Property Record
116 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | J.W. Cole Building / Tetzlaff Pharmacy |
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| Other Name: | Jan's Luncheonette |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 76268 |
| Location (Address): | 116 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1867 |
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| Additions: | 1946 |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | 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: | This building was constructed by John W. Cole around 1867 and housed his saloon and store here until around 1880. Between this time and prohibition, this building housed a saloon owned by a number of different persons. After prohibition, the building housed a soda fountain, a grocery store, and a drug store. This building has some historical interest as a long-time saloon and other retail businesses. The building was constructed by John W. Cole, an important businessman and has some significance in that regard, however, his large Cole's Block, further up the street, has the most significance to his career in downtown Watertown. The building, though, does contribute to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District. Built in the late 1860s for J.W. Cole to house his saloon, the Cole building still exhibits the molded and corbelled brick cornice of its earlier historic form on the east elevation. Originally characterized by layered round arched second story windows placed above an iron blacony, the Cole building's facade was remodeled in an early modern manner. Exhibiting a plain brick facade wrapped around two bays on the east side, the surface is ornamented only by a brick panel with inset geometric shapes above the windows. Plain rectangular windows characterize the side elevation as well as the more recent facade. The Cole building has been altered additionally by a contemporary storefront. The J.W. Cole building is a commercial vernacular building remodeled in the 20th century under the influence of the 20th century contemporary-early modern style characterized mainly by decorative brick and tile patterns inset in the flat brick surfaces. Although this building is not architecturally significant, the J.W. Cole building contributes to the historic character of the Main Street District. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Photograph, Folio, City of Watertown, 1886, Archives, Octagon House, Watertown Historical Society. (C) Watertown Democrat May 9, 1867. (D) Watertown Wisconsin Centennial 1854-1954, Watertown, 1954, p. 75. (E) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |