Property Record
201 N MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | L. W. Ady Commercial Building |
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| Other Name: | Strawn Building, Nutri-System |
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| Reference Number: | 73561 |
| Location (Address): | 201 N MAIN ST |
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| County: | Vernon |
| City: | Viroqua |
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| Year Built: | 1865 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1995 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | Unknown |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Sanborn-Perris maps show that this two-story Italianate style commercial building was built prior to 1892, when it housed a hardware store, and another source says it was built in 1883 as a hardware store for L.W. Ady. In 1900, the building housed a flour and feed store; in 1905, a grocery, flour, and feed store (in 1908 it housed the John Sidie grocery store); and in 1911 and 1922 it still housed a grocery store. 1995- "Although several sources suggest that this two-story ltalianate style commercial building was built in 1865 as a harness and hardware shop, the 1879 Bird's Eye View of Viroqua shows a smaller one-story Boomtown style bui1d1ng in this location. Sanborn maps show that the present building was built prior to 1892, and the 1884 history of Vernon County suggests that the building was built as a hardware store in 1883 for L. W. Ady. This building has a cut stone foundation and exterior walls that are clad in brick. It is located on the northeast corner ot N. Main and E. Decker streets and its rectilinear plan features a canted southwest corner. This 1ocat1on gives the building two principal facades, one facing south onto Decker Street and the other west onto Main Street. No good historic photos of th1s building have been found but it is believed that the first story of its west-facing facade originally consisted of a corner storefront that has now been replaced with one of modern design. Other alterations nave also been made to the original window and door openings on the Decker Street tacade as well, but the original appearance ot this facade is unknown. The second story of both facades, however, appears to be largely intact and consists of a series of segmental-arched window openings, all of which still retain their early but not original two-over-two-light flat-arched double hung sash. Both facades are also crowned by a tall bracketed wood cornice, whlch early photos suggest is original to tne building. Sanborn maps show that in 1892 this building was occupied oy a hardware store, in 1900 by flour and feed store, in 1905 by a grocery, flour, and feed store (in 1908 it housed the John Sidie Grocery Store), in 1911 and 1922 by a grocery store, and in 1933 by an undefined store. Today this building houses the local Nutri-System outlet and it is believed that it qualifies as a contributing resource in the district." - "USH 14 Transportation Study ", WisDOT ID #1646-07-00, Prepared by Timothy F Heggland (1995). |
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| Bibliographic References: | History of Vernon County. Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Co., 1884, p. 681. Take a Walk on Main Street: Historic Walking Tours in Wisconsin's Main Street Communities, Wisconsin Main Street Program, 1998. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |