Property Record
108 S MADISON ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | STATE BANK OF GRANT COUNTY |
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| Other Name: | HALFERTY LAW OFFICES |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 44911 |
| Location (Address): | 108 S MADISON ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Lancaster |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1888 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2005 |
| Historic Use: | bank/financial institution |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| 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: | A VERY ELABORATE METAL CORNICE AND METAL WINDOW HOODS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE PATTERNED WITH LEAVES, DISTNGUISH THIS COMMERCIAL BLOCK. RISING TWO STORIES HIGH, THE BUILDING HAS A RECTANGULAR SHAPE AND A FLAT ROOF. SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE STOREFRONT. THIS STRUCTURE WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1888 BY HENRY MUESSE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. (A,C) THE HISTORIC TENNANT OF THIS BUIDING WAS THE BANK OF GRANT COUNTY, WHICH CONDUCTED BUSINESS THERE FROM 1888 TO C. 1927. (A,E) TODAY, HALFERTY LAW OFFICES, A COMMERCIAL ENTITY, OCCUPIES THE BUILDING. HISTORIC BACKGROUND: THE STATE BANK OF GRANT COUNTY OPENED IN OCTOBER 1888, WITH THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS: JOHN SCHREINER, PRESIDENT; GEORGE W. RYLAND, VICE PRESIDENT; AND JOSEPH BOCK, CASHIER. GEORGE RYLAND, A PROMINENT CITIZEN AND STATE OFFICIAL (HE SERVED TWO TERMS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR), HAD STARTED LANCASTER'S FIRST FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN 1861 WHEN HE AND J. C. HOLLOWAY OPENED A PRIVATE BANKING BUSINESS. THIS ENTERPRISE EVENTUALLY BECAME GEORGE W. RYLAND & CO., INCORPORATED WITH A CAPITAL OF $20,000. RYLAND WITHDREW FROM THE COMPANY IN 1887 AND SUBSEQUENTLY ASSISTED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE BANK, WHERE HE REMAINED UNTIL APRIL 1899. (B,C). (NOTE: AFTER RYLAND'S DEPARURE IN 1887, THE GEORGE W. RYLAND & CO. BANK WAS REORGANIZED AS THE MEYER-SHOWALTER BANK, NOW THE UNION BANK & TRUST, 105 W. MAPLE STREET, 47/33). THE STATE BANK, RENAMED THE PEOPLES STATE BANK IN 1911, WAS LIQUIDATED IN 1924. (E,F) WATTON'S LANCASTER SOUVENIR INCLUDES A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BANK BUILDING. (D). ORIGINALLY, THE ENTRANCE WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY ELABORATE PRESSED METAL COLUMNS AND A PEDIMENT. AT THE TIME OF THE SOUVENIR'S PUBLICATION, LAWYERS BUSHNELL, WATKINS, AND MOSES HAD THEIR OFFICES ON THE SECOND FLOOR. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. THE TELLER, 11 OCTOBER 1888, P. 1. B. CASTELLO HOLFORD, HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY, WISCONSIN, (LANCASTER: THE TELLER PRINT, 1900), PP. 426-27. C. COMMEMORATIVE BIORAPHICAL REOCRD OF THE COUNTIES OF ROCK, GREEN, GRANT, IOWA, AND LAFAYETTE, WISCONSIN (CHICAGO: J. H. BEERS & CO., 1901), PP. 629-630, 660. D. WATTON'S SOUVENIR OF LANCASTER, 1900, P. 11. E. 1912, 1927 SANBORN PERRIS MAPS. F. PAUL J. HOFFMAN, "HISTORY OF BANKS IN LANCASTER," N.D. LANCASTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY. G. 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 |