Property Record
215 BERGER ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | SMITH BROS TRUCK FARM |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 1951 |
| Location (Address): | 215 BERGER ST |
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| County: | Brown |
| City: | Green Bay |
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| Year Built: | 1901 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 198520192023 |
| Historic Use: | industrial bldg/manufacturing facility |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | Unknown |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 0 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Photo code #2: BR-FRV 12/3-6. Photo code #3: 75BR-9/6. Windows all have contrasting double header coursed tan brick lintels, while the main building (126/18) has cut stone sills while the rear building (126/26) has wooden sills. the Mills Street building has a woodenmonitor along the length of the roof apex. The two brick buildings were laterd joined with a one story tall wooden hyphen which also has a small monitor along the length of the roof apex. The two brick buildings were later joined with a one story tall wooden hyphen which also has a small monitor roof. This hyphen has been resided at an early date with metal sheets stamped to imitate rock-faced stone. There is a later concrete block addition with a flat roof attached to the west facing facade of the rear building. The plaque on the west facing facade of the Mills Street building reads: 1873 Smith Bros. 1901 NAER INVENTORY (06/1979): The original building was built by John M. Smith, a noted horiculturist and prominent man in the Town of Preble (now part of Green Bay). He dealt in garden produce selling wholesale, and gradually built up one of the largest enterprizes in Green Bay. The company specialized in canning sauerkraut. John Smith died in 1894. Four of his eight children (Henry, George, Filmote and Frank) took over the enterprize. In 1936 Edward, Frank and George Zimonick bought the land and buildings and renamed the company Zimonick Brothers Produce Inc. They canned tomatoes, beans, waxed beans, sauerkraut, and mink feed. In 1970 the canning equipment was moved and the building became a warehouse. The structure was recently purchased by Vera Bornemann. The original building has a limestone foundation, is made of brick and has a small gabled roof on top of a large gabled roof. The windows are arch type with decorated lugsills. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A.) Plaque on west facade of the main building. (B.) History of Brown Couty Wisconsin, Past and Present, Vol. II, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, 1913, p. 524-525. (C.) Alice Larsen, grand daughter of John Smith, phone interview with N. Senn, 10/1980. (D.) Richard Zimonick, present owner of Zimonick Brothers Produce, Inc., phone interview with P. Baenen, 01/1981. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |