Property Record
840 W MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Verran, Richard and Louisa, House |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 46401 |
| Location (Address): | 840 W MAIN ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Platteville |
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| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1860 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2005 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Side Gabled |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. THIS HOUSE FEATURES A STONE FOUNDATION, A SIDE GABLED FORM, AND A BRICK EXTERIOR. THE SLOPING MAIN ROOF AND GABLE ROOF DORMERS ARE DECORATED WITH BY CUT-OUT BARGE BOARDS. FLAT WINDOW LINTLES, FRIEZE BOARDS AND A PEDIMENTED DOOR HOOD ACCENT THE STRUCTURE. A FRAME EXTENSION WITH ROOF DORMERS IS AT THE REAR, AND A ONE STORY FRAME ADDITION EXTENDS TO THE EAST. Additional Comments, 3-2024 Architecture: The Verran House is a one and one-half story Greek Revival style house constructed of red brick. It has a side gable main block with a one and one-half story gable roofed ell decorated with curved bargeboard. Two dormers project from the main elevation. On the first story of the main elevation, there is a simple central entrance flanked by two window openings. The central entrance has a modern wood and glass door and vinyl screen door. A simple pedimented entablature tops the entrance. The window openings are filled with modern sashes with a six-over-six light appearance that may be faux. The windows are topped with simple stone lintels. Windows in the dormers are also six-over-six-light sashes and the dormers are decorated with curved bargeboards. Note: A photograph from the mid-1980s show the windows in this building as single-light, double-hung sashes, so the current windows are replacements for those that may have been replacement for historic sashes. The openings on the side elevations of the main block are filled with similar windows and decorated with stone lintels on the first story. The rear elevation of the rear ell also features similar openings on the first story. A double sash window sits in the upper story gable peak. Flanking both sides of the rear ell are additions. On one end is a one-car garage addition with a shed roof and a newer shed-roofed dormer that projects from the roof of the rear ell. On the other side of the rear ell is a one-story sun porch type addition with a large deck and plain balustrade. The interior of the house has plaster and lath walls and what is described as “vintage” narrow board oak flooring. Plain wood trim sits around doors, windows, and makes up baseboards. A fireplace with a plain wood mantel sits in one wall of the living room. The kitchen has modern cabinets, fixtures, and appliances and a ceramic tile floor. History: Because many documents are not available for Platteville’s historic period, the early history of the house is based on a Grant County deed dated 1856, when Richard Verran acquired this lot. It is unclear whether Verran built the house before or after the Civil War, but it could date as early as c.1860. A series of owners through the nineteenth and early twentieth century retained the house primarily in its original form. Then in 1940, some renovation took place. A small front porch was removed and the garage addition and a porch were added to the sides of the rear ell. The porch was recently enclosed to create a sun room and bathroom, along with a deck. (Cartwright, 3-2024) |
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| Bibliographic References: | SANBORN-PERRIS MAPS OF PLATTEVILLE, 1884, 1892, 1900, 1908, 1915, 1929, 1929(1938), 1929 (1947). ATLAS OF GRANT COUNTY, WI. MINNEAPOLIS: FOOTE & HENION, 1895. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF PLATTEVILLE. MILWAUKEE: C. J. PAULI, PUBLISHER, 1896. BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF PLATTEVILLE. H. BROSIUS, 1875. NEW MAP OF GRANT COUNTY. WARREN GRAY: NEW YORK, 1868 (PLATTEVILLE INSET). |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |