Property Record
802 N 4TH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | John W. Cole House |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 15322 |
| Location (Address): | 802 N 4TH ST |
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| County: | Dodge |
| City: | Watertown |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1865 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1974 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| 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 '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. WIDE OVERHANGING DENTILLED EAVES W/SCROLL CUT BRACKETS. GARLAND MOTIF TRIM BETWEEN CORNICE BRACKETS. STILTED BLIND ROUND ARCH LINTELS OVER 6/6 WINDOWS. ENTRANCE PORCH W/PAIRED DORIC COLUMNS. An exceptionally elaborate house built in the 1850s for John W. Cole, a prominent merchant and pioneer, this Italianate styled house is a rectangular block constructed with walls four bricks thick and covered by a low pitched hipped roof that has cross-gables on all four sides. The Italianate ornamentation including a large bracketed overhanging eaves or cornices with dentil trim along the gable under the eaves, cornice returns in the gable ends and articulated round arched window hoods with console ends, crest above the arch with long multi-paned windows and iron tympaniums decorated with Rising Sun motif. Arched openings on the south bay of the facade are filled with louvered shutters. A five-sided south bay window with bracketed eaves and long multipaned windows and a decked one-bay entrance porch with fluted Doric columns placed on paneled wood bases over side lit entrance door as well as a flat roofed south side wooden entrance porch with a door topped by an arched over light further characterize the house. A one-story hip roofed addition is located at the rear and a shed roofed porch is located on the north side. A cream brick garage has also been added. Reportedly, the interior has 11 foot coved walls decorated at ceiling height, a heavy three inch thick front door, a white pine woodwork and originally had a a large ballroom on the third floor (presently used as an apartment). The Cole House is significant as an excellent example of the Italianate style. One of the very best such buildings remaining in the city, it is characterized by the rectangular block shape, the low pitched roof and overhanging bracket eaves, the elaborately articulated window hoods, the long floor windows that are associated with the Italianate style. The other significant residential examples of the Italianate style are the vernacular houses at: 413 So. 6th. (40-26) 307 W.Cady(58-7) 216 No. Church (54-15) 908 Country Lane (27-32) 700 CLyman St. (43-25) |
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| Bibliographic References: | Rose, "Our Heritage of Homes" (Watertown Historical Society, 1980). Watertown Daily Times, Centennial Edition (1936). |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |