motif opening. Other architectural elements found on the building include brick beltcourses and a stone water table. The building, which is in fair condition, stands as an example of what was once a county jail and attached sheriff's residence. Used as a jail until 1962. Currently owned by the Washington County Historical Society (2008). Open as a museum. |
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| Bibliographic References: | ZIMMERMANN, RUSSELL, "THE HERITAGE GUIDEBOOK", (HERITAGE BANKS 1976). Washington County History and Driving Tours presented by the Washington County Landmarks Commission, 1999. West Bend Daily News 5/8/2002. Germantown Banner Press 5/15/2003. West Bend Historic Building Tour, Rathbun Associates, undated. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |