Property Record
211 W WATER ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Edward Vaughn Store |
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| Other Name: | Reilly's Plumbing Warehouse |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 80765 |
| Location (Address): | 211 W WATER ST |
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| County: | Lafayette |
| City: | Shullsburg |
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| Year Built: | 1842 |
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| Additions: | C. 1853 |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Front Gabled |
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| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Water Street Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 6/28/1990 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/23/1990 |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. A 19th century frame (now sided) store that has a sloping roof and small cornice return in the wide street facing gable. A full length overhang over the store front, also present in 19th century photographs of the building, has been retained. This building is historically significant for its association with the earliest commercial development of Shullsburg. It is also one of the oldest structures in the commercial district. The Risken building may have been built in 1842, when the commercial district was just beginning to be developed. Although there had been settlement in the Shullsburg area since 1827, most of the population and the few businesses were scattered. Northwest Shullsburg, near the Shullsburg Branch, the Northeast, and Gratiot's Grove were other major settlements. Gradually theses settlements began to meld together, and Water Street became recognized as the commercial center of Shullsburg, as yet (1840) unplatted. Lead mining activity was vigorous in the 1830s and 1840s and continued through the Civil War period. This is considered Shullsburg's first economy growth period. This is the period also that Shullsburg was begun to be laid out and platted and recognized as a city. She was also the county seat, 1848-1860. In 1842 Edward Vaughn built a store on this site. The building on this site now is known, however, as the Risken building, because William Risken ran a bakery and grocery store until about 1891 when his son, J.A. took over the business. Risken's Bakery was the only bakery in Shullsburg for several years. T.F. Lee also ran a bakery in this building from about 1911 to 1949. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Seq. History of Shullsburg, 1827-1977 (Shullsburg: Badger Historical Society, 1977), p. 62. (B) Pick and Gad, May 29. 1884; July 3, 1884. (C) C.W. Butterfield, History of Lafayette Co., 1881, p. 572. (D) Wisconsin State Gazetteer, 1872-1911. (E) Shullsburg Tax Assessor Record Book, 1840-1859. Lead Region Historic Trust, Winter 1997. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |