Property Record
611 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Needham Block; Nowack & Kohls Furniture |
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| Other Name: | Hafemeister Funeral Home, Inc. |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 76350 |
| Location (Address): | 611 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1905 |
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| Additions: | 1986 |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
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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: | This large building was the location of two long-time businesses. In one half of the buliding was the furniture store known as Nowack and Kohls, then Kohls-Knaack, the Kohls and Oestreich furniture and undertaker, the Kohls-Mayer-Hafemeister Company. The building still houses the furniture store known as the Hafemeister Furniture store. In the other half of the building, now part of the furniture business was the Jaedecke and Grams grocery, later just the Jaedecke grocery. This building is significant for local history under National Register criterion A because it was the home of two long-time and successful businesses, one of which is still in operation today. The Keck and Scmutzler furniture businesses were the most significant in the community. But this business, in this large building, was also a successful business, even if less prominent. Its longevity speaks to its success in the community. The grocery store next door is one of the longest-lived in the community. Grocery stores came and went frequently, and any long-term grocery of the Jaedecke tenure in this building is significant. Its size would also have made it unusual in the community. The building is also contributing to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District because it housed retail businesses throughout its historic period. Built in the first decade of the 20th century for the A.E. Needham family as rental property, this twelve bay, two story building constructed of cream brick features a projecting metal cornice decorated by designs pressed into the metal and consoles at the ends and in the center. The upper story of the facade is divided by six recessed panels ornamented by a row of dentils along the top border and that feature a pair of simple rectangular one over one windows with flat straight window lintels. A plain metal cornice projects above the long two-story storefront. Rennovated in 1986 in keeping with its historic character, the storefronts have recessed central entrances and large plate glass windows with wooden aprons. A leaded glass door to the upper story is situated between the two storefronts. The exterior brick surface was cleaned, probably by sandblasting in 1986. A two-story, open wooden porch, an arched window and double-leafed door as well as a one-story shed roofed addition are located in the rear. The Needham Block is significant under criterion C as an example of the late Italianate influence on commercial buildings. One of several examples of the Italianate style showing good integrity in the proposed Main Street Commercial Historic District, this large commercial block exhibits the scaled down cornice and articulation of the surface typical of the interpretation of the Italianate style in the late stage of its popularity in the early 20th century. Good examples of the Italianate style in the proposed Main Street Commercial Historic District include the Misegades Wagon Works at 202 No. Water (63-4), the buildings at 116-118 W. Main (72-22), 413 E. Main (68-2), 107-109 E. Main (65-15), and 103-105 E. Main (72-6). Built in the first decade of the 20th century for investment purposes by teh Needham family, this multiple-store, cream brick building was rennovated and remodeled in 1986, however the architectural significance was diminished by the sandblasting of its exterior brick surfaces. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1920, Area Research Center, Library. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Sanborn-Perris Insurance Maps 1901, 1909. (C) Watertown Daily Times Sept. 25, 1986. (D) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |