Property Record
125-129 N MADISON ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | WRIGHT HOUSE HOTEL ANNEX |
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| Other Name: | H & R BLOCK, AMERICAN FOOTBALL CO., |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 44843 |
| Location (Address): | 125-129 N MADISON ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Lancaster |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
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| Year Built: | 1896 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2005 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Courthouse Square Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 4/7/2006 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/20/2006 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | ACCORDING TO A 1899 SANBORN-PERRIS MAP, THIS BUILDING WAS PART OF THE NEIGHBORING WRIGHT BLOCK. A BRACKETED METAL CORNICE AND ORNATE METAL WINDOW HOODS CHARACTERIZE THIS COMMERCIAL BLOCK. AT THE STOREFRONT LEVEL CAST IRON COLUMNS ARE VISIBLE. THIS TWO STORY BUILDING HAS A RECTANGULAR PLAN, A FLAT ROOF, AND STONE SILLS. THE STRUCTURE WAS BUILT BETWEEN 1896 AND 1897. (E). THE BUILDING WAS CONSIDERED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE HISTORIC USES OF THIS BUILDING INCLUDE A HOTEL, A BOOK STORE, A RESTAURANT, A BARBER SHOP, A MILLINERY SHOP, AND A HOSPITAL. (A,C). PRESENT DAY TENNANTS INCLUDE CRATIVE FASHIONS, WALT AND ALETNA'S BAR, AND THE NEW GALAXY. UNDER SURVEY EVALUATION CRITERIA (243), ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING IS INDICATED. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE SEGMENTAL ARCH OPENINGS ACCENTED BY ORNATE WINDOW HOODS AND ROUGH CUT STONE SILLS DOMINATE THE DESIGN OF THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHITECTURALLY SIGIFICANT WRIGHT HOUSE. (SEE REMAINING SECTIONS OF BUILDING: 100 NORTH MADISON STREET, 8/2, AND 113 NORTH MADISON STREET, 42/14). A BRACKETED METAL CORNICE AND REMNANTS OF THE ORIGINAL STROEFRONTS (CAST IRON SUPPORT COLUMNS, RECESSED ENTRANCES) ARE ALSO FEATURED. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: JUST BEFORE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, THE WRIGHT HOUSE WAS EXTENDED TO THE NORTH THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS COMMERCIAL BLOCK. IN 1899, THE SANBORN MAP SHOWS A BOOKSTORE AND RESTAURANT ON THE BUILDING'S GROUND FLOOR AND HOTEL RESTAURANT WAS REPLACED BY A BARBER SHOP AND A MILLINERY SHOP. BY 1927, THE SECOND FLOOR ROOMS WERE USED BY THE DOOLITTLE HOSPITAL FACILITY. (B,C) A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WRIGHT HOUSE IS INCLUDED IN THE SOUVENIR OF LANCASTER. (D) |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. 1894, 1899 SANBORN PERRIS MAPS. B. 1899 SANBORN PERRIS MAP. C. 1905, 1912, 1927 SANBORN PERRIS MAPS. D. WATTON'S SOUVENIR OF LANCASTER, 1900, P. 9. E. CITY OF LANCASTER TAX ROLLS. 2005, Timothy F. Heggland. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Courthouse Square Historic District, Lancaster, WI. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |