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Property Location
Property Features
Parapet with cast iron cornice; decorative brickwork; cast iron, pedimented window hoods with rosettes; two canted, oriel windows with stained glass transom and wood shingle roofs; glass store front with cast iron pilasters; sidelights and transom over recessed door; window glass altered.
The date block indicates a building date of 1891.
The building originally functioned as a bar with ball room on the third floor. The city council met there. There were professional offices on the second floor. Prior to its current use, it was Hay's music shop (Earl; Bodien, 305 DeWitt).
In 1870, partners Beattie and Brodie produced boots and shoes with six employees. In operation between 1875 and 1898 as proprietor of his own shop, William Beattie crafted and dealt in custom-made shoe and boots and carried leather findings.
Beattie employed four male workers in 1880. Before he occupied his commercial building erected at 305 DeWitt (25/7) in 1891, Beattie occupied an earlier building at that site by 1875. He operated until about 1900 (Merrill and Woodard & Co. 1877; date block; Daugherty 1898-1992; Graham 1875; U.S. Bureau of the Census 1850-1910 [1880: industrial schedule]).
Peter McDermott operated a saloon known by 1908 as The Club at 305 DeWitt (25/7) from 1900 through at least 1918 and probably 1920 (Jones 1914 [2]: 729; Sanborn-Perris Map Co. 1901; 1918; Farrell 1917-18; Polk, R.L. & Co. 1901-02). By 1929, the Portage Fruit Market and by 1948 through 1955 Hays Music Store o ccupied the building.
Beattie or McDermott Hall was used primarily as a dance hall. The Knights of Maccabee, Portage Tent No. 122 organized in 1899 and met in the third floor hall in 1910 (Voshardt 1910: 24).
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
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William Beattie Letterhead
Letterhead of William Beattie, a boot and shoe manufacturer and dealer from Portage, Wisconsin, who also dealt in leather, findings, and "Patent Leggings. The best in market," with a shoe tree with...
