| Additional Information: | This building dates back to 1867 and was owned by L.H. Bancroft, whose family owned the building until circa 1910. L.H. Bancroft started his business with his sons in 1865. Bancroft was a Vermonter by birth and a Civil War veteran. By 1867, in the days when Sparta was a supply point for northern Wisconsin, Bancroft prospered. Bancroft's business apparently was so successful, that in 1867, he was able to build and moved into this new brick building at 110 South Water Street just south of the first Bank of Sparta. Bancroft's business occupied the basement, and the first and part of the second floors of the building, which was 25 x 70 feet in dimensions. Bancroft's hardware occupied the building until at least 1891. Sometime after 1891, H.D. Baldwin took over the store, renaming the business the Baldwin Hardware Company. Baldwin continued at this location at least until 1903.
By 1911, the building housed an unknown clothing store. From 1922 to 1931, it probably remained a retail shop of unknown nature.
The Bancroft Hardware Store building gains local historical significance under criterion A in association with the topic Hardware Stores under Sparta's Commerce Theme. Hardware stores were an important commercial business in any small rural community, and the Bancroft Hardware store exhibits this quality. The building's historical significance ranges form 1867 to 1904.
Constructed of brick [presently painted], this two-story, three-bay building is an Italianate styled commercial building characterized by a wide projecting iron cornice ornamented with paired brackets and a paneled freize. Round arched window openings surrounded by brick voussoirs and accented by a thin arched moulding further characterize the upper facade. Metal windows and wooden panels fill the window openings. A contemporary 1966 storefront featuring metal siding over the transom window area and a recessed metal and glass entrance are located on the lower story. An entrance door to the upper story is located on the lower story. An entrance door to the upper story is located on the north end of the storefront.
This Italianate styled commercial building has been altered by the filling-in of the windows with inappropriate window smaller than the openings and wood panels and the addition of a contemporary storefront not in sympathy with the historic architectural character of the building.
Constructed in the mid-1860s, this building was built for L.H. Bancroft. This early commercial building, similar in style to the two-bay Styles building built on the adjacent lot at 112 South Water about the same time, was used originally to house L.H. Bancroft's hardware store, which was operated by his son Fred after his death in the late 1870s.
The Bancroft Hardware Store does not meet the criteria of the NRHP for architectural significance because of a lack of integrity. Although much of the Italianate influenced details remain on the building, its architectural character was been diminished particularly by the alteration of the windows. However, the Bancroft building has sufficient architectural character to contribute to the Water Street Commercial Historic District. Examples of the Italianate style with more integrity are located at 117 East Oak (MO35/20), 118 South Water (MP23/35), 120 South Water, and 144 North Water (MO36/14). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) City of Sparta, Community Development Office, Building Permit File.
(B) City of Sparta, WI, Tax records, 1868-1930.
(C) Sanborn Insurance Map 1884, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931.
(D) City of Sparta Property Tax Rolls, 1870-1940.
(E) Map of Sparta, Wisconsin. Milwaukee: Phoenix Map Company of Milwaukee, 1875.
(F) French, Bella, "History of Sparta, Wisconsin." The American Sketchbook. La Crose: Sketch Book Company, Publishers, 1875, p. 70-74.
(G) Annual Directory of Sparta, Wisconsin. Vol. 1. Chicago: Interstate Directory Co., 1897.
(H) Sparta City DIrectory, 1903-1904. Sparta: R.C. Glover, Publisher, 1904.
(I) Monroe County Democrat, June 5, 1867.
(J) Sparta Herald Sept. 8, 1891. |
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