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Property Location
Property Features
This building has some historical interest as a long-time saloon and other retail businesses. The building was constructed by John W. Cole, an important businessman and has some significance in that regard, however, his large Cole's Block, further up the street, has the most significance to his career in downtown Watertown. The building, though, does contribute to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District.
Built in the late 1860s for J.W. Cole to house his saloon, the Cole building still exhibits the molded and corbelled brick cornice of its earlier historic form on the east elevation. Originally characterized by layered round arched second story windows placed above an iron blacony, the Cole building's facade was remodeled in an early modern manner. Exhibiting a plain brick facade wrapped around two bays on the east side, the surface is ornamented only by a brick panel with inset geometric shapes above the windows. Plain rectangular windows characterize the side elevation as well as the more recent facade. The Cole building has been altered additionally by a contemporary storefront.
The J.W. Cole building is a commercial vernacular building remodeled in the 20th century under the influence of the 20th century contemporary-early modern style characterized mainly by decorative brick and tile patterns inset in the flat brick surfaces. Although this building is not architecturally significant, the J.W. Cole building contributes to the historic character of the Main Street District.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
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