Property Record
111-117 W UNION ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Godfrey Auto Company |
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| Other Name: | Matthews Tire |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 117072 |
| Location (Address): | 111-117 W UNION ST |
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| County: | Waupaca |
| City: | Waupaca |
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| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1919 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1998 |
| Historic Use: | automobile showroom |
| Architectural Style: | Twentieth Century Commercial |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Theodore Anderson |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Main Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 4/12/2002 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/18/2002 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | Builder was Theodore Anderson. The Godfrey Auto Company was an early twentieth century garage that was rebuilt and expanded in 1919. The building has a one-story form with brick walls, a curved parapet, and an arched roof. The front elevation features brick corbeling along the cornice, corner piers, a large show window and garage type door. Side wall windows are segmentally arched sashes. This building is architectually significant as a fine example of the Twentieth Century Commercial style. Its modern form with the arched parapet and simple details make the building a fine example of the style. It is also a very fine example of a type of construction, an early twentieth century garage building. Early garages were often one-story buildings with large interior spaces for automobile storage. This building is typical and is a good example of this type of construction. The building also contributes historically to the Main Street Historic District because of its use as a historic garage in the city's downtown. Early garages were located downtown, before space needs dictated more expansive locations. This building is typical of the location of early garages and represents a new and important type of retail business in downtowns during the early twentieth century. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Wayne A. Guyant. "When Then Was Now." Waupaca Post, 9 April 1992. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |