Property Record
2449 W FOND DU LAC AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Theodore Bruskovitz Meat Market |
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| Other Name: | Mezrath Embroidery Company |
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| Reference Number: | 118184 |
| Location (Address): | 2449 W FOND DU LAC AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1894 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1999 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Boomtown |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Asphalt |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | A one-story wing addition and a sunporch extend from the rear (west) of the structure, and a concrete block garage is situated near the west lot line of the property. City directories indicate that this structure was erected in 1894 as a second meat market for Peter Bruskewitz & Son. The elder Bruskewitz began his business in 1891, opening a meat market ten blocks south of the subject structure. Just three years later, his son Theodore, opened an associated meat market in the subject building. Sons Charles and Arthur joined the family business in 1896 and 1898, respectively. By 1901, Charles was noted as living at this structure and, in 1912, he erected a $250 concrete block garage on the property and constructed a rear addition to the shop at a cost of $500. The Bruskewitz family sold the business in 1923; new owner Peter Honrath (also a butcher) altered the structure by adding a concrete block side addition and replacing the wood-shingled roof with asphalt and applied a stucco veneer. Alteration costs amounted to $4,000. By 1926, Honrath constructed a 20' x 50' concrete block garage. Three years later, he added a sunporch to the rear of the shop. By the following year, Honrath expanded his business to include groceries as well as meats. Alterations were again made my Honrath in 1937, when the building was covered with asbestos siding and rock lath. The structure continued to function as a grocery store until 1965-1966. After, the structure was occupied by the Mezrath Embroidery Co., which has been responsible for a large number of the metro-Milwaukee area's embroidered banners and flags. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Historic name and construction date gleaned from city directory information. See also: "Embroiderer Cut From Sturdy Cloth." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 October 1997, B1. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |