Property Record
590 W MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | JAMES E. FAWCETT HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | ZETA BETA CHI SORORITY |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 46392 |
| Location (Address): | 590 W MAIN ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Platteville |
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| Year Built: | 1906 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2005 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | West Main Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 7/19/2007 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 4/27/2007 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | THIS FRAME QUEEN ANNE STYLE TWO-STORY HOUSE FEATURES A HIP ROOF INTERSECTED BY GABLED FORMS ON ALL FOUR ENDS OF THE HOUSE, AND A SMALL GABLED ROOF DORMER IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOF. DECORATIVE SHINGLES, PALLADIAN STYLED WINDOWS AND CORNICE RETURNS IN THE GABLE ENDS DECORATE THE HOUSE. ALSO PRESENT IN THE DESIGN OF THE RESIDENCE IS A ROUNDED BAY WINDOW IN THE FRONT, CRESTING AND FINIALS ALONG THE RIDGES OF THE ROOFS, CORBELED BRICK WORK ON THE CHIMNEY, CHAMFERED BAY CORNERS TRIMMED WITH BRACKETS AND A TWO-SIDED PORCH WITH A PEDIMENTED ENTRANCE SUPPORTED BY SLENDER DOUBLE TUSCAN COLUMNS ON MASONRY BASES. THIS DWELLING WAS BUILT IN 1906 FOR JAMES E. FAWCETT. (SEE BIB. REF. C). ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: THIS QUEEN ANNE HOUSE IN WOOD IS ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AS THE SECOND BEST REMAINING EXAMPLE OF THE CLASSICAL INFLUENCE THAT OCCURRED IN THE QUEEN ANNE STYLE AFTER THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AND THE BEST INTERPRETATION IN WOOD. IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE ARCHITECTURAL VARIETY OF THE PROPOSED WEST MAIN STREET HISTORIC DISTIRCT AS A FINE WOODEN INTERPRETATION OF THE QUEEN ANNE STYLE THAT HAS RETAINED ITS CHARACTERISTICS. THIS HOUSE IS ONE OF FOUR PLATTEVILLE HOUSES WITH ORIGINAL METAL CRESTING ON THE ROOF (ALSO GT 25-26, GT 24-14). HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: THIS HOUSE WAS THE RESIDENCE OF JAMES FAWCETT, WHO OWNED THE LAND AND THE EARLIER HOUSE ON THIS LOT AS EARLY AS 1895. HE OWNED THIS HOUSE FROM 1906 TO 1935. FAWCETT OWNED A HARDWARE STORE ON MAIN STEET FOR MANY YEARS. HE LOST HIS STORE AND HOME DURING THE DEPRESSION. (1935) OTHER PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THIS DWELLING AND THE DATES THEY POSSESSED IT ARE AS FOLLOWS: ABLEITER, FROM 1935 TO 1950; SCHULTZ, FROM 1950 TO AN UNKNOWN DATE; AND ALICE BRAME, AT AN UNKNOWN DATE. (SEE BIB. REF. A, C, D, E). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. RICHARD BARDEN, INTERVIEW, 5/3/83. B. SANBORN PERRIS MAP, CITY OF PLATTEVILLE, 1908. C. CITY OF PLATTEVILLE TAX ROLLS. C. RICHARD GOODELL, INTERVIEW, 5/10/83. D. RUTH KEIZER, INTERVIEW, 5/13/83. E. WILGUS INDEX. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |