Property Record
215 S KNOWLES AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | TULLY BLOCK |
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| Other Name: | THE BOX SMOKESHOP, APPLE BLOSSOM |
| Contributing: | No |
| Reference Number: | 47543 |
| Location (Address): | 215 S KNOWLES AVE |
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| County: | St. Croix |
| City: | New Richmond |
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| Year Built: | 1899 |
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| Additions: | C. 1980 |
| Survey Date: | 19832018 |
| Historic Use: | tavern/bar |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Wood |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | New Richmond Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 12/22/2022 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 5/20/2022 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | In 1899, a brick tavern and general store building, owned by L.C. Tully, was reconstructed at 215 South Knowles Avenue following the tornado. The Boston Store department store chain opened its first location in New Richmond in 1907 and moved to the 215 South Knowles location in 1911. The building was damaged by a fire in 1924 and remodeled. The department store reopened as Epsteins in 1932. The property burned again in 1939 and was remodeled further. After World War II, the store was known as Olson’s Department Store and was Kunkles Department Store from the 1960s to the 1980s. In the early 1980s, the storefront was significantly remodeled with a new façade. This one story commercial building has brick and wood exterior fabric. Plate glass windows and 2 stepped back entries are here. The roof is flat. There are rear additions. Alterations have destroyed the original character of this building to the point where it has no architectural significance. In 1887 this was a 2 story brick veneer building with slate roof. The north section was a general store and the south part was a billiards and slaoon establishment. The secons story was offices. By 1892 the north part was vacant and the south sold harnesses. The building was now 2 story brick building with a slate roof. These were destroyed in the 1899 tornado. In 1900 they were rebuilt as 1 story brick buildings housing a saloon in the North building and "Racket establishment" in the south. By 1912 this was a general stoe. By 1927 the roof was composite. Ezra A. Glover began the Boston store in 1907. In 1909 it was moved to this site. In 1920 LC Tully took over the managemenmt of the store. A fire in 1924 necessitated reconstruction Mac Epstein ran the store in 1932. A photo shows a one story plain brick nad glass facade building. Another fire struck in 1939. By 1948 the store was Olsons and a part of the Federated chain. Mrs. Olson's sister and her husband came from Minneapolis in 1951 to manage the sotre and changed it to Kunkles. A porcelan tile front was put on in 1961 and further remodeling done in 1972. This site has no historical significance since it is not associated with any important person or event or in any special way with the city's development. |
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| Bibliographic References: |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |