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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 105 S MAIN ST |
|---|---|
| County | Ozaukee |
| City/Village | Thiensville |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1895 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 2003,2014 |
| Historic Use | lodging-hotel |
| Architectural Style | Queen Anne |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Clapboard |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | Yes |
| Demolished Date | 2021 |
| Additional Comments |
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. CNR TURRET ORIGINALLY TOPPED BY TRUNCATED PYRAMIDAL CUPOLA. ROUND ARCH WINDOWS AND BRACKETED EAVES IN TURRET. The building was built as a residence by Ernst Alten who owned the Thiensville Hotel on Green Bay Rd. Nick Wilson bought the building in 1895 and converted it into a tavern and named it "The Commercial House." Nick Wilson also ran the grain elevator that was located immediately to the west and along the railroad line. Opening of the bar took place on November 16th and 17th of 1895. Nick sold it to August Riemer in 1895. Alvin Riemer inherited it upon August's death in 1912. Alvin and his family lived on the second floor until 1915 then converted the second floor into hotel rooms. Because women weren't allowed in bar rooms, Alvin made a ice cream parlor in a back room for women. Alvin ran The Commercial House until his death in 1934. William Heusler eventually purchased the building. The structure functioned as a tavern into the 1970s; thereafter it has served as a restaurant. As of the 2014 survey, the windows in the south east elevations adjacent to the entrance have been replaced with large single pane fixed sash windows and flanking glass block sidelights. 2020: This building was damaged by fire in 2020. |
| Bibliographic References | Cedarburg News, 6 November 1895; See also the 2003 Village of Thiensville Survey. “Architecture and History Survey: Main Street” WHS project number 14-1126/OZ. July 2014. Prepared by Megan Daniels. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Main Street Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Nov 26, 2004 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jul 16, 2004 |
| Contributing | Yes |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
