Property Record
214 N WATER ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Jacob Weber House |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 7212 |
| Location (Address): | 214 N WATER ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1868 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Federal |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | |
| 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: | This house was the residence of pioneer merchant Jacob Weber. For most of its history it was a residence. This house has historical interest as the home of Jacob Weber, a pioneer merchant in the city. It remained a residence primarily and therefore, does not contribute, historically, to the significance of the Main Street Commercial Historic District. Built of cream brick in the 1860s for Jacob Weber who came to America from Germany with his parents in 1837, this two-story building has a symmetrically designed five-bay facade with a side lighted central entrance topped by a transom window. Wooden triangular pediment shaped window and door heads further characterize the street-facing facade of the house. Parapets with red tile coping extend above the low gable roof at both ends of the house. A frieze board extends across the facade under the eaves while molded brick water table extends along the lower facade, Originally featuring a full-length porch, the house now has an open one-bay porch constructed of concrete blocks. A one-story extension with pedimented gable end ornamented with brick modling and a row of dentil trim is located at the rear of the house. A long, narrow, cream brick, shed roofed building with eight service doors located at the rear of the property was constructed between 1915 and 1926. The Jacob Weber house is important as an example of the mid-19th Century Classical influence on residential architecture. Although a very simplified interpretation of the Greek Revival Italianate style, the Weber house has retained the parapets extending above the roof lines that is associated with mid-19th century interpretation of the Colonial influence. Exhibiting a symmetrical five-bay facade, the Weber house also features a classical influenced side-lighted door with transom and projecting wooden triangular pediment shaped window heads. The only building of this style in the proposed Main Street Commercial Historic District, the Weber house is similar to several other Colonial-Classical influenced houses in the city of Watertown including the Newcomb house at 1215 Western (35-13), the Harte house at 406 S. Washington (54-29), and the 1230 N. 4th (27-6). Built in the 1860s for Jacob Weber, the house has been altered by the removal of the full length front porch. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) C. Hugo Jacobi, "Reminiscences of Early Days in Watertown," Watertown Daily Times March 25, 1924. (C) Sanborn-Perris Insurance Map, City of Watertown, 1904-1915, 1926. (D) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |