Property Record
605 E MAIN ST (MOVED TO 208 S 1ST ST)
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | William Krebs Building |
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| Other Name: | Hafemeister Furniture Warehouse |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 7178 |
| Location (Address): | 605 E MAIN ST (MOVED TO 208 S 1ST ST) |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1885 |
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| Additions: | 1986 |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | grocery |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
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| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Main Street Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 6/2/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| 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 building was built for William Krebs' grocery in 1885. Krebs came from Germany in 1867. In 1911 the building became the Fred Maas grocery, then the G.C. Kohli grocery and by 1930 it was vacant. It is now part of a furniture store. This building has some historical interest as the location of several grocery stores. None are individually historically significant, but they contribute to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial historic district. A free-standing cream brick building built un 1885 for William Krebs, this building is dominated by a projecting bracketed metal cornice under line for a row of corbelled brick molding on the date stone inscribed "1885." Segmental arched raised brick window heads with corbelled ends above one over one windows characterize the second story and side elevation of this former grocery store. A metal denticulated cornice extends across the facade above the storefront. The historic wooden storefront has a recessed central entrance with double leafed doors and two over two store windows with "saw tooth" trimmed window aprons. A paneled entrance door to the upper story is located on the west end of the facade. "Filled in" arched windows, and an arched double leafed door are features of the rear elevation. The Krebs building was cleaned and the trim painted in 1986. The William Krebs building is significant under criterion C as an example of an Italianate styled commercial building. One of several examples of the Italianate style showing a high degree of integrity in the proposed Main Street Commercial Historic District, the former Krebs Grocery Store has retained the projecting cornice, the articulated arched window heads, and windows associated with the Italianate style and the wooden 19th century storefront. Good examples of the Italianate style in the proposed Main Street Historic District include the Misegades Wagon Works at 202 No. Water (63-4), the buildings at 116-118 W. Main (72-22), 413 E. Main (65-2), 107-109 E. Main (65-15) and 103-105 E. Main (72-6). The Krebs building is among the best of the small two-story, three-bay Italianate commercial buildings remaining in the proposed district. These other good examples include 113 South 3rd (74-7) and 413 E. Main (65-2). Built in 1885 for William Krebs to house his grocery store, the Krebs building exhibits exceptional preservation of its 19th century character; however, the architectural significance is diminished by the sandblasting of its exterior cream brick surfaces. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Building inscription. (C) Watertown Daily Times Sept. 25, 1986. (D) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. Watertown Daily Times 7/28/2000. Watertown Daily Times 10/18/2000. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |