Property Record
1618 COMMERCIAL ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Cottom General Store |
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| Other Name: | Chapiewski's Inc. |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 72462 |
| Location (Address): | 1618 COMMERCIAL ST |
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| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | Bangor |
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| Year Built: | 1898 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19922020 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Bangor Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 10/11/2022 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 2/18/2022 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | This two-story Italianate commercial building was constructed in 1898. It is rectangular in plan with a stone ashlar façade, fieldstone side walls, and a flat roof with a slight parapet featuring a decorative stamped metal cornice with projecting brackets at each end. The building shares a party wall on its east side. The front elevation faces south and is asymmetrical in plan due to an off-center front entrance. The building’s first-story storefront is spanned by an iron lintel with regularly spaced rosettes; below this, the original shop window opening has been infilled with T1-11 siding and small single-pane windows that have been covered in advertisements. The bulkhead wall has been rebuilt with concrete block. The front entrance, located at the eastern end of the storefront, consists of a wooden door with single-pane glazing in its upper three quarters and a large transom window opening in which the glass has been replaced with an opaque panel. The second story of the façade contains three singly-placed 1-over-1 windows with stone sills and decorative metal crowns with stamped brackets at each end to match the detailing of the cornice. The windows are currently sheltered by cantilevered metal awnings. A stone panel centered below the cornice is inscribed “C.S. COTTOM / 1898.” Initially constructed in 1898 as a general store owned by Caesar S. Cottom, the building served in this capacity until Caesar and Viola Cottom sold the property prior to moving to Colorado in 1906. The building was then purchased by the Village of Bangor for use as a village hall and fire department. Between 1911 and 1922, the building was expanded via a rear addition and reverted to retail use. Beginning in the late 1940s, the building was converted to use as a café with Curly’s Café operating through the early 1950s and Dud’s Café operating from about 1956 to 1964. Following the closure of Dud’s Café, the property was purchased by Levi Chapiewski who sold and stored “rain drain” gutter products in the building. During this period, the existing alterations to the façade (including the downsizing of the storefront windows and the addition of T1-11 siding in the remaining space) were completed. In 1977, Chapiewski purchased the adjoining tavern at 1614 Commercial Street in which he established Chip’s Bar. Following Chapiewski’s acquisition of the adjoining tavern, the party wall between the two buildings was opened, allowing the first floor of the stone building at 1618 Commercial Street to serve as a billiards room extension to the tavern (the second floor remained in use as a residential apartment). |
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| Bibliographic References: |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |