Property Record
2012 WISCONSIN AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Nic Vollstedt Meat Market |
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| Other Name: | Wirth's Cigar Factory; New Holstein Public Library #1 |
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| Reference Number: | 4306 |
| Location (Address): | 2012 WISCONSIN AVE |
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| County: | Calumet |
| City: | New Holstein |
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| Year Built: | 1880 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19772012 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Boomtown |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Board and Batten |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 2018 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | BRACKETED BOOMTOWN FALSEFRONTSTAMPED METAL SIDINGDOOR W/ TRANSOM As of 1977, the structure was utilized by Klinzing and Butz, Plumbing and Heating 2013 New Holstein Survey results: This Boomtown front building is comprised of no less than three different periods of construction. The original portion of the building is the front-gabled/Boomtown front portion that features a peaked cornice with carved wooden brackets. A central door is flanked by display windows and topped with a transom. Shed-roofed wings extend from the central block and are partially shielded by the false front that is covered with stamped metal (to look like brick). Board and batten siding covers the visible gabled end walls of the T-shaped block, while horizontal siding sheathes the rearmost wing. A historic photo of the building confirms that it had achieved its current appearance by no later than 1915. The original rectangular core of this structure was built as the meat market of Nicholas Vollstedt, who settled in New Holstein in 1861 (an additional source indicates he came in 1854). The original ca. 1880 shop was located on Plymouth Street, next door to the Vollstedt homestead. It is noted as having been moved to 2016 Wisconsin Avenue between 1890 and 1894. In 1899, Nicholas retired and operations were taken over by his son August. In 1911, the building was moved to the lot immediately to the east to make way for the new business block that was constructed and opened that same year (see discussion for 2014-16 Wisconsin Avenue). Immediately after its relocation, Michael Wirth moved his cigar factory from the “Mrs. Libke Building” into this structure; by this time, the one-story wing had been added to the rear of the building and it is likely that the front shed-roofed additions had already been added as well. Wirth had purchased the business from Ernest Meyer the year prior and, as of 1911, Wirth is identified as employing six men and two girls as “strippers.” By 1915, seven men were employed by Wirth. Among his popular brands were Father George and Santa Valla (ten cent cigars) and Little George and Billy Buckskin (five cents). Although Wirth operated his cigar factory until his death in 1939, he had moved operations out of the subject building by no later than 1929, at which time it was utilized as a feed warehouse. Two years later, however, it became the home of the New Holstein Public Library. Despite a 1948 fire and the destruction of a good portion of the library’s collection, the facility was re-established in the same building until their new library was completed in 1955 at 2205 Wisconsin Avenue. The subject structure currently stands vacant but largely unchanged (however, the windows have been recently boarded over, presumably for protection). |
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| Bibliographic References: | Historic image and brief business write-up in "New Holstein: Land of Peace and Plenty," (1915), page 29 A handwritten letter, signed by W.F. (Pete) Vollstedt, indicates that the original portion of the building is “the piece which today shows a square front,” Letter in the Hipke Collection, NHHS. Newsbrief (re: getting foundation ready for butcher shop move), Calumet County Reporter, 15 March 1911, 8/2; “Cigar Factory Starts Here,” Calumet County Reporter, 17 May 1911, 1/1; Newsbrief (re: employed at Wirth’s), Calumet County Reporter, 21 June 1911, 8/2; New Holstein: Land of Peace and Plenty, 29. Eugene Wullf’s chronological account of events indicates that the frame Vollstedt butcher shop was opened on Wisconsin Avenue ion 18 October 1890 and was moved in 1909; however, the newspaper states that it was moved in 1911, Wulff, The New Holstein Story, 27, 35; The obituary for Nicholas Vollstedt cites that he came to New Holstein at the age of twenty, “Nicholas W. F. Vollstedt,” New Holstein Reporter, 8 December 1922. Nicholas was born in 1941, so that would mean he came in 1861; a later source (circa 1939) cites his arrival as 1854, “August Vollstedt Leases Meat Market to Chilton Butcher,” New Holstein Reporter, undated (circa 1939), In Hipke Collection, NHHS; H.D. Lauson and August Vollstedt, comp., “Map of New Holstein, Circa 1890,” An outline of the city of New Holstein in 1890, with map, prepared in 1948 by Alice Cooley (Vollstedt’s daughter) keyed to who resided there as of that date (East portion of map missing), In possession of the City of New Holstein, Clerk’s Office. It is on this material that indicates the meat market was moved in 1894. See entries for “Cigar Making Industry” and “Public Library” in New Holstein Centennial Souvenir Booklet, n.p.; Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of New Holstein, Wis., 1929, 1929 (updated to 1943); “History of the New Holstein Public Library,” written by Janet Mieli is available online at http://newholsteinlibrary.org/directors-page/library-history. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |