| Additional Information: | Architectural Description:
Three frame gable roofed sheds in the lumber yard.
These sheds do not contribute to the historic character of the proposed Krouskop Historic Destrict because of their recent construction date or because of a lack of integrity.
Historical Significance:
The Krouskop Lumber Shed is an historically non-contributing component of the Krouskop Lumberyard Historic District because of its probable recent construction date after the 1912 period of most of the contributing buildings. It does not parallel these buildings in materials or manner of construction.
Historical Background:
The Krouskop Lumberyard Shed is a part of the Krouskop Lumberyard whose main mill was erected in 1883. Krouskop may have established the operation as early as 1878. However, he did not acquire most of the land which the milling operation occupies until 1879-80. His mill eventually covered the area between the river to the west, Haseltine to the north, Main on the east extending to Central to include block 49, and Gage Street to the south (1). The 1883 mill structure burned in 1892, and Krouskop rebuilt and considerably expanded the brick mill by 1893 (2).
The yard reached full built capacity by 1911. In addition to the lumber shed, major buildings at that date included other lumber sheds, the saw and planing mill, power house with a Worthington steam pump, kiln, grain warehouse, yard office, granary, horse barn, an agricultural implement warehouse, grain warehouse, and livestock yards. The yard sat adjacent to the railroad, a facility indispensable to the transportation of its bulk products. Krouskop shipped many of his goods to Chicago for a broad distribution across the Midwest and Plains as well as engaging in local retail.
Krouskop wholesaled and retailed rough and finished lumber, sashes and doors, windows, oak flooring, moldings, siding, shingles, lathe, fencing, agricultural implements, and other building supplies. He also stored grain, feed, hay, coal, cement, and sand and kept livestock. Krouskop specifically advertiesed his wholesale business in 1909. He had maintained lumber warehouses occupying several blocks since the mid-1880's which suggests the extent of his business. Krouskop represents one of a limited number of commercial enterprises in Richland Center. After Krouskop's death in 1930, W.S. McCorkle and Carl Barnes gained his lumber operation (3).
Along with this lumber shed, several others still line the west side of Main Street from Haseltine to Burton (RI20-25, 20-27, 20-29). The date of the construction of this lumber shed remains unidentified. These lumberyard sheds extended over blocks 50, 51, and 70 by 1883 (4). |
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| Bibliographic References: | 1. Richland County Abstract Company, Indices to Land Records in the Richland County Courthouse (Richland Center: Richland County Abstract Company, n.d.); Democrat, April 9, 1930; Sanborn-Perris Map Company, Diagrammatic and Detailed City Maps Published for Use by Fire Insurance and Mortgage Companies (New York and Chicago: Sanborn-Perris Map Company, 1885-86); Ibid., 1892; Ibid., 1899; Ibid., 1905; Ibid., 1912; Ibid., 1927.
2. Democrat, May 3, 1937; Margaret Scott, Richland Center: A History (Richland Center: Richland County Publishers, 1972), p. 97.
3. Perl L. Lincoln, P.L. Lincoln Papers (Richland Center: Local History Room, Brewer Library, n.d. [Mss. uncatalogued]); Carl Burdock, The Chicken, the Egg, and the Omelet (Madison: Arcives [Mss.], SHS, 1964); George Sinnett, Oral Interview (739 South Park, Richland Center, February 12, 1988); Local History Room, Brewer Library, Manuscripts (Richland Center: Local History Room, Brewer Library, Mss. 1645, 1073, 226); Sanborn-Perris Map Company, Ibid., 1885-86; Ibid., 1892; Ibid., 1899; Ibid., 1905; Ibid., 1912; Ibid., 1927; Scott, Ibid., pp. 158, 223; R.L. Polk & Co., Wisconsin Gazetteer and Business Directory (Chicago: R.L. Polk & Co., 1909), p. 1131.
4. Burdock, Ibid., Sanborn-Perris Map Company, Ibid., 1885-86; Ibid., 1892; Ibid., 1899; Ibid., 1905; Ibid., 1912; Ibid., 1927; Local History Room, Ibid., Mss. 1073. |
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