| Additional Information: | The William Kerrigan Building was erected prior to 1870 by William Kerrigian, an important blacksmith in Sparta's early past. By 1855, William Kerrigan began his blacksmith shop on East Oak Street, and eventually made enough money at this enterprise to construct this building on South Water Street. Kerrigan opened a book and music store here, which was operating on 1875. Little more is known about the history of the occupants of this building.
Because little historical data is currently associated with the William Kerrigan building, its role in the development of Sparta remains unclear. It is therefore currently historically insignificant under Criterion A.
This one-story commercial vernacular building is characterized by a brick facade, which extends above the roof line, that is partially covered by metal siding. A metal canopy is cantilevered over the contemporary metal and glass storefront.
This small vernacular brick building has been altered by the addition of a contemporary storefront and by the addition of metal siding to the lower part of the facade. Originally a mid-19th century brick building with two small stores built before 1870 for William Kerrigan, this building has been altered at various times since its construction. The first known major alteration was the addition of a new pressed brick facade ornamented mainly by brick panels along the top of the facade and a new plate glass storefront. This new facade was installed in 1896 at the same time the south wall was reconstructed to accomodate the construction of new Hoffman building on the adjacent lot. A new black glossy back panel inscribed with the "Schultz Bros. Co." appeared on the building by c. 1940. Part of the storefront was filled with brick in 1977 and in 1981, it was filled with blocks and the doors changed. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1868-1970.
(B) Sanborn Insurance Maps 1884, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931.
(C) Sparta Herald Aug. 25, 1896; May 30, 1899; Jan. 9, 1900.
(D) Monroe County History Room, Route 2, Sparta, Photograph Collection, photograph #108.
(E) City of Sparta, City Development Office, Building Permit.
(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) No Author, History of Northern Wisconsin: Containing an Account of its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources: an Extensive Sketch of its Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages...Etc. Chicago: the Western Historical Company, 1881, p, 636. |
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