Property Record
115-9 VAUGHN AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | FIFIELD BLOCK/ASHLAND PRESS BLDG (A) |
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| Other Name: | VAUGHN AVE CONOCO |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 916 |
| Location (Address): | 115-9 VAUGHN AVE |
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| County: | Ashland |
| City: | Ashland |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1885 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | industrial building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 0 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | West Second Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 2/2/1984 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | DESCRIPTION: The two buildings which once occupied the west side of Vaughn avenue between front Street and West Second Street, in the late 1880's and 1890's housed the Ashland Press, the City's pioneer newspaper begun in the 1870's. The corner building, replaced by the Conoco station was known as the Fifield block, and was identical in style to the small surviving brick structure on Vaughn Avenue. Although simple and plain, this two-story massive building is capped on the second floor by an Italianate continuous cornice marked by closely-grouped brackets. Seven, tall, narrow and equally spaced windows with relieving arches pierce the second story. The rear ground level storefront survived alterations due to its location and is a rare element in Ashland. The red brick retains its painted surface and some early lettering from its subsequent use as a garage. SIGNIFICANCE: This large brick building is one of the district's oldest structures and is comparable in date to the 1884 Bardon's Building in this end of the district (#64). It is significant for its architectural contribution to the early years of the district's period of significance and particularly for its association with the city's first newspaper. The Ashland Press, that was printed here in the 1880's. The Press building was where pioneer Sam S. Fifield printed Ashland's first newspaper, The Ashland Press. Before June 22, 1872, this paper had been printed in Bayfield as the Bayfield Press. Its first issue was printed in the barn of Asaph Whittlesey in Bayfield. |
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| Bibliographic References: | [A] NRHP NOMINATION FORM |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |