| Additional Information: | This was the home of Herman Wertheimer between c. 1885 and at least 1930. Wertheimer was a successful businessman who had interests in the Farmers and Citizens Bank (president), the Watertown Canning Company (President), and the Watertown Grain Company (President). In fact, the Watertown Grain Company, which was one of the most important commission houses in Watertown, was a long-time business of the Wertheimer family. The company probably began with Fred Miller, an early commission merchant. Herman Wertheimer worked for several commission merchants, including the successful William Buchheit, before he partnered with Miller in the Watertown Grain Company in 1888. From that time on, it was in the hands of the Wertheimer family, first Herman, then his son, Oscar.
This house is significant for local history under National Register criterion B, association with a significant person in commerce. Herman Wertheimer, because he was President of the Farmers and Citizens bank, the Watertown Canning Company, and the Watertown Grain Company, all significant businesses during the turn of the century years and the early twentieth century, had a significant career in Watertown. Because of this house's long-time association with Wertheimer, it is significant.
Exhibiting the multiple forms created by the hipped roof intersected by lower cross gables, this brick house is ornamented by shingles, pendants and bargeboards in the gable ends, a large round arched window with stained glass and incised floral design in the stone voussoirs on the lower story of the front gable and bracketed overhang in the front gable. A southside bay window, a northside projecting one and a half story gabled bay and wooden front and rear porches with turned posts, cutout balustrade and gablet add to the irregularity of the wall surfaces. A brick carriage house is located at the rear (separate record).
One of the relatively few buildings in the city exhibiting the influence of the Queen Anne style, this house has retained a good degree of architectural integrity. However, as part of the group in Watertown exhibiting less architectural character than others in the city, this house is not an architecturally significant example of the Queen Anne style. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Evelyn Ruddick Rose, Our Heritage of Homes (Watertown Historical Society, 1980), pp. 13.
(B) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown, Wisconsin Public Library.
(C) "Civic Leader Passes After Brief Illness," Watertown Daily Times, Oct. 9, 1935. |
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