Property Record
126 E COOK
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Portage Built Engine Co.; Marachewsky's Dept. Store |
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| Other Name: | Portage Furniture |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 41249 |
| Location (Address): | 126 E COOK |
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| County: | Columbia |
| City: | Portage |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
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| Section: | |
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| Year Built: | 1917 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1992 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | Brick |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Portage Retail Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 4/27/1995 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 10/24/1994 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | Parapet divided into brick apnels by pilasters; glass store front; segmental arch window lintels at rear; original wood entrance door with transom in recessed entry. After the building's construction in 1917, the Portage Boat and Engine Company occupied the building. Founded by J.K. Koepp and Herman Zastrow in 1906, the company began operation by repairing boats which ran along the Portage Canal. By 1909, the company also manufactured boats, and by 1911, it built steel boats for the army. The company probably constructed the building at 109 W. Mullett in 1906 and continued to occupy the building until 1917. The Portage Novelty Boat and Storage Company wqhich appears to have stored and repaired boats and their engines then occupied the building through 1929. The building is now considerably altered. The Portage Boat and Engine Company moved to 126 E. Cook in 1917 and remained there through 1937. By 1929, the company had expanded its business to include the reepair of automobiles. By 1948 through 1955, Maracfhowsky's Department store occpuied the building (Columbia County Historical Society 1892; Portage Daily Register 7/.2/1952; Sanborn-Perris Map Co. 1910; 1918; 1929; Columbia Co. Treasurer 1863 [1915-30]). |
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| Bibliographic References: | Sanborn-Perris Map Co. 1929: garage with a capacity of 35 cars; conc. floors, steam heat, electric lights 1918: garage see above 1910; not present Columbia Co. Treasurer 1863- 1915-1930: Portage Boat and Engine Co. According to the alteration in vaulation, the building was constructed in 1917. Directories 1955: (132-137) Marachowsky's Portage Store (Johnson Printing Co.) 1948: (132) Marachowsky's Department Store (Commonwealth Telephone Co.) 1937: (126-128) Protage Boat and Engine Co. (Commonwealth Telephone Co.) 1929: (126-28) Portage Boat and Engine Co., autos and machine shop (Smith-Baumann) 1917: (128-28) Portage Boat and Engine Co. (R.L. Polk & Co.) 1915-16 to 1911-12: Portage Boat and Engine Co. (R.L. Polk & Co.) 1910: Portage Boat and Engine Co. on W. Mullett (Voshardt) 1908-09: Portage Boat and Engine Co., boat manufacturers at 105 Mullett (S.H. Moore) 1905-06: not listed |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |