Property Record
809 STATION ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | William Buchheit Malting Co.; American; Fleischmann |
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| Other Name: | Land O Lakes Inc. |
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| Reference Number: | 80413 |
| Location (Address): | 809 STATION ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Survey Date: | 1986 |
| Historic Use: | industrial building |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
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| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Brick (painted) office building covered by a bracketed shed roof and segmental arched windows. This is the site of the William Buchheit Malting Company, an adjunct industry to the thriving brewing industry in Watertown in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. In 1852, after immigrating from Germany to Watertown, William Buchheit began a brewery. It failed, though, during the panic of 1857. In 1860, he began what was to become a successful graining dealing business that eventually occupied three brick blocks at 110-116 S. Third St. In 1888 he branched out into the malting business and built a factory at this location. In 1897 this plant produced 750,000 bushels of malt. Around 1900 the name of the plant was changed to the American Malting Company, then changed to the Fleischmann Malting Comapny. The plant suffered two major fires in 1946 and in 1959, and today, only a portion of Buchheit's complex exists. This agricultural products complex has some significance under National Register criterion A, because it was the site of William Buchheit's Malting Company, an important brewing related industry in Watertown, and also, because it is the only resource left that relates to the important brewing industry in Watertown. This complex was originally constructed for Buchheit's malting company and it operated as a malting compant until well into the twentieth century. The fires, though, destroyed some of the complex, and it is difficult to discern the original features from the newly built. With further research, it probably could be determined just what is original in this complex and a determination made as to whether the site meets the criteria for local historical significance. Because of the lack of architectural integrity, the former Buchheit Malting Company complex are not architecturally significant. However, it is possible that with more research and consideration, the complex can be considered to have sufficient integrity to meet the criteria for historical significance. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) C.W. Butterfield, The History of Jefferseon County, Wisconsin, Chicago Western Historical Company, 1879, p. 601. (B) Watertown, Wisconsin Centennial, Watertown: Jansky Printing Company, 1954, p. 52. (C) Fires Newspaper Subject File, Watertown Public Library, Watertown, Wisocnsin. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |