| Additional Information: | In 1876-77, M.L. Heller constructed the present building on this corner. In the past, the southwest corner of Oak and Water Streets was known as the Heller block. It was named after M.L. Heller , who operated a dry goods store on the corner as early as 1856. Next to Heller's building was another building west of it known as the Kerrigan Building. In 1856, both of these establishments burned to the ground. Heller and Kerrigan replaced their wooden structures, but in 1876, they were again destroyed in another major fire. When the Heller building was replaced, it was made of brick. The Heller-I.O.O.F. Building continued as a dry goods store at least until 1889.
However by 1894-95, this building no longer was a dry goods store. In 1887, Sparta Encampment No. 94, I.O.O.F. acquired this property on the southwest corner of Water and Oak Streets. The first floor of the building continued to be occupied by a dry goods establishment but the second floor of the building was used by the fraternal group as a suite of lodge rooms, including a dining room. IN 1895, the I.O.O.F. remodeled the second floor completely. On November 15, 1895, they dedicated a new hall on the second floor. Lodge rooms and the dining room were removed to their auxilliary building adjcant to the Heller-I.O.O.F. building (103 West Oak Street).
The I.O.O.F. continues to occupy the second floor of this building even today. However, the first floor has been occupied by a number of businesses, including a U.S. Express Office (circa 1894) and the Citizens Bank (1907-1911).
The Heller-I.O.O.F. Building gains local significance under Criterion A in association with the topic of General Merchandise, Dry Goods and Furniture Stores under Sparta's Commerce Theme and the topic Fraternal Organizations under Sparta's Social and Political Movements Theme. The building's period of significance ranges from 1876 to 1889, when it was occupied by the M.L. Heller Dry Goods business. In addition, the building's period of significance extends from 1887, when the Sparta Encampment No. 94, I.O.O.F. acquired this property on the southwest corner of Water and Oak Streets, to 1895, when the I.O.O.F. remodeled it for their social hall.
Located on the southwest corner of Oak and Water Streets, this two-story, two-bay cream brick [presently painted] is an Italianate cornice decorated by modillion blocks, small brackets, and a row of dentils interrupted by the appliqued letters "I.O.O.F. Block" on the frieze area of the entablature. The brick surfaces are compartmentalized by the shouldered arched brick b ays recessed into the brick work on the upper story, both on the Oak Street and the Water Street facades. Decorative iron window heads featuring a triangular pediment placed on cornices that rest on consoles project over four segmental arched, long narrow windows on the upper story of the two bays on the Oak Street facade. The arched windows display rectangular metal sashes with four lights. Single segmental arched windows with brick voussoirs and white keystones [presently painted] are located in five of the six bays on the upper story of the Water Street facade. A contemporary storefront with metal siding over the transom and metal and glass windows and recessed off-set entrance is located on the lower story of the Oak Street facade. A segmental arched stairway entrance featuring brick voussoirs, white keystone and single leaf door leading to the Odd Fellows lodge on the second floor is located on the south end of the Water Street facade.
This combination retail building and meeting hall has been altere dby the addition of replacement metal windows and by the filling in of arched entresol windows on the upper part of the first story on the Water Street facade. In addition, a second entrance flanked by windows, originally located in the center of the Water Street facade, has been bricked up. The addition of a contemporary storefront has further altered the historic character of this mid-19th century building. Originally constructed with an iron storefront featuring an arcade of three arches across the facade as well as one bay on the north end of the Water Street facade featuring 5 1/2 ft x 4 ft French plate glass windows, this building received an entirely new iron front in 1913. This early 20th century storefront featured a large transom window, which functioned also as a display wnidow, and a decorated, straight cornice above large plate glass windows. The inscription "I.O.O.F." was added to the frieze panel after the building was purchased by the local I.O.O.F. lodge.
This Italianate styled brick block was constructed for M.L. Heller at the end of 1876 after a fire [September 28, 1876] destroyed his frame store previously on the site, known earlier as Liberty Hall where many political and town meetings in its time were held. Designed by local architect N.W. Huntley, the brick work on the Heller building, 30 x 75 with solid foot thick walls, was done by W. Wood, the carpenter work by Watson and Briggs, the front by Letson and Evans and the glazing by the "well known" Jonas Sugden. Originally planned as a commercial block, this building initially housed Heller's Dry Goods Store. Heller retired his dry goods business in 1888 when the Warner Grocery moved into the building. This building was converted to a combination retail building [first floor] and lodge hall [second fllor] after it was purchased by the I.O.O.F. in 1887.
The Heller-I.O.O.F. Building does not meet the criteria of the NRHP for architectural significance because of a lack of integrity. The historically significance Heller Block is an important examples of the Italianate styled commercial block. Although this building has retained its iron cornice and window heads, its architectural significance has been altered by the divided metal replacement windows and storefront. However this building has sufficient historic architectural character to contribute to the Water Street Historic District. Better preserved examples of the Italianate style include the buildings at 117 East Oak (MO35/20), 118 East Oak (MO23/36), 120 South Water (MO23/35) and 144 South Water (MO36/14). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Monroe County History Room, Rt. 2, Sparta, WI, Photograph Collection, Photograph #396, #1428.
(B) "A Centennial Portfolio," Sparta Herald June 6, 1983 (photograph).
(C) Sparta Herald Oct. 10, 1876; Nov. 11, 1876; Dec. 19, 1876; Oct. 2, 1888; Feb. 5, 1889; Jan. 21, 1913.
(D) City of Sparta Tax Records, 1870-1930; Property Tax Rolls, 1870-1940.
(E) Sanborn Insurance Maps 1884, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931.
(F) Richards, Randolph A., History of Monroe County, Wisconsin: Past and Present, Including an Account of the Cities, Towns and Villages of the County. Chicago: C.F. Cooper, 1912, pp. 277-278, p. 309.
(G) Sparta Volunteer Fire Department, "Sparta Volunteer Fire Department Centennial, 1879-1979." Unpublished pamphlet, May 19, 1979, p. 18.
(H) Barney, Tyler Davis, "A History of the Growth of Sparta, Wisconsin, 1850-1890." B.A. Thesis, University of Wisconsin, 1922, p. 35-36.
(I) Unknown Newspaper, "History of Sparta" installment 31.
(J) "Ex-Host to Soldiers Seeks New Horizons" Milwaukee Sentinel, March 8, 1953.
(K) Sparta Centennial Celebration Committee, Sparta Incorporation City Centennial: 1883-1983 (1983), Unpublished pamphlet, p. 35.
(L) Monroe County Democrat Nov. 15, 1895. |
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