Property Record
96 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | AUGUST J. KETTLER BUILDING |
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| Other Name: | VACANT STORE/THE OASIS |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 46225 |
| Location (Address): | 96 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Platteville |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
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| Direction: | |
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| Year Built: | 1876 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1983 |
| Historic Use: | general store |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | 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: | 3/9/1990 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. SITUATED ON A CORNER SITE, THIS BRICK, TWO-STORY COMMERCIAL BUILDING WITH A FLAT SLOPING ROOF (SLOPED TO THE WEST) HAS A DENTICULATED AND CUT-BRICK CORNICE, FLAT KEYSTONE ACCENTED AND CORBELED ROUND ARCHED BRICK WINDOW HEADS AND SILLS ON THE SECOND STORY WINDOWS, AND CAST IRON CORINTHIAN COLUMNS THAT REMAIN ON STREET LEVEL TO FRAME THE UPSTAIRS ENTRANCE; ALTHOUGH THE DOUBLE DOOR ENTRANCE REMAINS, THE STORE FRONT HAS BEEN ALTERED THROUGH THE YEARS. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: A VISUALLY PROMINENT BRICK BLOCK IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, THIS EARLY COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT TO THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE AND EARLY ARCHITECTURAL STYLE. NOT AS SEVERELY ALTERED AS MOST OF THE STRUCTURES ON THE STREET LEVEL, THE STORE FRONT HAS RETAINED SOME 19TH CENTURY IRON WORK. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THIS BUILDING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COMMERCIAL BULIDING. AT ONE TIME CIGARS WERE MADE ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THE MOST COMMON STORES ON THE FIRST FLOOR WERE MEAT MARKETS. STEPHENS CIGAR STORE OCCUPIED THE BUILDING AT AN UNKNOWN DATE AND STEINHOFF/STEPHENS, A MEAT MARKET ALSO OCCUPIED THE BUILDING AT AN UNKNOWN DATE. (SEE BIB. REF. B). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. SANBORN-PERRIS MAP, CITY OF PLATTEVILLE, 1884. B. RICHARD BARDEN, INTERVIEW, MAY 3, 1983. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |