Property Record
60 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ROBERTSON BLOCK |
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| Other Name: | BEAUTY BOUTIQUE/ JUST KIDS/ WAGNER'S TV |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 46220 |
| Location (Address): | 60 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Platteville |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
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| Year Built: | 1871 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1983 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Main Street Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 3/9/1990 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | OCCUPYING A CORNER SITE ON MAIN STREET, THIS TWO-STORY BRICK BLOCK WITH A FLAT, SLOPING ROOF HAS A DENTICULATED AND CUT-BRICK CORNICE THAT RUNS AROUND TWO SIDES OF THE STRUCTURE. LOZENGES ON THE FRONT FACADE AND VERTICAL MEMBERS ON THE SIDE EMBELLISH THE AREA BETWEEN THE SECOND STORY WINDOWS AND THE ROOF-LINE. ROUND ARCHED, STONE WINDOW HOODS WITH KEYSTONES AND SILLS ACCENT THE STRUCTURE. THE TWO STORE FRONTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY ALTERED IN THE COMTEMPORARY PERIOD. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: IMPORTANT TO THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE, THIS EARLY BRICK BLOCK IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ARCHITECUTRE FROM THIS PERIOD. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STREET LEVEL FACADE HAS BEEN ALTERED COMPLETELY. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: JOHN ROBERTSON WAS BORN IN SCOTLAND IN 1824; HE CAME TO PLATTEVILLE AS A JEWELER IN 1858, AFTER WORKING IN BELOIT FROM 1853 TO 1854 AND IN LANCASTER FROM 1854 TO 1855. ROBERTSON HAD THIS BUILDING ERECTED IN 1874. IT HOUSED HIS JEWELRY STORE AND HIS PHOTOGRAPHIC GALLERY - "ROBERTSON'S ART GALLERY." IN 1892 THE BUILDING HOUSED A POST OFFICE. AT ONE POINT IN TIME, CAPITAL CAFE CONDUCTED BUSINESS THERE. THE DATE OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS STRUCTURE OCCURRED BETWEEN 1871 AND 1874. THE INTENSIVE SURVEY REPORT GIVES A MORE SPECIFIC DATE AS BEING 1874. (SEE BIB. REF. A). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. BUILDING PLAQUE. B. SANBORN-PERRIS MAPS, CITY OF PLATTEVILLE, 1884, 1892. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |