Property Record
949 MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | W.J. Clifford Building; Brill Dry Goods |
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| Other Name: | Shippy Shoes |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 72777 |
| Location (Address): | 949 MAIN ST |
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| County: | Portage |
| City: | Stevens Point |
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| Year Built: | 1877 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect: | William Farrell |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Mathias Mitchell Public Square--Main Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 8/13/1986 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
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| Additional Information: | Constructed in 1877, this building is one of the fine stone buildings erected in Stevens Point. The building is composed of small blocks of stone regularly coursed. The original elongated windows remain on the second story of the building. On the facade single windows flank a larger unit composed of a pair of windows set beneath a semi-elliptical arch. Hood molds are smooth stone with carved keystones. Cable moldings form window surrounds. A bracketted cornice divides the remodeled storefront from the upper level. A pedimented cornice, with deep frieze accented by brackets, completes the building. A hskae covered mansard roof (above the pediment) and a remodeled storefront and oversized sign are the major changes to the building. William Williams of Madison was the carpenter; Lewey L. Barrett of Grand Rapids was the stone mason, William Farrell was the architect. The W.J. Clifford Building was constructed in 1877 for Clifford's Dry Good Store. Clifford sold the business in 1879 and went into the lumber business. The store remained a dry goods store under the Brill family and, later Irving Hull until 1913 when the building was purchased by the Shippy family for their shoe store. It has remained that since. The Clifford Block, architecturally significant as a representative example of a period of construction, is a fine Italianate commercial building. The Clifford Block retains a high degree of integrity, and is distinguished by the high quality of stonework and Italianate details. SEE: Commercial Bank, 968 Main St., 1/19; 944 Main St., 1/22; Walker's Block, 1008 Main St., 1/17; McCulloch Block, 964 Main St., 1/20. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Building date stone in pediment. (B) Stevens Point Journal Feb. 17, 1877, p. 3, c.2; March 10, 1877, p. 3; March 17, 1877, p. 3; April 21, 1877, p. 3, c.2; January 12, 1878, p. 6; Jan. 4, 1930. Brown, Thomas. Gateway to the Pineries. Stevens Point, 198, p. 29. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |