We're in the process of updating our website! Learn more about what that means and how you can help create history..
click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Location
Location (Address)
320 DEWITT ST
County
Columbia
City/Village
Portage
Township
Unincorporated community
Town
Range
Direction
Section
Quarter Section
Quarter Quarter Section
Property Features
Year Built
1889
Additions
Survey Date
1992
Historic Use
Architectural Style
Structural System
Brick
Wall Material
Brick
Architect
Other Buildings On Site
Demolished
No
Demolished Date
Additional Comments
Parapet; wood cornice with brackets, panels, and dentils; cast iron window pediments; segmental arch lintels; two oriel windows; denticulated cornice separating floors; cast iron columns at canted entrance with sidelights; display window.
Dave Eulberg (1993) recalled that Zimmerman Plumbing occupied the building. Known as the Hillyer Block.
Selling staple and fancy goods, Porter H. Shaver ran a grocery known as the High Priced Grocery in the Hillyer Block at 320 DeWitt and Conant (25.12) by 1890. He remained in business occasionally with partners such as Charles C. Jaeger between 1887 and about 1901 when he sold the grocery to Herb Slowey, his former clerk. The business then operated under either the High Price Grocery of P.H. Shaver and Co. By 1917, it became the White Market Grocery with Slowey remaining in the business until 1920. He sold the grocery to M.C. Hettinger and Thomas Mulcahy. By 1929, Whalen's Cafe occupied the whole building, and Zimmerman's plumbing located in the building by 1937 through 1955 (Columbia County Historical Society 1982; Register-Democrat 12/34/1920; Portage Daily Register 12/23/1889.
"The construction of the Hillyer Block was undertaken by D.A. Hillyer in 1889. P.H. Shaver who sold staple and fancy goods, located his High Priced Grocery here in 1890. In 1901, he sold the grocery to Herbert Slowley, his clerk. Operating as the White Market, Slowley remained at 320 DeWitt until 1920. A grocery remained here for part of the 1920s, but Whalen's Cafe was here by 1929 and Zimmerman's Plumbing from 1937 through 1955. This building is an excellent example of the Italianate Commercial style with its wood cornice and brackets, projecting oriel windows, window embellishments, cast iron columns at the angled entrance, and intact display windows." Historic Portage, WI: Downtown & Waterfront Walking Tour, 1995.
Dave Eulberg (1993) recalled that Zimmerman Plumbing occupied the building. Known as the Hillyer Block.
Selling staple and fancy goods, Porter H. Shaver ran a grocery known as the High Priced Grocery in the Hillyer Block at 320 DeWitt and Conant (25.12) by 1890. He remained in business occasionally with partners such as Charles C. Jaeger between 1887 and about 1901 when he sold the grocery to Herb Slowey, his former clerk. The business then operated under either the High Price Grocery of P.H. Shaver and Co. By 1917, it became the White Market Grocery with Slowey remaining in the business until 1920. He sold the grocery to M.C. Hettinger and Thomas Mulcahy. By 1929, Whalen's Cafe occupied the whole building, and Zimmerman's plumbing located in the building by 1937 through 1955 (Columbia County Historical Society 1982; Register-Democrat 12/34/1920; Portage Daily Register 12/23/1889.
"The construction of the Hillyer Block was undertaken by D.A. Hillyer in 1889. P.H. Shaver who sold staple and fancy goods, located his High Priced Grocery here in 1890. In 1901, he sold the grocery to Herbert Slowley, his clerk. Operating as the White Market, Slowley remained at 320 DeWitt until 1920. A grocery remained here for part of the 1920s, but Whalen's Cafe was here by 1929 and Zimmerman's Plumbing from 1937 through 1955. This building is an excellent example of the Italianate Commercial style with its wood cornice and brackets, projecting oriel windows, window embellishments, cast iron columns at the angled entrance, and intact display windows." Historic Portage, WI: Downtown & Waterfront Walking Tour, 1995.
Bibliographic References
DATESTONE.
PORTAGE 1989 LANDMARKS CALENDAR.
Sanborn-Perris Map Co.
1929: two part store
1918, 1910, 1901, 1894; two part store; both are a grocery.
1894: Millinery/grocery
1889: "to be built"
Columbia Co. Treasurer 1863-
1930: Josephine Shackell
1885-1925: D.A. Hillyer
The change in valuation between 1888 and 1890 concurs with the date block; 1889. A building existed at the location prior to the current one.
1955: (320) Zimmerman Plumbing and Heating with apartments upstairs (Johnson, Printing Co.)
1948: Zimmerman, plumber (Commonwealth Telephone Co.)
1937: Zimmerman, E.A., plumbing and heating, cor. of DeWitt and Conant (Commonwealth Telephone Co.)
1929: (320-22) Whalen's Cafe (Smith-Baumann Directory Co.)
1919-20: Herbert Slowey, grocer (R.L. Polk & Co.)
1917: 320-22: Hillyer Block owned by Miss Alice Hillyer
322: White Market Grocery (Farrell)
1917-18: Slowey, Herberg, grocer (no White Market Grocery) R.L. Polk & Co.)
1915-16, 1913-14, 1911-12: Shaver, P.H. Co. and H.J. Slowey, prop., grocers (R.L. Polk & Co.)
1910: no business listed for 320 or 322 but 330 is listed as P.H. Shaver co. with Herbert Slowey, grocer (Voshardt)
1909-10: Herbert Slowey, grocer (R.L. Polk & Co.)
1908-09: (322) The High Price Grocery (S.H. Moore)
1904-05, 1901-02, 1897-98: P.H. Shaver and Co. (Porter H. Shaver and Charles C. Jaeger, grocers) (R.L. Polk & Co.)
1893-94, 1895-96: Shaver, Porter H., grocer (R.L. Polk & Co.)
1890: Shaver, Porter H., grocer at SW corner of DeWitt and Conant (Wright)
Historic Portage, WI: Downtown & Waterfront Walking Tour, 1995.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
National/State Register Listing Name
Portage Retail Historic District
National Register Listing Date
Apr 27, 1995
State Register Listing Date
Oct 24, 1994
Contributing
Yes
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Contact Us
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
Go to top
