Property Record
385 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Rock School |
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| Other Name: | Mining Museum |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 46277 |
| Location (Address): | 385 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Platteville |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
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| Year Built: | 1858 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20052019 |
| Historic Use: | elementary, middle, jr.high, or high |
| Architectural Style: | Greek Revival |
| Structural System: | Stone |
| Wall Material: | Limestone |
| Architect: | |
| 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 SCHOOL STRUCTURE FEATURES A COURSED STONE EXTERIOR AND A SLOPING ROOF. WOODEN BRACKETS UNDER THE EAVES ALSO SERVE TO DEFINE EACH SECOND STORY WINDOW OPENING. THE WOODEN CORNICE DESIGNED TO SUGGEST A PEDIMENT IN THE OPEN GABLE END, STONE LINTELS AND SILLS, SIX OVER SIX WINDOWS, A SIDE LIGHTED ROUND ARCHED DOOR AND A GABLED DOOR HOOD OVER THE ENTRANCE DOOR ACCENT THIS SIMPLE MID-19TH CENTURY STRUCTURE. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: THIS STRUCTURE IS ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AS ONE OF THE FEW MID-19TH CENTURY STRUCTURES IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE REMAINING IN THE CITY. IT IS A VERY SUBSTANIAL EXAMPLE OF ARCHITECTURE FROM THIS PERIOD AND HAS BEEN A VISUAL LANDMARK FOR THE COMMUNITY OF PLATTEVILLE SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF ITS HISTORY. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: THIS BUILDING, NOW CALLED THE MINING MUSEUM, WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED THE "ROCK" OR "STONE" SCHOOL WHEN IT WAS BUILT BETWEEN THE YEARS 1858 AND 1863. THE SCHOOL WAS LOCATED ON ROUNTREE'S LAND NEAR THE BEVANS MINE. THE SHAFTS WERE FILLED WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS COMPLETED. AT FIRST THE LOWER GRADES WERE TAUGHT IN THE ROCK SCHOOL, THEN WHEN A HIGH SCHOOL CLASS WAS ORGANIZED, IT WAS USED IN SECOND FLOOR. THE HIGH SCHOOL MOVED TO ITS OWN BUILDING IN 1905 (SEE AHI #46265) AND THE ROCK SCHOOL BECAME AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. BETWEEN 1928 AND 1963 THE AMERICAN LEGION LEASED THE BUILDING AS A HALL. THE MINING MUSEUM OPENED IN THE ROCK SCHOOL BUILDING IN 1966. IN 1976, A PORTION OF THE BEVANS MINE WAS REOPENED AS PART OF THE MUSEUM. 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. HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY, 1881, P. 700. PLATTEVILLE JOURNAL 5/30/1996. HIBBARD, JAMES B. IMAGES OF AMERICA: PLATTEVILLE. CHICAGO: ARCADIA PUBL. CO., 2004, P. 75 (ILLUSTRATED). |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |