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Property Record

20 COMMERCE ST

Historic Name:
JACKA AND BENNETT BUILDING
Other Name:
Chesterfield Inn; Mineral Spirits Saloon
Reference Number:
56149

Property Location

Location (Address)
20 COMMERCE ST
County
Iowa
City/Village
Mineral Point
Township
Unincorporated community
Town
Range
Direction
Section
Quarter Section
Quarter Quarter Section

Property Features

Year Built
1857
Additions
1858, 1968
Survey Date
1982,1993,2026
Historic Use
Architectural Style
Structural System
Wall Material
Limestone
Architect
Other Buildings On Site
Demolished
No
Demolished Date
Additional Comments
THIS TWO STORY, SIDE GABLED HOUSE FEATURES A RECTANGULAR SHAPED PLAN CONFIGURATION, A STONE FOUNDATION, A STONE EXTERIOR, A STONE TRIM AND A SHINGLED, GABLE ROOF. STONE LINTELS APPEAR ON THE WINDOWS AND DOORS. PROMINENT SILLS ARE ALSO PRESENT ON THE WINDOWS. SIX-OVER-SIX PANES DECORATE THE LOWER STORY WINDOWS, AND FIVE-OVER-TWO PANES ON THE UPPER STORY. THIS HOTEL/RESTAURANT, WHICH WAS BUILT BETWEEN 1857 AND 1858 (SEE BIB. REF. A), WAS RECENTLY REHABILITATED. IT IS PRESENTLY IN GOOD CONDITION. LOCATED BEHIND THE BUILDING IS A CORNISH MINER'S dugout. NO FURTHER DESCRIPTION WAS GIVEN FOR THIS PARTICULAR STRUCTURE IN THE INTENSIVE SURVEY. INDIVIDUALS HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BUILDING AND THE DATES OF THEIR ASSOCIATION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: JACK AND BENNETT, FROM 1856 TO 1866; AND JOHN CHESTERFIELD, an Englishman, FROM 1866 TO THE 20TH CENTURY. (SEE BIB. REF. B, C). THE BUILDING WAS HISTORICALLY KNOWN AS THE JACK AND BENNETT BUILDING, (SEE BIB. REF. B), THE JOHN CHESTFIELD BUILDING, (SEE BIB. REF. C), AND AS THE UNION HOTEL. THE ORIGINAL FUNCTION OF THE STRUCTURE WAS AS A HOTEL. (SEE BIB. REF. A). THE DATES IT WAS USED AS A HOTEL SPAN FROM 1871 TO 1929. (SEE BIB. REF. A, D). IT IS CURRENTLY KNOWN AS THE CHETSTERFIELD INN AND RESTAURANT. THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNATED LOCALLY, BECOMING PART OF THE MINERAL POINT LANDMARK DISTRICT IN 1972. 2012- "The date of construction and builder are unclear but tax records indicate that Cornishmen Jacka and Bennett owned the property from 1856 until it was purchased by John Chesterfield in 1866. Chesterfield operated the Union Hotel here. Although seriously deteriorated, an original miners' "badger hole" is in the bluff behind the building. Wisconsin is known as the Badger State because of the miners' practice of riding out the winter in these crude shelters. Other businesses at this site were the Mineral Point House; the Mineral Point Lumberyard; the Chesterfield Inn; the Ovens of Brittany; the Mineral Spirits Saloon; and Cafe 4." -from "A Field Guide to Mineral Point" by Nancy Pfotenhauer of the Mineral Point Historical Society, 1st Edition, 2012, Little Creek Press. Survey Update of the Mineral Point Historic District - Phase 1. 2026. Legacy Architecture, Inc.
Bibliographic References
“Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct USH 151: Dodgeville To Belmont.” WHS project number 92-0510IA/LT. October 1993. Prepared by Great Lakes Archaeological Research Center (GLARC). A. MINERAL POINT, TAX RECORDS, 1847-1900; SANBORN MAP, CITY OF MINERAL POINT, WI (NEW YORK: SANBORN MAP CO.M 1884-1929). * (JOHN CHESTERFIELD PURCHASED PROPERTY 15 MAY 1866). B. MINERAL POINT, TAX RECORDS, 1847-1866. C. MINERAL POINT, TAX RECORDS, 1866-1900; SANBORN MAP, CITY OF MINERAL POINT, WI. (NEW YORK: SANBORN MAP CO., 1884-1929; NATIONAL DEMOCRAT, 29 MAY 1872). D. IOWA COUNTY MAP, 1871. Historic Mineral Point Architectural Walking Tour brochure, 2000. Mineral Point Chamber/Main Street & The Mineral Point Historical Society, Historic Mineral Point Architectural Walking Tours, not dated.

National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings

National/State Register Listing Name
National Register Listing Date
State Register Listing Date
Contributing
Yes
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