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337-341 MAIN ST

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Property Record

337-341 MAIN ST

Historic Name:
JUDD'S BLOCK

Other Name:
Racine Art Museum

Reference Number:
11065

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Property Location

Location (Address)

337-341 MAIN ST

County

Racine

City/Village

Racine

Township

Unincorporated community

Town

Range

Direction

Section

Quarter Section

Quarter Quarter Section

Property Features

Year Built

1847

Additions

2003

Survey Date

1980

Historic Use

small office building

Architectural Style

Commercial Vernacular

Structural System

Wall Material

Architect

Brininstool and Lynch-2003

Other Buildings On Site

Demolished

No

Demolished Date

Additional Comments

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, State Historic Preservation Office. WINDOWED ATTIC STORY TOPPED W/BRACKETED METAL CORNICE. ONE OF 1ST BRICK BLDGS IN RACINE. ORIGINALLY BUILT IN THE FEDERAL STYLE. 60 FT WIDE. An 1883 photo indicates that the Main St. facade has been raised, brackets added and three small windows inserted below the cornice. This building originally housed the office of A. Cary Judd, a local attorney, land agent and conveyancer. The Racine Co. Bank began business in this building in December of 1853, and was incorporated in January of 1854. Liquidated on 5/16/1864, the Racine County Bank was reorganized as the First National Bank and is believed to be the oldest national bank in the county. Nicholas O. Fratt served as president of the bank for 51 years as well as being a state senator and two term candidate for governor. Building was re-skinned in 2003 to serve as the new Racine Art Museum. This was an award winning design. Racine County's first successful bank opened in the corner storefront of the Judd Block in 1854. It was incorporated as the Racine County Bank, but it was reorganized in 1864 as the First National Bank of Racine. It is now known as Bank One, Racine. Some of Racine's earliest newspapers operated out of the Judd Block. The Racine Advocate, which was published from 1842 to 1888, maintained its offices here during the 1850s. The Racine Vlksblatt (also in the 1850s) and the Racine Correspondent (from 1883 to 1918) both both German language newspapers, were published in this building, as was Folk Avis, a Danish weekly (in the 1870s).

Bibliographic References

Illustrated Atlas of Racine and Kenosa Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago: H.O. Brown and Co., 1887. 1957 Calendar of the First National Bank and Trust Co., Racine. Old Main Street Historic District Walking Tour Guide, 1990.

National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings

National/State Register Listing Name

Old Main Street Historic District

National Register Listing Date

Aug 11, 1987

State Register Listing Date

Jan 01, 1989

Contributing

Yes

Additional Documentation

Dec 10, 2021

small office building Commercial Vernacular

Racine
County

Racine
Community

1840-1849
Decade

National and State Register Listing

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Review and Compliance Rehabilitation Tax Credits State Archaeologist State & National Registers of Historic Places Wisconsin Historic Preservation Database

Attribution

For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.

The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.

For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.