Property Record
114-116 S 1ST ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Fred Specht Building |
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| Other Name: | Wethonkitha Club; Mar Lee Beauty Salon |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 74642 |
| Location (Address): | 114-116 S 1ST ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1874 |
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| Additions: | C. 1910 |
| Survey Date: | 1986 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream 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: | 6/2/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | This building housed the Specht harness-making shops between c. 1876 and c. 1911. It then was a double residence until around 1930 when it became, in part, a Lutheran clubhouse. This building has some historical interest as the long-time location of the Specht harness-making shop. Harness-making never went beyond the small shop status in Watertown and most locations of harness-makers are no longer extant or in their original condition. This building, because of its size and the long-term occupants in the harness-making trade, contributes to the overall development of commerce and industry in the Main Street Commercial Historic District. Originally built as a four bay cream brick building for Fred Specht to house his harness shop around 1874, this small two-story, three-bay cream brick building is characterized mainly by a molded corbelled brick cornice with drip molding. Similarly ornamented, the two story, four-bay section was added on the south side between 1909 and 1915, originally serving as an office building. Plain rectangular windows with stone lintels further characterize the simple brick elevations. The storefront on the original section (north end) exhibiting iron lintel extending across the storefront supported by iron posts and brick end piers further characterize the simple brick elevations. The south addition features a three-part rectangular window on both sides of the recessed entrance. A door to the upper story featuring a transom window is located in the center of the facade. Several one-story and one and a half-story additions are located at the rear of the building. The two-story addition at the rear of the south addition was added between 1915 and 1926. The Fred Specht Harness Shop is a commercial vernacular building ornamented only by a wide brick cornice. Although this building is not architectually significant, the Specht building contributes to the historic architectural character of the proposed Main Street Historic District. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, city of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Sanborn-Perris Insurance Map, City of Watertown, 1884, 1909, 1915 (New York: Sanborn Map Co.). (C) "Revised Tariff of Rates for Watertown, Wis., "National Board of Fire Underwriters, April 13, 1876. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |