Property Record
9439 SPRUCE ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Maple Tree Cafe |
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| Other Name: | The Summertime |
| Contributing: | No |
| Reference Number: | 49680 |
| Location (Address): | 9439 SPRUCE ST |
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| County: | Door |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Gibraltar |
| Unincorporated Community: | Fish Creek |
| Town: | 31 |
| Range: | 27 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 29 |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1910 |
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| Additions: | C. 1946 |
| Survey Date: | 1992 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | Unknown |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
| Architect: | Charles Gobert |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | 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. Historical Background The Summertime was built in 1910 by Matt Reilly for Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Barringer to give us an income-producing Ice Cream Parlor to their daughters. The daughters, Meta and Cora Barringer, had each lost immediate family members on the sinking of the steamboat Hackley in 1904, and needed a way to support themselves. The Barringers owned the Barringer Hotel [now C & C Supper Club 37-05], and the Ice Cream Parlor was constructed on the north half of the hotel lot. Charles Gobert, architect of Chicago, designed the building. It was constructed of pine purchased across the bay at Wells Lumber Company of Menominee, Michigan. The lumber was hauled across the ice in the winter. The hop served vacationers who came to Fish Creek by boat. The second story loft was used for private bridge parties for patrons of the Thorp Hotel and Welckers Resort. The ice cream parlor was originally called "The Maple Tree Cage" and was renamed later as the Summertime by the second owners Roy and Virginia Kinsey, who purchased the property in 1938. They added a gift and coffee shop to the ice cream shop. In 1977 the Kinseys sold the shop to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Windey. Historical Significance The Summertime cafe at 9439 Spruce Street is significant for its association with pattern of history in Fish Creek. Constructed for widows of the Hackley tragedy, the business in the building depended on th increasing summer tourist trade brought to the village first by steamboat, and later by rail and automobile. It is a popular landmark in the village. Architectural Description This restaurant (originally ice cream and dessert parlor) is comprised of a one story cub main block surmounted by a one story cube second story (oversized cupola, in effect). The north half of the first floor front elevation is a typical store front with full length windows, the south half of the same elevation is more residential in appearance, with three evenly placed double hung wood sash windows. The second story is smaller than the first story and has two sets of pairs of casement windows on each elevation. A low curved hip roof delineates the first from the second story. The roof has a wide overhang supported by exaggerated decorative and functional brackets. The roof on the second story also overhangs, but in a more diminutive fashion compatible with the lightness of the window-emphasized walls. A large stone fireplace chimney is prominent on the south elevation; A one story addition added about 1959 by Roy and Virginia Kinsey extends off the north elevation. The outdoor patio was added about 1963. The Kinsey's daughters visited the Three Sisters restaurant in New Orleans which had a similar patio. When they returned to Fish Creek they designed and constructed the patio with Roy. Architectural Significance It is the only historic building in the village constructed solely for the purpose of being a restaurant. Others were built as hotel/restaurant combinations, or were houses converted to restaurant use at a later date. It is a charming example of resort-related architecture sporting a fantasy feeling. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. Edward and Lois Schreiber, editors, Fish creek Voices, An Oral History of a Door County Village, (Sister Bay, WI: Wm. Caxton Ltd), 1990. B. Door County Almanak No. 5: Tourism, Resorts, Transportation (Sister Bay, WI: The Dragonsbreath Press), 1990. C. Helen Allen, walking tour of Fish Creek. D. Virginia Kinsey, "The Summertime" manuscript, Gibraltar Historical Association records. E. Virginia Kinsey, Telephone conversation with Rebecca Sample Bernstein, 3 February, 1993. Sturgeon Bay Door County Advocate 7/15/2003. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |