Property Record
603-605 W MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | John Doris, Sr. House |
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| Reference Number: | 108219 |
| Location (Address): | 603-605 W MAIN ST |
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| County: | Dane |
| City: | Madison |
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| Year Built: | 1858 |
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| Additions: | 1930 |
| Survey Date: | 19832022 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Greek Revival |
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| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | The map code is 0709-234-0501-7. Features of this Greek Revival styled apartment building include flat-arched windows, lunettes and eave returns. 2005- House was rehabilitated in 2003 by Todd McGrath Associates in conjunction with the 4th Ward Lofts condominium complex immediately to the south. House was sold in 2005 as a condo within the 4th Ward development. 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, Division of Historic Preservation. Madison Historic Landmark:2/26/2008 2022 - The Doris House was constructed in 1858. It is a two-story Greek Revival-style building with a rectangular footprint, raised stone foundation, brick cladding, and side-gabled roof with eave returns. The original portion of the building is clad in red brick and faces W. Main Street to the northwest. The façade is five bays wide. A 1930 cream brick addition to the southwest created a sixth bay. A raised wood decked porch with a modern metal railing spans the length of the original portion of the façade and accesses two modern entrance doors. On either side of the doors are six-over-six sash windows with rowlock brick sills and soldier course brick lintels. All door and window openings on the building have these same or similar brick details. On the second story of the façade are five six-over-six sash windows. The façade of the 1930 addition has one six-over-six sash window centered on each story. The northeast gable end has two six-over-six sash windows on each story, as well as two half-round windows in the gable peak. On the rear, southeast elevation is a shed roof porch addition and a two-story projecting gable bay (a post-1930 stairwell addition). The southwest gable end (the 1930 addition) has two six-over-six sash windows on each story. This was originally the house of John Doris Sr. and his family. Doris was an Irish immigrant who moved to Madison from Rhode Island in the mid-1850s. With its location two blocks from the railroad, it is believed that the house served as a boarding house or hotel for a period, as the Doris family was associated with other boarding houses and hotels in this area of Madison. It remained a residential property (single-family and then a multi-family rental) until 2002, by which time its condition had severely deteriorated. It was then renovated into an office building, and currently serves as a law office. The renovation included new windows, new roof, exterior lighting, interior build-out/modernization, and removal of an addition that appears to have dated from soon after the building’s construction. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Wisconsin State Journal, 4-18-1948. Tax Records. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |