636 N WATER ST | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

Property Record

636 N WATER ST

Architecture and History Inventory
636 N WATER ST | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:Carpeles, Hartmann & Co. Salesroom
Other Name:POTATO BROS.
Contributing: Yes
Reference Number:41774
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):636 N WATER ST
County:Milwaukee
City:Milwaukee
Township/Village:
Unincorporated Community:
Town:
Range:
Direction:
Section:
Quarter Section:
Quarter/Quarter Section:
PROPERTY FEATURES
Year Built:1888
Additions:
Survey Date:1984
Historic Use:small retail building
Architectural Style:Romanesque Revival
Structural System:
Wall Material:Brick
Architect:
Other Buildings On Site:
Demolished?:Yes
Demolished Date:1989
NATIONAL AND STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
National/State Register Listing Name: East Side Commercial Historic District
National Register Listing Date:9/23/1986
State Register Listing Date:1/1/1989
National Register Multiple Property Name:
NOTES
Additional Information:Destroyed by fire in 1989. Locally designated 11-17-1986.

Good example of a typical downtown brick commercial building with integrity of form and appearance and much of its original ornamentation including cornice and window surrounds.

This was the showroom of Carpeles, Hartmann, & Co. Trunk Manufacturers. They were established in 1875 as Carpeles, Heiser & Co. At one time, this building housed Sisson's Men's Wear. Curtis Sisson was born in 1899. William Oliver Sisson was a partner of Sisson & Sewell Men's Wear and bought out his partner Sewell. Curtis Sisson was an only child and he inherited the successful business. Their store was very successful and William Oliver and Curtis Sisson were prominent supporters of semi-pro baseball, Marquette University Minute Men and Basketball Team supporters. They were members of Bluemound CC, North Shore CC, and Tripoli CC.
Bibliographic References:Wisconsin Academy Review, XVII, No. 4, Winter 1970-1971, pp.4-5. 1888 Sanborn Atlas. 1881 History of Milwaukee, p. 1447. Industrial History, 1886, p. 210.
RECORD LOCATION
Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

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