Property Record
109-111 W OAK ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Ralston Grocery Store and Confectionery Store |
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| Other Name: | John Kewin, O.D. Office; Roelston & Rosing Building |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27959 |
| Location (Address): | 109-111 W OAK ST |
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| County: | Monroe |
| City: | Sparta |
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| Year Built: | 1896 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1989 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Water Street Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 11/12/1992 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 7/3/1992 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | The Ralston Grocery and Confectionary Store was erected in 1896 for $3,800.00, which was a year that marked the "greatest growth that Sparta has ever enjoyed." The building was occupied by two businesses. On one side was the J.H. Ralston Grocery and Confectionary, which probably was at this location in the 1880s and 1890s. The other side was originally occupied by the Walden Brother's (Sherman and Sheridan) barbershop. In 1904, one half continued as the Walden Brothers barbershop, while the other half became a saloon called the "Band Box." Thereafter, a variety of businesses occupied the building. Because little historical data is currently associated with the Ralston Grocery and Confectionary Store, its role in the development of Sparta remains unclear. This two-story, five-bay late Italianate styled brick building is characterized by a projecting metal cornice with brackets and modillion blocks. A band of decorative and denticulated brick work across the top of the building below the cornice and long rectangular windows on the second story topped by flat white stone lintels further characterize the reddish tinted cream brick facade, This building, designed to accomodate two commercial spaces [two bays wide on east side and three bays wide on west end], presently displays contemporary styled storefronts with recessed entrance, wood paneling, and small windows. This turn-of-the-century commercial building has been altered by the metal replacement windows in the east bays and by the combination small windows and wood panels in the west bays of the upper story. It has been further altered by the addition of the contemporary storefront to the lower story. Triangular pediments originally rising above the two shop entrances were removed by the early 1940s. Built in 1896, this two-store building was constructed for J.H. Ralston of light cream brick with a reddish tint from the Halcyon Brick Yard near Black River Falls. Originally this building housed Ralston's Grocery Store and Confectionary in the west store and the Walder Brothers Barber Shop in the smaller east store. The brick building is an important example of the late Italianate styled commercial block. Although this building has retained its iron cornice and stone window lintels, its architectural significance has been altered by the replacement of its windows with smaller metal windows and board panels and the contemporary storefront. However, this building has sufficient historic architectural character to contribute to the Water Street Historic District. Better preserved examples of the Italianate style include the buildings at 117 East Oak (MO35/20), 118 East Oak (MO23/36), 120 South Water (MO23/55) and 144 South Water (MO36/14). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Monroe County History Room, Rt. 2, Sparta, WI, Photograph Collection, Photograph #396, #1428. (B) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1868-1930. (C) Sparta Herald Oct. 13, 1896; Jan. 5, 1897. (D) Sanborn-Perris Insurance Maps, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931. (E) City of Sparta Property Tax Records, 1870-1940. (F) Annual Directory of Sparta, Wisconsin. Vol. 1. Chicago: Interstate Directory Co., 1897. (G) Sparta City Directory, 1903-1904. Sparta: R.C. Glover, Publisher, 1904. (H) Richards, Randolph A., History of Monroe Country, Wisconsin: Past and Present, Including an Account of the Cities, Towns and Villages of the County. Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1912, pp. 277-278. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |