Property Record
136 W GRAND AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | E.L. CHESTER DEPARTMENT STORE |
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| Other Name: | CHESTER SQUARE / WHITE HORSE FLEA MARKET |
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| Reference Number: | 28476 |
| Location (Address): | 136 W GRAND AVE |
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| County: | Rock |
| City: | Beloit |
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| Year Built: | 1934 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19812015 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Art Deco |
| Structural System: | Concrete Beam |
| Wall Material: | Limestone |
| Architect: | Rosman & Associates |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. This is a three-story reinforced concrete building with a cut limestone facade. Art Deco details include recessed spandrels etched in the concrete facing between the second and third floor, vertical piers define the middle segement with ziggurauts at the top of each pier. Above the third floor windows are scrolled pediments while the cornice band displays chevrons and rosettes. The building shows nine casement windows with fixed transoms on the second and third floors respectively. The name "Chester" is etched above the first floor entrance. Interior features include a ceiling with an ornate embossed waffle pattern cast in place with high-strength reinforced concrete, an original straiway of cast terrazzo on steel pans with brass and iron railings, and a polished terrazzo floor. Chester founded the first general dry goods store in Beloit in 1894. His store quickly became the quality standard all other stores followed. In 1930, the original building was destroyed by a gas explosion. At the time, it was about 15,000 square feet and the largest department store in Beloit and its surrounding counties. A larger building (38,000 sq ft) was built in the same location in 1934. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Beloit Daily News 4/20/1994. (B) Beloit Tax Rolls, RCHS Archives. (C) Book of Beloit, p. 309. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |