Property Record
111 E OAK ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Davis and Jones Furniture Store |
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| Other Name: | Western Wisconsin Sports |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27947 |
| Location (Address): | 111 E OAK ST |
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| County: | Monroe |
| City: | Sparta |
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| Year Built: | 1913 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1989 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| 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: | In 1913, the present building was constructed. D.F. Davis and John Jones moved their furniture store in 1913 in this building on East Oak Street. They were the earliest occupants of the building. The Davis and Jones Furniture Store operated at least until 1916, but it is not known how long thereafter they were in business at this address. Prior to the erection of this building there was another furniture store there owned by J.A. Cummings. The Cummings Furniture store lasted from circa 1889 until at least 1897. By 1900, this earlier building had turned into a Chinese laundry owned by Yep Ah Pung and it was called the Sparta Steam Laundry. Yep Ah Pung's family also lived in the building as well. The earlier building continued as a Chinese laundry, probably operated by Yep Ah Pung, until 1911, when the Sparta Steam Laundry moved across the street to the Sahrt Furniture Store building, which had been converted to a steam laundry. The Davis and Jones Furniture Store gains local historical significance under Criteria A in association with the topic General Merchandise, Dry Goods and Furniture Stores under the Commerce Theme. It was one of several furniture stores in Sparta's commercial history in the early twentieth century. The building's dates of significance ranges from 1913 to 1916 or even later. This two-story rectangular commercial vernacular brick (presently painted) building is characterized by a brick recessed facade flanked by brick applied pilasters on the ends of the building. The facade is ornamented by a corbeled brick cornice along the top of the building that is accented in the center by two short pilasters with corbel stops. Flat white stone lintels and sills decorate the two long windows on the upper facade. The west elevation is covered with modern siding. A contemporary storefront with a large transom covered by siding and off-set recessed entrance with a metal and glass door is located on the lower story. This early twentieth century building has been altered by the addition of metal windows to the upper story and by the addition of a contemporary storefrton to its lower story. In addition, the brick elevation on the west side has been covered by contemporary siding. This small commercial vernacular building was constructed in 1913 for F.D. Davis. Davis moved his business, the Davis and Jones Furniture Store, to his new building in 1913 from his earlier quarters in the Teasdale building on West Main Street (not extant). The Davis and Jones Store occupied the entire two floors of the new building and the second floor of the adjacent Hoffman building at 113-115 East Oak. The Davis and Jones Furniture Store is significant under Criterion C as a fairly well-preserved example of the commercial vernacular building form. One of four fairly well-presered examples of the commercial vernacular building form in the proposed Water Street Historic District, this early 20th century building exhibits minimal historic ornament. Other well-preserved examples of the commercial vernacular form are the buildings located at 113-115 East Oak (MO35/21), 211 South Water (MO36/35), and 138 North Water (MO35/34). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1870-1930. (B) Sparta Herald July 15, 1913; Sept. 16, 1913. (C) Sanborn Insurance Map 1884, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931. (D) City of Sparta Property Tax Rolls, 1870-1940. (E) Annual Directory of Sparta, Wisconsin. Vol. 1. Chicago: Interstate Directory Co., 1897. (F) Sparta City Directory, 1903-1904. Sparta: R.C. Glover, Publisher, 1904. (G) City Directory of the City of Sparta, Wisconsin. Sparta: compiled and published by E.B. Bell, 1916. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |