| Bibliographic References: | A frame building with the same footprint was on this lot by no later than 1905, at which time it served as a meat market, Sanborn-Perris Fire Insurance Map of Prairie do Chien, Wis., 1912. In 1929, the building was purchased from the Bloomington State Bank by Leo LaPointe, who had operated a meat market out of the building since at least 1924, Prairie du Chien Directory, November 1924, Directory on file at the Prairie du Chien Historical Society; “Leo LaPointe Buys Butcher Shop Bldg.” The Courier (Prairie du Chien, WI), 1 October 1929, 1. In February 1934, the building was either badly damaged or destroyed (depending on the account) and it is assumed the building was rebuilt--with concrete block and a brick front--shortly thereafter, Newsbrief (re: fire), The Bloomington (WI) Record, 14 February 1934, 5; Newsbrief (re: fire), The Platteville (WI) Journal and Grant County News, 21 February 1934, 8; Sanborn-Perris Fire Insurance Map of Prairie du Chien, Wis., 1924 (updated to 1943). It’s unclear, however, if LaPointe relocated in the subject building, as his place of business in 1942 is noted as 105 W. Blackhawk Avenue, “Leo Louis LaPointe,” U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, Available online at www.Ancestry.com, Accessed July 2024. At some point after 1976, the front brick façade of the building was covered with vinyl siding, partial view of the building is included in the 1976 photo of the Cornelius Block at 104-108 W. Blackhawk Avenue, Wisconsin Historic Preservation Database (WHPD), Available online (and to the public) at https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI147504, Accessed July 2024. |
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