Property Record
122 S MADISON ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | THOMAS & ORR BUILDING |
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| Other Name: | AMERICA'S BEST KARATE CENTER |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 44916 |
| Location (Address): | 122 S MADISON ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Lancaster |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1882 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2005 |
| Historic Use: | general store |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Courthouse Square Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 4/7/2006 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/20/2006 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | BRICKWORK PATTERNS AT THE CORNICE LINE (THEY ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE ON THE ADJACENT BUILDINGS, 126-132 S. MADISON STREET) AND SEGMENTAL ARCH OPENINGS DISTINGUISH THIS LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE. IT HAS A RECTANGULAR PLAN CONFIGURATION, A FLAT ROOF AND IT STANDS TWO STORIES HIGH. BUILT IN 1882, THIS BUILDING WAS FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. (A). THE EARLIEST KNOWN OCCUPANTS OF THIS BUILDING INCLUDED A DRY GOODS OR A GENERAL STORE, WHICH EXISTED FROM 1888 TO C. 1905 AND A BOOTS AND SHOES STORE, WHICH EXTISTED IN C. 1912. (C,D) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: C. H. BASFORD & COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED IN 1888 BY LUTHER AND CHARLES BASFORD, A FATHER-SON PARTNERSHIP. LUTHER BASFORD, BORN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IN 1814, FIRST CAME TO WISCONSIN IN 1836 UNDER THE EMPLOY OF SPECULATORS FROM NEW YORK WHO OWNED THE VILLAGE SITE OF CASSVILLE. WHEN THEIR MAJOR PROJECT, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE "DENISON HOUSE" FAILED, BASFORD RETURNED EAST BUT SOON ELECTED TO SETTLE IN WISCONSIN WHERE HE LIVED IN CASSVILLE FROM 1837 AND GLEN HAVEN FROM 1862 TO 1887. IN 1888, HE MOVED TO LANCASTER AND OPENED THE ABOVE NAMED BUSINESS. (D) (NOTE: THE C. H. BASFORD HOME IS LOCATED AT 210 NORTH JEFFERSON STREET, 7/12). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. ON BUILDING. B. WATTON'S SOUVENIR OF LANCASTER, 1900, P. 18. C. 1894, 1899, 1905, 1912, 1927 SANBORN PERRIS MAPS. D. COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE COUNTIES OF ROCK, GREEN, GRANT, IOWA, AND LAFAYETTE, WISCONSIN (CHICAGO: J. H. BEERS & CO., 1901), PP. 42-44. E. CITY OF LANCASTER TAX ROLLS. 2005, Timothy F. Heggland. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Courthouse Square Historic District, Lancaster, WI. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |