Property Record
15-21 S BROWN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Kate McRae Building |
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| Other Name: | DeByles Department Store |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 21319 |
| Location (Address): | 15-21 S BROWN ST |
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| County: | Oneida |
| City: | Rhinelander |
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| Year Built: | 1926 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1995 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | Brick |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | MOULDED AND BRACKETED CORNICE TOPPED BY PLAIN PARAPET. 2ND FLR WINDOWS IN GROUPS OF THREES. STILTED SILLS. COMPLETELY ALTERED 1ST FLR FRONT. 15-21 South Brown Street Kate McRae Building This two-story, structural clay tile building is veneered with brick and was erected in 1926 for Kate McRae, who was a confectioner (New North, December 31, 1925, "Fire Burns 3 Business Buildings," and July 1, 1926, "Two New Stores Open to Public."). A brick-veneered frame building was located on this site previously; it was destroyed by fire in late December 1925. The McRae building is a typical example of a twentieth century commercial vernacular building, and is enriched with stone lintels on corbels, and a classical cornice with large dentils. The canopy across the front dates from c. 1985, when the current tenant, DeByle's, expanded from the building at 3-9 South Brown Street. The first commercial tenants of this building were Harry Hoffman's jewelry store, and the Schooley Forbes Hardware Store, both of which had been tenants in the buildings that had burned. Hoffman was succeed by the Newberry Five-and-Dime by 1936. Newberry eventually became a department store, and remained in the building until 1962. Schooley-Forbes was established by Joseph Schooley, E. A. Forbes, and son Harley Forbes in late 1924 or early 1925, and was located in this building from 1926 until at least 1980 (Wisconsin State Gazetteers, Rhinelander City Directories). |
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| Bibliographic References: |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |