Junction of Madison and Monroe streets

Summary

Waterloo Downtown Historic District
Monroe and Madison streets, Waterloo, Jefferson County
Dates of construction: 1874-1938

During its eastward journey, the Menasha River forms two large ox-bow bends that are located near the center of what is now the downtown of the city of Waterloo. The smaller and the easternmost of these bends is bisected from north to south by Monroe Street and from east to west by Madison Street. These streets have historically been the principal routes into and out of the city (Monroe Street becoming State Highway 89 and Madison Street State Highway 19 outside of Waterloo). The gradual concentration of commercial activity around their point of intersection resulted in their becoming the commercial center of Waterloo.

Both streets in the vicinity of this intersection were eventually lined with mostly cream brick-faced, late nineteenth and early twentieth century, one and two-story commercial buildings. This largely intact group of buildings constitutes the thirty building Waterloo Downtown Historic District. Individually, the buildings in the district are good examples of Italianate, Queen Anne, Neo-Classical Revival, Twentieth Century Commercial, Commercial Vernacular form, and Art Moderne style designs.

Especially notable among these at the Italianate style A.J. Humphrey and Muebus & Fieberger blocks built in 1874 (104 and 108-112 E. Madison St.); the fine Queen Anne style E.F. Doering Block (100 E. Madison St.), built in 1893; the Neo-Classical Revival style Community Hall building (123 S. Monroe St.), built in 1926; and the Art Moderne style Mode Theater (121 S. Monroe St.), built in 1938.

Property Details

Resources Within The Property

Designations