| 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.
1/2 ROUND WINDOW IN GABLEPAIRED BRACKETS AT EAVESSTONE QUOINS SEGMENTALARCH MOULDED WINDOW HOODS W/ KEYSTONE MOTIF
Additional Information, 2024
Architecture:
The Kohlwey Blacksmith Shop is a two-story Greek Revival-influenced rectangular building constructed of coursed limestone with large smooth limestone corner quoins. Projecting from the east wall is a one-story storefront addition probably added in the 1910s or 1920s (last Sanborn Map from 1910 does not show this addition). The addition wraps around the north elevation of the original building and a small amount of the west elevation.
The stone building has a gable roof, a wood frieze, and paired wood brackets. The first story of the main elevation has a large central entrance with replacement double wood doors with narrow openings filled with arched single lights. Flanking the entrance are two large openings decorated with segmental stone arches and filled with replacement arched single lights. A photograph from 1975 shows that the original flanking openings were filled with divided light windows.
The three openings of the second floor have segmental stone arches and are filled with replacement single-light sashes. The photograph from 1975 shows that these openings were filled with arched multi-light sash windows. (A 2019 view in google maps shows that replacement arched windows were initially put into the openings that better replicated the originals, but these windows are not what are shown on the photographs submitted.) In the gable peak is a lunette. The west elevation of the stone building features symmetrical openings filled with replacement single-light sashes topped with segmental arches (again, a 2019 google maps view shows different windows). An entrance with a modern five horizontal light entry door sits in this elevation. The other elevations of the stone building are obscured by the addition, except on the north elevation, where the gable peak is covered with stucco.
The main elevation of the addition is clad with recently added composite siding decorated with a paneled frieze, pilasters, and a modern glass storefront. A 1975 photograph shows that this part of the building was stucco-covered with a partially enclosed storefront of a modern sliding window topped with a tall shed-roofed overhang. A historic photograph shows that this building may have been constructed of rusticated concrete block and that the storefront featured large multi-light show windows and a boomtown-style “second” story with three sash windows. The remainder of the addition consists of a four-sided, angled, one-story ell. Two sides of the ell are covered with stucco. The east wall of the ell is stepped down, reflecting the historic photograph that showed the building having “two stories” on the main elevation. The other walls of the addition are clad with the same compositive siding as the main elevation. Along one of these walls are openings that include several single-light sash windows and a large opening filled with a modern entry door and paneling. The part of the addition projecting from the west elevation of the building has a modern entry door, a single pane window, and a sash window.
The first floor interior of the building has two sections. In the front is the section in the stone building that consists of a large open space set up as a banquet hall. The ceiling is new (replaced after a fire) with exposed rafters and there is a modern textured concrete floor. The stone walls are exposed. Behind the banquet hall is part of the addition that houses a large kitchen, storage, and modern bathrooms. An open, modern, staircase leads to the second floor of the stone building. Because of the recent fire, the second floor has been remodeled. The new ceiling has exposed rafters and the floor is made up of wood plank flooring. Most of the floor is open space, but along one wall there are three glass-walled offices.
History
Built in 1868 for blacksmith Frederick Kohlwey, the building was a blacksmith shop operated by Frederick’s son, Henry, until the early twentieth century when it became the Tillman Brothers garage. Beginning in 1963, Heinz Reich started a garage in the building known as the Heinz 57 Auto Shop. It was operated into the 21st century by Heinz’ sons. In 2020, a fire in the second floor of the stone building extensively damaged the roof and interior of that part of the building. After it was repaired, it was sold by the Reich family and today the current owners operate an event space in the building and rent out part of the addition to a martial arts studio.
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