1601 Bangor St

1601 Bangor St

La Crosse

Bangor

1915

2020

tavern/bar

Commercial Vernacular

Stucco

No

This freestanding, two-story Commercial Vernacular building was constructed c.1915. The building is rectangular in plan with stucco-clad concrete block walls and a flat roof. The front elevation faces north and is asymmetrical in plan. The first story of the north elevation contains a single metal security door accessed via a concrete stoop with a metal handrail along its outer edge. A horizontally oriented single-pane rectangular window is located just east of this with no other fenestration at the first story of the north elevation. An asphalt-shingled pent roof spans the width of the façade above the front entrance. Above this, the eastern half of the façade contains two 1-over-1 windows at the second story. The western half of the second story of the façade is stepped back from the remainder of the elevation and contains a single 5-over-1 cottage style window. Above the second story windows, a stuccoed drip course spans the façade (along both the eastern and stepped-back western walls) and wraps around the side elevations. A low-pitched triangular parapet caps the eastern portion of the façade. On all elevations, the roofline features contrasting metal coping.

This building was constructed c.1915 for John Kuranz. Historic sources indicate the building’s earliest function was that of a store with a residence in the western half of the building; however, following the end of Prohibition, the eastern half of the building reverted to use as a tavern – a function that continues to the present day. The ownership of the building changed a number of times between 1936 and 1955 before being purchased by Cletus and Rita Cavadini in October of 1963. By this time, the property had become known as the Village Inn and had begun hosting a weekly Friday night fish fry. A dining room addition was constructed along the south (rear) elevation in 1972 under new owners Harold and Fern Elsen. In 1977, the property was purchased by the current owners who clad the building in stucco sometime after 1980 and enclosed the first story porch along the western half of the building’s façade. The building currently serves as the Village Inn restaurant and tavern (with the former second-floor apartment serving as storage) and has long hosted the village’s Friday fish fry.

Not Listed