Property Record
405 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Platteville High School |
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| Other Name: | Hanmer Robbins School; Rollo Jamison Museum |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 46265 |
| Location (Address): | 405 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Platteville |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1905 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20052019 |
| Historic Use: | elementary, middle, jr.high, or high |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | Masonry |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | HENRY KLEINHAMMER |
| Other Buildings On Site: | Y |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Rock School and Hanmer Robbins School Complex |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 6/28/2023 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 4/8/2021 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | THIS BRICK, TWO-STORY SCHOOL STRUCTRE FEATURES A RUSTICATED STONE (ASHLAR) ELEVATED BASEMENT AND A LOW TRUNCATED HIP ROOF WITH CREATING, A BELFRY (CUPOLA), AND A LARGE CHIMNEY LOCATED IN THE TRUNCATED AREA. THE ROOF IS PENETRATED BY A ROOF DORMER TO THE EAST AND A GABLED RECTANGULAR ENTRANCE BAY, WHICH PROJECTS FROM THE FRONT FACADE. BRACKETS AND DENTIL TRIM ADD DESIGN UNDER THE EAVES. WINDOWS ARE GROUPED UNDER A COMMON STONE LINTEL. A BELT COURSE OF STONE AT THE LEVEL OF THE SECOND FLOOR AND A ROUND ARCHED PORTAL CONTAINING A DOUBLE ENTRANCE DOOR AND TRANSOM WINDOW CHARACTERIZE THE TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY SCHOOL STRUCTURE. A PEDIMENT WINDOW APPEARS IN THE OPEN GALBE END AND MIMICS THE FRONT ENTRANCE ARCH. JIM ROSE WAS THE BUILDER AND HENRY KLEINHAMMER WAS THE ARCHITECT. (SEE BIB. REF. B, C). A CONTEMPORARY ADDITION HAS BEEN BUILT ONTO THE ORIGINAL BUILDING'S SIDE. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: THIS BUILDING IS ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF EARLY SCHOOL ARCHITECUTRE IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS SCHOOL AND THE ADJACENT STRUCTURE, ALSO A FORMER SCHOOL, FORMS AN ARCHITECTURAL COMPLEX FRON 19TH CENTURY AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY PLATTEVILLE. IN ADDITION, IT IS A VISUAL LANDMARK OCCUPYING A PROMINENT SITE ON EAST MAIN STREET. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: THIS BUILDING, NOW THE ROLLO JAMISON MUSEUM, WAS BUILT IN 1905 AS A HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS RENAMED AFTER HANMER ROBBINS AS A MIDDLLE SCHOOL IN 1919, WHEN A NEW HIGH SCHOOL WAS BUILT. IT BECAME THE ROLLO JAMISON MUSEUM IN 1981 FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION OF THE JAMISON COLLECTION TO THE CITY IN 1980. (SEE BIB. REF. D). "Designed by Henry Kleinhammer in a Richardsonian Romanesque style, Platteville's first High School was built in 1905 and the first classes were held in 1906. Soon a larger high school was built so by 1919 it was the Hammer Robbins grade school. In 1980, the city of Platteville acquired the building and the Rollo Jamison collection and in 1981, the Rollo Jamison Museum opened to the public." -"Discover Platteville: A Walking Guide to the Historic Downtown", pamphlet by the Platteville Main Street Program (www.plattevillemainstreet.com). The museum complex contains the former Platteville High School, also known as Hanmer Robbins School (AHI #4626, completed in 1906); the Rock School (AHI #46277, built between 1858 and 1863); and a headframe structure (AHI #241656) and a depot building serving as the entrance to the former Bevans lead mine (AHI #241659), both constructed in 1976. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. BUILDING PLAQUE. B. RICHARD BARDEN, INTERVIEW, MAY 3, 1983. C. MISS KLEINHAMMER, INTERVIEW, MAY 26, 1983. D. STEPHEN KLEEFISCH, INTERVIEW, MAY 19, 1983. PLATTEVILLE JOURNAL 3/15/05, 3/7/07, 5/30/1996. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |