Property Record
236-238 W WATER ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Look and Hillemeyer General Store |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 80771 |
| Location (Address): | 236-238 W WATER ST |
|---|---|
| County: | Lafayette |
| City: | Shullsburg |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1887 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Water Street Commercial Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | 6/28/1990 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/23/1990 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A brick, two story Victorian commercial building with a flat roof sloping to the west and stepped back side walls that has a bracketed metal cornice around the top of the building. Corbeled window hoods decorate the second floor windows and very decorative cast iron elements accent the store front. Cast iron shaped tie rod ends characterize the building. This building is architecturally significant to the commercial district because it is a substantial structure that is both a visual landmark and is one of the better examples of later 19th century commercial architecture in downtown Shullsburg. Unfortunately, the vacant building has broken windows and other maintenance problems that continues to cause serious damage to this fine structure. The building is significant in the development of the second period of Shullsburg's commercial development in the 1880s. The village experienced economic prosperity in this period because of the addition of rail service to Shullsburg in the 1880s and the renewed interest in lead and zinc mining. William Look built this store in the late 1880s. Fron that time through the turn of the century he handled groceries and dry goods. He and his father-in-law, Joseph Blackstone also operated a creamery business in the rear of the store. The Shullsburg Post Office occupied the space in the West half of the building in the early 20th Century. The Knights of Columbus rented the second floor until 1965. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | (A) Seq. History of Shullsburg, 1827-1977 (Shullsburg: Badger Historical Society 1977), p. 66. (B) Wisconsin State Gazetteer, 1891-92. (C) Commemorative Biographical History, 1900, p. 181-183. (D) Pick and Gad Newspaper, 1884-1886. (E) Sanborn-Perris Map, 1894. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |