Property Record
108 S 3RD ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | William Buchheit |
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| Other Name: | Watertown Kitchen Catering |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 74783 |
| Location (Address): | 108 S 3RD ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1866 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20052020 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Front Gabled |
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| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
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| 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: | Previously surveyed in 1986. Tax Rolls and City Directories indicate that this may be an early building of William Buchheit, a successful grain merchant who later began a malting plant, between c. 1866 and c. 1872. The building later housed a grocery store, paint shop, and auto supply store. William Buchheir was a German who came to Watertown in 1852. He operated a liquor business and tried brewing beer for a while. The panic of 1857 ruined his brewery and in 1860 he became a commission grain merchant, achieving success which culminated in building the three neighboring blocks for his business in the later nineteenth century. This building may be significant as an early building of William Buchheit, during the years he was building his successful grain dealing business. Because his business was probably located here before building the brick blocks next door, and because of the other retail businesses located here, this building does contribute to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District. The earliest building of Buchheit's Block on S. Third, this gable roofed brick one and a half story building was built in 1866 for William Buchheit and used for his warehouse and later a grocery store. This simple vernacular brick building has been altered by the addition of stucco and pseudo half-timber to the upper facade. The storefront also has been altered by the addition of stone veneer and modern plate glass windows. This building, the first building constructed in the Buchheit Block, has been altered considerably since it was built in 1866 and as a result does not meet the National register criteria. However, the Buchheit building has enough historic architectural character to contribute to the proposed Main Street Commercial Historic District. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Sanborn Insurance Map, City of Watertown, 1884. (C) C. Hugo Jacobi, "Reminiscences of Early Days in Watertown," Watertown Daily Times April 11, 1924. (D) Tax Rolls for the City of Watertown, Area Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Library. (E) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown, Wisconsin Public Library. (F) C.W. Butterfield, History of Jefferson County Wisconsin, Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879, p. 601. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |