Property Record
500 Main St (AKA 500 MONUMENT SQUARE)
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ZAHN'S BUILDING |
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| Other Name: | ZAHN'S DEPT STORE |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 11193 |
| Location (Address): | 500 Main St (AKA 500 MONUMENT SQUARE) |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1924 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1975 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Chicago Commercial Style |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Edmund B Funston was the architect; Nelson & Company (Racine) was general contractor |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Old Main Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 8/11/1987 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | GLAZED TERRA COTTA. CHICAGO STYLE TRIM. CHICAGO WINDOWS. COMPLETELY ALTERED 1ST FLR. DESIGNED BY EDMUND B. FUNSTON WHO CAME TO RACINE IN 1903. HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A.A. GUILBERT FROM 1905 TO 1915, WHEN THE PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED. ZAHN'S WAS ONCE DOWNTOWN RACINE'S MAJOR DEPARTMENT STORE. IT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED AS ZAHN'S DRY GOODS COMPANY AT 428 MAIN BY EDWARD ZAHN IN 1898. THE DEPARTMENT STORE MOVED TO AN EXPANDED LOCATION AT 436-438 MAIN ABOUT 1916 AND TO THIS NEW BUILDING NINE YEARS LATER, WHERE IT REMAINED UNTIL THE EARLY 1980S WHEN COMPETITION FROM SUBURBAN SHOPPING CENTERS DROVE IT OUT OF BUSINESS. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Old Main Street Historic District Walking Tour Guide, 1990 |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |