Property Record
320 S BARSTOW ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Brooks Block |
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| Other Name: | Eau Claire Book and Stationary Co. |
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| Reference Number: | 40909 |
| Location (Address): | 320 S BARSTOW ST |
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| County: | Eau Claire |
| City: | Eau Claire |
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| Year Built: | 1889 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19972019 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | 1981 SURVEY INFO: A two story brick commercial structure occupying the northwest corner of S. Barstow and Main Streets. The Eau Claire Illustrated described the building in the following manner: "It is one of the most complete store buildings in the city. It is two stories and basement high, 26 1/2 x 165 feet in area, extending from Barstow to River Street with double entrance." The structure features a five bay facade arranged 1-2-1-1. Four of the bays are emphasized by roundheaded arches and a checkerboard brick pattern. The northernmost bay originally corresponded to a side entrance on the lower floor which accompanied the main storefront area. Today this area is totally altered. In addition to this alteration the building at one time featured a slim corner tower and at the roofline, a gabled element framing the building's name. Also the pilasters, which separate the bays, including those on the south elevation, originally rose to the top of the structure. A fine drawing of the strcuture is included in Eau Claire Illustrated (B). S.C. Brooks, a former sawmaker, opened this store in c. 1889. The stock included mill supplies, heavy hardware, and lumbermen's goods (B). The Eau Claire Book and Stationary Company which purchased the Brooks Block in c. 1910 was incorporated in 1885 by Henry F. Balcom, Mrs. Jane Putnam and H.C. Putnam, (a brief biography of H.C. Putnam is included in the Intensive Survey Final Report), and was conducted by them until 1887, when Mr. George C. Witherby purchased the Putnam interests. The History of Eau Claire County (C) contains the following description: "The company employs fifty people, and besides doing a general book and stationary business, has one of the largest and best equipped printing plants in the city, where they manufacture all kinds of legal blanks and publish their six different catalogues. The company does an extensive wholesale business through their traveling representatives...and this establishment is one of the three largest book houses west of Chicago and is the official book store of Wisconsin." 1987 SURVEY UPDATE: The windows on the south side have been boarded in with smaller windows inserted in the lower portion. 2019: Storefront has been remodeled |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) 1889 Sanbon-Perris Map. (B) Eau Claire Illustrated, 1891-92, p. 87. (C) History of Eau Claire County, 1914, p. 484. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |