Property Record
100-102 N WATER ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | First Masonic Temple |
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| Other Name: | Knights of Pythias/Paramount Photo/S&S Liquors |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27972 |
| Location (Address): | 100-102 N WATER ST |
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| County: | Monroe |
| City: | Sparta |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
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| Year Built: | 1891 |
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| Additions: | 1904 1981 |
| Survey Date: | 1989 |
| Historic Use: | meeting hall |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | N.W. Huntley |
| 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 1891, the present building was constructed by the Masons. Knights of Pythias building was erected in 1891. In 1891, various Masonic associations formed a corporation with shares held by different Masonic bodies and purchased several lots of land on the northwest corner of Water and Main Streets. Thereafter, they erected a Masonic Temple on the corner, which was used by all the Masonic bodies, including Valley Lodge, No. 60, Free and Accepted Masons, the Commandery of Knights of Templar, and the Order of the Eastern Star. The first floor of the building was used for retail purposes (book and shoe stores), and was also the home of Sparta's post office. By 1910, the Valley Lodge took over the masonic portion of the building completely. The bottom floor of the building continued to contain a book and a stationary store. After 1891, a variety of businesses have occupied the building's first floor, including J.C. Mullen shoe store (1897-1904), F. French Stationary Store (1897), George Seidel Drug and Book and Stationary Store, and G.F. Lillie Novelty Store (1916). In 1922, the first floor was the home of George Seidel's drugstore. The Goss Building was located on this site previously. It was owned by Charles Goss, a farmer and a dealer in ice. The Goss building was built in 1872 and stood on this corner until 1891. It was the home of Sparta's post office for most of these years. The Masonic Temple Building gains local historical significance under Criteria A in association with the Fraternal Organizations subtheme under the main Social and Political Movements Theme. In addition, the first floor of the building also contained the George Seidel Drugstore, which was a prominent early 20th century drugstore in Sparta and is associated with the Patent Medicine and Drug industry subtheme of the Commerce Theme. The building's period of historical significance regarding fraternal groups ranges from its construction and initial occupation in 1891 by various fraternal groups to the present. The building's period of historical significance as an important drugstore ranges from 1916 to 1922 and for sometime thereafter. This two story, four-bay, red brick meeting hall and commercial building (now painted) is characterized mainly by a large Italianate styled projecting metal cornice along the top of the facade as well as the south facade that is ornamented by brackets and a triangular shaped pediment inscribed with the construction date, 1891. Flat lintels above long narrow windows with replacement lights and sashes, a contemporary styled double storefront on the east facade and a pair of arched entrance doors on the west end of the south facade further characterize the building. An iron exterior stairway hangs on the south elevation. This building, originally designed to house the Masonic Temple on the second floor and the Post Office as well as the French and Gross Book and Stationary Store in the south store space on the first floor, was altered when the post office vacated the building in 1904. At this time the entrance door on the south elevation was walled up and moved from the center of the facade to the west end for the new tenant, the Boyd Barber Shop, and a new iron storefront was added to the Water Street facade. This building, which has continued to be used as lodge hall by the Knights of Pythias after the Valley Masonic Lodge built their new building in 1923, has been more recently altered by the partial replacement and partial filling in of the second story windows, the bricking up of the windows and door on the south elevation in 1981, the addition of the contemporary storefront and by the application of paint to its original red brick exterior. Built in 1891 on a stone foundation constructed by L.V. Huschka, the Masonic Temple building was built by Drake and Wolley, a contracting firm from La Crosse. The plans were drawn by the local architect N.W. Huntley. The Masonic building was built on the site of the 1862 frame Goss building, which was moved to the north side of East Main Street. The Goss building was demolished in the mid-1980s. The Masonic Temple is an Italianate styled commercial block characterized mainly by a projecting iron cornice. Although this building is not architecturally significant because of the lack of integrity, the Masonic Temple building contributes to the proposed Water Street Historic District. Better preserved examples of the Italianate style include the buildings at 117 East Oak (MO35/20), 144 N. Water (MO36/14), 118 S. Water (MO23/6), and 120 S. Water (MP23/35). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Date of construction: building inscription. (B) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1872-1930. (C) Sparta Herald May 26, 1891; June 10, 1891; June 30, 1891; Aug. 28, 1891; Sept. 22, 1891. (D) Sanborn Insurance Map, City of Sparta 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931. (E) City of Sparta Property Tax Rolls, 1870-1940. (F) Map of Sparta, Wisconsin. Milwaukee: Phoenix Map Company of Milwaukee, 1875. (G) French, Bella, "History of Sparta, Wisconsin." The American Sketchbook. La Crosse: Sketch Book Company, Publishers, 1875, p. 70-74. (H) Annual Directory of Sparta, Wisconsin. Vol. 1. Chicago: Interstate Directory Co., 1897. (I) Sparta City Directory, 1903-1904. Sparta: R.C. Glover, Publisher, 1904. (J) City Directory of Sparta, Wisconsin. Sparta: compiled and published by E.B. Bell, 1916. (K) Richards, Randolph A., History of Monroe County, Wisconsin: Past and Present, Including an Account of the Cities, Towns and Villages of the County. Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1912, pp. 306-307. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |