| Additional Information: | In 1910, the Sparta Fruit Growers Association built this building to house their offices and warehouse.
The main occupants of the new building was the Sparta Fruit Growers Association. By the turn of the century, Sparta was in the center of the fruit belt of Wisconsin and reportedly shipped more berries than any other city within the same territory. Soon cooperative fruit growing organizations began to organize in Sparta. In 1896, a group of berry entrepreneurs formed the Sparta Fruit Growers Association, whose purposed was to "stop the commission firm practice of pitting the various fruit growers against one another to pay the lowest price," and to "foster and encourage the growing of fruits." They also formed in order to promote "uniform prices for berries and pickers, [and] to secure cheaper rates from the express companies." Lewis S. Fisher helped organize the group and was the general manager of the group as well. Fred W. Teall was also prominent member of the board of directors. By 1899, there were 175 members to the group. This group helped local growers to reach new heights of production. By 1904, Sparta was shipping over 70,000 cases annually and paying $17,000 a year to its pickers. In 1910, the Sparta Fruit Growers Association built the Sparta Fruit Growers Association Building at 127 East Oak Street, which contained their office and a warehouse.
Between 1920 and 1925, the Sparta Fruit Growers Association changed its name to Sparta Produce Exchange Inc. It is not known when this group ended. Today, the building serves the same function that it historically was built for in 1910.
The Sparta Fruit Growers Association Building gains local significance under Criterion A in association with the topic Fruit and vegetable Processing under the Sparta Industry Theme, and Cooperative Movements under the Commerce Theme. It possesses its historical significance from the date of its completion in 1910 to the present day. The end date recognizes its continued function as a cooperative.
Constructed on the southwest corner of East Oak and Spring Streets, this brick (presently pained) two-story building displays an east brick elevation and a screen covered facade. The east elevation is characterized by a moulded brick lintel course and a moulded brick string course outlining the dentil trimmed brick cornice along the top of this brick elevation. The north facade on East Oak Street displays a screen front and a contemporary storefrton with a brick apron and recessed entrance. A loading dock covered by a cantilevered roof (an original feature of the building) is located at the rear of the east facade. Machinery used for grinding is located on top of the roof.
This Classical influenced vernacular brick building and warehouse has been altered by the replacement of the one over one windows with wooden panels. In addition, the building has been altered extensively by the addition of the screen front to the north facade, covering the three sets of triple windows on the upper facade. Two arched pediments flanked by short pilasters topped by finials rising above the east facade and one similar pediment rising above the Oak Street facade also have been removed.
Constructed in 1909-1910, this building replaced an earlier frame two-story building on the site. This building was built for the Sparta fruit Growers Association in place of the frame building on the site purchased by the association from the John D. Young Lumber Company in 1907.
The Sparta Fruit Growers Association Building does not meet the criteria of the NRHP for architectural significance because of a lack of integrity. However, this historically significant building has sufficient architectural character to contribute to the proposed Water Street Historic District. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Monroe County History Room, RT. 2, Sparta, WI, Photograph Collection, Photograph #45.
(B) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1882-1930.
(C) Sanborn Insurance Maps 1884, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931.
(D) Sparta Herald Feb. 5, 1907.
(E) City of Sparta Property Tax Rolls, 1870-1940.
(F) City Directory of the City of Sparta, Wisconsin. Sparta: compiled and published by E.B. Bell, 1916.
(G) Koehler, Lyle P., From Frontier Settlement to Self-Conscious American Community: A History of One Rural Village (Sparta, Wisconsin) in the Nineteenth Century. Evansville, Indiana: Unigraphic, Inc., 1977, p. 63.
(H) "Sparta-Up-To-Date" Souvenir Supplement of the Monroe County Democrat June 30, 1899: 23.
(I) Jones, Ida Lucille, "A History of Sparta, Wisconsin." B.A. Thesis. University of Wisconsin, 1915, p. 10.
(J) Unknown Newspaper. "Sparta is Like a Southern City" circa 1909-1910. |
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