Property Record
921 WISCONSIN AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Hof's Meat Market |
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| Other Name: | Watson's Barber Shop |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 28112 |
| Location (Address): | 921 WISCONSIN AVE |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Boscobel |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1906 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | HABS WI-333, HABS WI-334. ALTHOUGH THE STOREFRONT HAS BEEN ALTERED (THE ENTRANCE WAS ORIGINALLY OFF CENTER TO THE SOUTH) THE CURRENT TREATMENT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE OF THE INCLUSION OF TRANSOM AND USE OF CARRARA GLASS. THE AREA ABOVE THE STOREFRONT CONTAINS A VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF PRESSED METAL. THE FIELD SIMULATES BRICK WHILE THE CORNER PIERS AND FRIEZE ARE COVERED WITH FLORAL PATTERNS. THE BUILDING IS ARCHITECTURALLY INTERESTING PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE DETAILED METAL WORK BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE STOREFRONT APPEARS FAIRLY COMPATIBLE. 1992- "Early photos show that the present west-facing main facade of this one-story rectilinear plan Boomtown form commercial building actually consists of elements that date trom both its first and second remodelings. The original facade of this 25-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep frame construction building consisted of a symmetrical storefront that featured two very large nine-light display windows that flanked a recessed, canted, central entrance. This storefront was enframed by cornerboards and a simple cornice, and the wall surface above was clad in wood clapboards and was crowned by a second simple cornice. This facade was still in place as of 1906, when the bank next door was built. The first remodeling occurred between 1906 and 1912, when Philip J. Hof was operating a meat market in the building. Nearly everything was replaced at this time. A new four-bay-wide storefront was installed that featured three equal-width display windows located to the left of an equal-width entrance door opening. Each window had a four-panel wood bulkhead placed below it and the wall surface above the storefront was transformed as well. This area was enframed by sheet metal-covered pilasters that were ornamented with sheet-metal covered capitals and the facade was crowned with a sheet-metal-covered cornice decorated with modillion blocks. 'l'he wall surface just below this was covered with a sheet-metal-covered frieze band and the main wall surface was covered with more metal sheeting stamped to resemble brick. All of this metal sheeting was stamped with decorative designs and this part ot the first remodeling is still intact today. The storefront, however, was remodeled again, and while the date of this remodeling is unknown, stylistic evidence suggests a date during the period of significance. This remodeling gave the storefront its present appearance, which features a deeply recessed centered and canted entrance flanked by display windows on either side. The whole storefront is surmounted by a six-light transom and it is enframed by paneled wood pilaster strips and bulkheads. The resulting facade now represents an anthology of past remodelings, but all of them occurred during the period of significance and this building is believed to be a contributing resource in the district as a result." - Prepared by Timothy F Heggland (1992). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. SANBORN PERRIS MAP OF BOSCOBEL 1912. B. HERITAGE ALBUM, BOSCOBEL, 1973, P.53. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |