Property Record
138 N WATER ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | W.W. Vau Dell Building |
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| Other Name: | LTS Photo and Video/Jenine's Antiques |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 28001 |
| Location (Address): | 138 N WATER ST |
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| County: | Monroe |
| City: | Sparta |
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| Year Built: | 1927 |
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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: | In 1927, the W.W. Vaudell Building was erected. This new building was retail shop of unknown nature. Because little historical data us currently associated with the building, its role in the development of Sparta remains unclear. It therefore, is currently historically insignificant under criterion A. This early 20th century commercial building is a vernacular brick building characterized mainly by decorative brick work including a scaled-down corbeled brick cornice placed above a brick panel outlined by brick set on end. Rectnagular window groups with one over one lights on the second story also are bordered with brick set on edge. A plate glass storefront with recessed offset main and second-story entrances topped by a vertical sided transom presently is located on the building. Generally well preserved, this two-story commercial building has been altered by some revision of its storefront including the covering of its glass transom with vertical siding. This commercial building was constructed in 1927 for W.W. Vau Dell. The present retail building was built on the site of an earlier brick building knwon as the Moffat Building, which collapsed in 1920. The earlier Moffat building was part of the larger commercial block known in the 19th century as the Commercial Block, which was rebuilt in 1880 after fire also had demolished the previous building on the site. The Vau Dell Building is significant under criterion C as an example of the early 20th century vernacular Commercial styled building. It is on eof two exceptionally well preserved vernacular buildings built in the 1920s showing the influence of the 20th century Commercial style. The other well preserved example of the style in the Water Street Historic District is located at 211 South Water Street (MP36/35). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1870-1930. (B) Sanborn Insurance Map 1884, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931. (C) Sparta Herald July 27, 1920; December 30, 1879; January 13, 1880; August 10, 1880. (D) City of Sparta Property Tax Rolls 1870-1940. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |