139 MAIN ST

139 MAIN ST

Sauk

Reedsburg

1910

1977,2023

large retail building

Romanesque Revival

Brick

No

Architectural Statement: Brick cornice with brick arch decoration; five bays separated by two brick pilasters (2-1-2) with the middle section a single window and the outer section facade paired windows; most windows are now bricked over and the rest are being done in brick today; windows have brick arched heads with stone keystone and sunburst pattern in metal or stone under arch; first story is brick, glass and metal; "S.H.V. Co. Clothing" can still be seen on the east side where it was painted by 1912 (F); the rear has a faded paint (on brick, as the side sign) "The Daylight (blocked out) - groceries, clothing, shoes"; c. 1912 photo shows 1/1 windows, first story with plate and block (or prism) glass (F). Historical Statement: The Louis Schultze block was built to be a general store. It had a prism glass front and electric lights in the windows and a freight elevator. The dimensions given when it was built was 50' x 80' (A). The three story brick block cost approximately $15,000 to build (B). In November, 1910 Siefert, Horkan, and Verthein Company, a department store moved in (C). The firm was called the Daylight Store because of the building's large expanse of windows and lights. Prior to this building all retail stores were (and continued to be) two stories. The paper claimed "it marks an epoch in Reedsburg building blocks" (I). It had over 17,000 square feet of retail space, including the basement (I). The first floor had groceries, shoes, dry goods, notions and gent's furnishings. Crockery was in the basement; the second story had clothing, rugs and carpets and a ladies lounge. Storage space was on the third story (C). Siefert, Horkan, and Verthein was established in 1904 when E.A. Siefert (who at one time had a hardware store with brother, August, at 275 Main Street, SK8/26) bought out Kelley Mercantile Company and organized a stock company with George Horkan, Henry Verthein and Henry Struck (D). In 1908 they were located in two business blocks (SK8/31, 233 Main Street and SK45/23, 201 Main Street, east part). A.E. Roper and H.A. Walters became partners with the original three that same year (E). By 1912 A.E. Roper was a partner in the company (F). In 1920 the Daylight Store was absorbed by the Reedsburg Co-op Store (G). It was operated out of the same building. In 1924 the Co-op had 180 stock-holders and was managed by L. Dangel (H). The building was altered for sportswear manufacturing in the 1960s or 1970s. Historic Uses: Siefert, Horkan, Verthein (Daylight Store), 1910-1920 (C,G); Reedsburg Co-op Store, 1920-1924-? (G,H); bowling alley c. ? (J); National Sportswear Company, c. ? (J).

A- "Reedsburg Free Press", June 30, 1910. B- "Reedsburg Free Press", November 10, 1910. C- "The Reedsburg Times", November 25, 1904. D- "Reedsburg Free Press", September 1, 1904. E- "Reedsburg Free Press", March 19, 1908. F- "Wisconsin Industrial Review", March 1912, p. 13. G- "Reedsburg Free Press", September 10, 1920 and "The Reedsburg Times", September 9, 1920. H- "The Reedsburg Times", December 19, 1924. I- "The Reedsburg Times", September 16, 1910. J- Arline Hahn, Reedsburg, fall 1983. K- On building.

Not Listed

Yes