Property Record
127 3RD ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | The Fair Building |
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| Other Name: | Mariott Bros. Hardware; Clavadatscher & Co., Thompson Drugs |
| Contributing: | No |
| Reference Number: | 88633 |
| Location (Address): | 127 3RD ST |
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| County: | Sauk |
| City: | Baraboo |
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| Year Built: | 1886 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19892014 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | George Capener |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Downtown Baraboo Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 6/8/2015 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 8/15/2014 |
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| Additional Information: | Following an extensive fire at this site in 1886, Tobias Clavadatscher and J.P. Witwen constructed a new brick structure to house their dry good business known as ‘The Fair.’ Built by George Capener and D.W. Worth, the building was hailed as a “landmark in our progress toward metropolitanism” by the Baraboo Republic, which also praised its scale and finishes. When constructed, ‘The Fair’ was the largest and one of the finest in Baraboo with extensive plate glass store front, 45 gas jet lamps, a furnace, and eight shooting car lines to carry cash from various parts of the store. The original non-extant pressed metal cornice was unique in that it carried relief images of household goods. Four segmented-arched windows have also been removed. The original storefront has also been significantly altered. In 1888, the firm of Clavadatscher and Witwen broke apart and sold the store at 127 3rd Street to the Marriott Brothers’ Hardware Store. Clavadatscher moved ‘The Fair’ to a new location at 125-129 3rd Avenue where the business occupied two storefronts. In 1902, Settegren and Pittman Hardware opened at 127 3rd Street. Besides hardware, Settegren and Pittman also operated a ‘froggery,’ a wholesale distributor of frogs, mostly for fishing purposes. In 1913, the Marriott Hardware Store returned to its former location. A new copper storefront, steel ceiling, concrete floors, offices, and balcony were added to the building in 1922 and in 1929 Marriott Hardware closed and refurbished the building again. In the same year J.C. Penney moved in to the storefront and stayed until 1957. The property served as a Walgreens Drug Store in the 1960s. The upper floors of the building have been used as a meeting hall for various groups such as the Sauk County Agricultural Society, the Eagles Club, the Royal Neighbors of America, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks Club, and the Grand Army of the Republic. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Baraboo Republic, September 8, 1886. City of Baraboo Directory records on file with the Sauk County Historical Society. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1885, 1892, 1898, 1904, 1913, and 1927. On file at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Ward, Joseph Wayne. Baraboo, 1850-2010, Vols. III-IV: Chronology of the Growth of the Commercial & Retail Districts. Self-published, 2013. Wolter, Paul. ‘Downtown Pharmacies,’ presentation notes. Wolter, Paul. Notes collected for tours of Downtown Baraboo. Multiple dates. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |