Property Record
110-112 E OAK ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Sahrt Furniture Store (Sparta Steam Laundry) |
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| Other Name: | Risky Business Tavern/Amber Inn Tavern |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27945 |
| Location (Address): | 110-112 E OAK ST |
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| County: | Monroe |
| City: | Sparta |
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| Year Built: | 1899 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1989 |
| Historic Use: | funeral parlor |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
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| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Water Street Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 11/12/1992 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 7/3/1992 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | The Sahrt Furniture Store was built in 1899 by William J. Sahrt as a furniture store/funeral parlor from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. William Sahrt was an undertaker and for several years resided over the building with his wife Gertrude. By 1911, William Sahrt sold the furniture/mortuary building to Dean Holloway, Cleve Sutherland and John C. Myers. These gentlemen split the building into a laundry called the Sparta Steam Laundry and a clothing shop run by an unknown person or persons. The Sparta Steam Laundry was probably run by Yep Ah. Pung and his family. In 1911, Yep Ah Pung moved his Sparta Steam Laundry from a building across East Oak Street. Part of the Sahrt Furniture Store building remained a steam laundry until at least 1931. Various property names associated with the building include Mrs. Walter Standard. The Sahrt Furniture Store gains local significance under Criterion A in association with the General Merchandise, Dry Goods, and Furniture Stores topic under the Commerce Theme. The Sahrt Furniture Store was an important furniture/funeral home in Sparta at the turn of the century. The combination of furniture store and mortuary was a common combination of businesses at this time, and the Sahrt Furniture Store building is Sparta's only standing representative of that combination of businesses. The building's period of historical significance ranges from its erection in 1899 and initial business occupation until 1911 and the closing of the Sahrt Furniture/Funeral Home. This Classical influenced two-story, rectangular vernacular brick building features a brick facade vertically divided into three bays by applied pilasters capped by decorative brick work and knob finials that rise above the roof lines. Corbeled and moulded brick work ornament the tops of the bays and brick pediment flanked by the two center pilasters extends above the roof. An ornamental panel of contrasting stone and brick work above the paired long narrow windows in each bay further characterize the facade. The remains of an iron storefront including a full-length iron lintel and iron columns flanking the entrance are displayed on the storefront. Featuring a recessed double entrance in the center of the lower story, the double storefront has been partially filled with wood paneling and partially with a high brick apron. This turn of the century commercial building has been altered by the replacement of the original windows with smaller metal windows and wood panels. In addition, the double storefront windows and doors have been replaced with unsympathetic materials. This brick commercial building, 40 ft. x 80 ft., was constructed in 1899 for J. and William Sahrt. Built as a double store, this building originally housed the Sahrt Furniture Store and Funeral Home. The Sahrt Furniture Store does not meet the NRHP criteria for architectural significance because of a lack of integrity. However, this vernacular brick building has retained sufficient architectural character to contribute to the historic character of the proposed Water Street Historic District. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Sanborn Perris Insurance Maps 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931. (B) City of Sparta Property Tax Rolls, 1870-1940. (C) Sparta City Directory, 1903-1904. Sparta: R.C. Glover, Publisher, 1904. (D) City Directory of the City of Sparta, Wisconsin. Sparta: compiled and published by E.B. Bell, 1916. (E) Monroe County Democrat, April 14, 1899. (F) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1870-1930. (G) Sparta Herald April 11, 1899; June 20, 1899; August 29, 1899. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |