| Additional Information: | The Union Block building was constructed in 1875 by three owners. They were John Moffat, H.A. Palmer, and Mrs. H. Robinson. The original businesses in this building were: C. Blakeskee and Co. Dry Goods, R.S. Ellis Confectionary and Lottie Lender, Millinery and Dressmaker.
Overtime, a wide variety of businesses were located in this building, which are not well documented,inculding dry goods and grocery stores, clothing stores and millineries, and hardware stores. The Sanborn-Perris Maps and various business directories indicate this. For instance, in 1889, there was (J.J. Mason's?) dry goods store, a grocery, and fruit confectionary store on the first floor with offices on the second floor. In 1894, it was J.J. Mason's dry goods store, William E. Newman's grocery, and vacant space with offices on the second floor. In 1900 to 1904, it was J.J. Mason's dry goods, a clothing store, and a grocery, and a vacant space, with a dwelling on the second floor and a millinery shop run by O.F. Angle on the second floor as well. In 1911, it continued as retail businesses, including clothing, grocery, and hardware stores. In 1916, A. Bercu's dry goods store, J.J. Mason's dry goods store, and R. Baldwin's hardware store was located here.
The Union Building gains local historical significanec under criterion A in association with the topic General Merchandise, Dry Goods and Furniture Stores under Sparta's Commercial Theme. Although all the businesses located in the building fro 1875 to 1940 are not well documented, it is clear that the building house a considerable number and variety. The building's period of historical significance ranges from its erection and initial business occupation in 1875 to 1916, when the last documented businesses are known.
This nine-bay brick [presently painted] commercial block is characterized by a wide, bracketed, projecting metal cornice that is accented by a triangular pediment rising above the roof line. The entablature is inscribed with the name "Union Block" and the date of construction "1875." A brick arcade comprised of classical round arches resting on capped applied pilasters articulate the facade, creating nine bays on the upper story of the facade. A decorative metal window head in the form of a triangular pediment placed on an arched base projects over a long narrow window in each of the nine bays of the upper story. White louvered shutters flank the replacement windows in the south six bays on the second story. The Union Block presently has two contemporary styled storefronts. The south storefront, which serves two of the three store original spaces, is composed of vertical white siding on the transom area visually resting on white columns, divided lights, and a recessed main entrance as well as an entrance to the upper store on its south end. The storefront serving the north three bays of the Union Block is covered by a psuedo-stone veneer and an offset metal and glass entrance.
The architectural character of the Union Block has been altered mainly by the addition of unsympathetic replacement windows that only partially fill the window openings and by the addition of contemporary storefronts to this Italianate styled commercial block. A new front was added to the lower stories of 132 and 134 North Water in 1973 while a new front was added earlier in 1953 to 136 North Water.
Constructed in 1875 to replace a group of frame buildings previously on the site, the Union Block was built through the cooperation of three property owners, J. Moffat [the owners of a feed and flour store], Mrs. Robinson, [the owner of a confectionary] and H. Palmer [owner of the Palmer Drug Store]. The movement to replace the frame buildings was initiated after fire destroyed most of the buildings north of the Union Block site on January 7, 1875. Used for varied and multiple commercial enterprises over the years, the Union Block originally was used by Blakeslee Dry Goods and Grocery Store, and the R.E. Ellis Confectionary while space on the second floor was rented to Lottie Lender, milliner and dressmaker.
The Union Block is an Italianate styled commercial block characterized by a orjecting iron cornice and ornamental window treatment. Although this building is not architecturally significant because of the lack of integrity, the Union Block, an important example of the Italianate style in Sparta,contributes to the proposed Water Street Historic District. better preserved examples of the Italianate style include the buildings at 117 East Oak (MP35/20), 144 North Water (MO36/14), 118 South Water (MO23/36), and 120 South Water (MO23/35). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Building inscription.
(B) City of Sparta, Community Development Office, Building Permit File.
(C) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1870-1930.
(D) Sanborn Insurance Map 1884, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931.
(E) Sparta Herald January 10, 1875; May 18, 1875; August 24, 1875; April 25, 1876; October 10, 1876.
(F) City of Sparta Property Tax Rolls, 1870-1940.
(G) Map of Sparta, Wisconsin. Milwaukee: Phoenix Map Company of Milwaukee, 1875.
(H) French, Bella, "History of Sparta, Wisconsin." The American Sketchbook. La Crosse: Sketch Book Company, Publishers, 1875, p. 70-74.
(I) Annual Directory of Sparta, Wisconsin. Vol. 1. Chicago: Interstate Directory Co., 1897.
(J) Sparta City Directory, 1903-1904. Sparta: R.C. Glover, 1904.
(K) City Directory of the City of Sparta, Wisconsin. Sparta: compiled and published by E.B. Bell, 1916. |
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