Property Record
201 S IOWA ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | METROPOLITAN AUTOMOBILE COMPANY |
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| Other Name: | METROPOLITAN ART |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 49887 |
| Location (Address): | 201 S IOWA ST |
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| County: | Iowa |
| City: | Dodgeville |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
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| Year Built: | 1915 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1984 |
| Historic Use: | automobile showroom |
| Architectural Style: | Twentieth Century Commercial |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| 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. THIS ONE-STORY BUILDING FEATURES A RECTANGULAR PLAN CONFIGURATION, A BRICK EXTERIOR AND A GABLE ROOF. A STEPPED PARAPET AND SEGMENTAL ARCH OPENINGS ON THE SIDE WALLS ARE DISTINGUISHING ELEMENTS OF THIS 1915 BUILDING. (SEE BIB. REF. A). IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION. KNOWN HISTORICALLY AS ANDERSON MOTORS, THE STRUCTURE WAS USED AS A SHOWROOM FROM 1915 TO AT LEAST 1933. (SEE BIB. REF. A). HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: LOCATED ON THE SITE OF THE STRATMAN WAGON WORKS (SEE FINAL REPORT FOR MORE INFORMATION), THE ANDERSON MOTORS BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1915 BY S. E. KNICKERBOCKER WHO, WITH OLE LARSON, ESTABLISHED THE METROPOLITAN AUTO COMPANY. THIS FIRM WAS IN OPERATION FROM 1915 TO 1918, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS SOLD TO JOHN KING. TWO YEARS LATER, A. L. TRACHTE PURCHASED THE BUSINESS AND IN 1923, A. J. ANDERSON AND LEE MILLER BECAME OWNERS, WITH THE FORMER BECOMING SOLE OWNER IN 1928. ANDERSON MOTORS SOLD BUICK AND PONTIAC CARS, GMC TRUCKS, MAJESTIC RADIOS AND REFRIGERATORS, STANDARD OIL PRODUCTS, AND J.I. CASE FARM IMPLEMENTS. (SEE BIB. REF. A). IN ADDDITION TO ITS COMMERCIAL USE, THIS LARGE BRICK STRUCTURE HOUSED THE CITY'S FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. (SEE BIB. REF. B). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. SCRAP BOOK, "ALONG MAIN STREET," DODGEVILLE CHRONICLE ARTICLES, 1933, IOWA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. B. 1927 SANBORN PERRIS MAP. C. WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC DODGEVILLE, WISCONSIN, DODGEVILLE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, 1995. DODGEVILLE CHRONICLE 5/30/1996. Take a Walk on Main Street: Historic Walking Tours in Wisconsin's Main Street Communities, Wisconsin Main Street Program, 1998. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |