Property Record
120-122 S 4TH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | UNION SALOON |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | BODEGA RESTAURANT |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27594 |
| Location (Address): | 120-122 S 4TH ST |
|---|---|
| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | La Crosse |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1875 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | 1883 |
| Survey Date: | 1996 |
| Historic Use: | tavern/bar |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | Unknown |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Jule J. Freas |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | La Crosse Commercial Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | 9/2/1994 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 10/8/1993 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | Three structures joined to form one establishment - all with moulded brick projecting cornices trimmed with rows of dentils on the south structure and corbeled brick on the far north structure; segmental arched two over two windows; 20th century store front common to all three structures. The site of a lunch club and saloon since 1926, the Bodega is one of the very few structures in downtown La Crosse to have maintained a continuity of use and architectural character. This was originally two buildings-the corner building originally was 331 Pearl Street and the present main entrance was the 120 south 4th Street building. Each was built in 1876 by two brothers, Lorenz and George Streigel. Lorenz kept the corner building as a grocery store and liquor store; George kept 120 South 4th as a saloon. The saloon quickly changed hands, but stayed a saloon until 1909 when it became a cigar annex to the Bodega, then located at 329 Pearl. In 1926 the Bodega was annexed to it, which was by then located at 331 Pearl Street. The grocery store stayed a grocery store until 1926 when Jules Freas expanded from 120 South 4th to the corner building. This property is a simple, two story brick building with little architectural pretense. Exterior details include a band of corbelled brick which separates the first and second floors and a corbelled brick cornice. Fenestration consists of symmetrically arranged 1/1 double hung wood sash with segmented arch lintels. Historic interiors features include wooden wainscoting, a decorative bannister with both square and turned spindles, baseboards, and window surrounds. This two-story flat-roofed brick building, with wood floor joists and ceiling joists, rectangular in shape, was constructed in 1876. A one story addition was constructed at the rear of the structure at a later date to bring it to it's present day length of 152 feet. The front facade features 3 equally spaced arched windows on the second floor with double hung sash. The face of the building above the windows is of a bas-relief type of brick work with various dentil brick coarsings stepping back to the front plane of the building. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | A. Pratt and Owen, La Crosse Illustrated (La Crosse: Art Publishing Co., 1887; Reprint: 1978) p. 16. B. L.P. Philippi, Philippi Art Souvenir (La Crosse: Philippi Publishing co. 1904; Reprint: 1978). C. City Tax Records. D. Crocker, Leslie. La Crosse Buildings through Time. La Crosse: La Crosse Public Library Archives Department, 2015. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |