Property Record
136 W COOK ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Bard & Michel Jewelry; Michel Building; Schuman Block |
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| Other Name: | We're Different |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 56886 |
| Location (Address): | 136 W COOK ST |
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| County: | Columbia |
| City: | Portage |
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| Year Built: | 1869 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1992 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | Brick |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Portage Retail Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 4/27/1995 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 10/24/1994 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | Parapet with brick panels; canted wall; cast iron window hoods along second floor; continuous sill; carrara glass store front added to first floor; rear elevation along DeWitt. In the 1940s and 1950s, the store was occupied by Quinn's Jewelry (Eulberg 1993). The Michel Building. Sanborn-Perris Map Co. 1929: store 1918: jewelry 1910: jewelry, saloon in basement 1901: jewelry, saloon in basement, office second. 1894, 1889: jewelry, saloon in basement, office 1885: jewelry, saloon in basement, office second. 1868: building not there (Rugen). Columbia Co. Treasurer 1863: 1925-30: G.C. Michel 1920: Paul Schuman Est. to G.C. Michel 1915: Paul Schuman Est. 1910: Paul Schuman Est. 1905: Paul Schuman Est. 1885-1900: Paul Schuman 1880: Paul Schuman 1870-76: Paul Schuman 1868: N.H. Wood 1867: D.A. Goodyear A rise in the valuation of the property indicates new construction replacing a former building in 1869 or 1870. Directories (134-136) 1955: (136) Quinn's Jewelry Store and Ross Bennett, attorney (Johnson Printing Co.) 1948: (136) Quinn's Jewelry (Commonwealth Telephone Co.) 1937:? 1929: (136) Michel Building: Michel Jewelry (Smith-Baumann). 1927-28: Michel, George C., jeweler (R.L. Polk & Co.) 1917: (136) Michel's Jewelry Chop (Farrell). 1915-16: Michel, Carl R., jeweler (R.L. Polk & Co.) 1910: Michel, Carl R., Schuman Block (Voshardt). 1908-09: (136) Michel, Carl R., jeweler (S.H. Moore) 1905-06: Michel not listed as jeweler Paul Schuman ran a dry goods store on the north side of Cook. William Bard & Co., manufacturer of jewelry and watches was established in Portgage in 1869. By 1889, Chester M. and William Bard ran the firm which then carried both jewelry and musical instruments. The business remained under the ownership of William Bard until 1901-02. This business probably occupied 136 W. Cook from its construction in 1869 or 1870. Carl R. Michel located his jewelry business in this building by 1908. Under the operation of George C. Michel by 1927, the business occupied the same building through 1929. Between 1948 and 1955, Quinn's Jewelry also located at 136 W. Cook (Portgage Daily Register 12/23/1889). Leaving a valuable historical record of Portgage, Ira A. Ridgeway, photographer, arrived in Portgage shortly after 1870. He then associated with Frank Treadway at the Jolly Gallery. He sold his photography to Plumb and Loomis by 1873 but remained associated with the business until about 1875. Ridgeway then purchased hi sown gallery and remained in business until 1898. In that year, he was followed by Edward L. Memhard who maintained his studio on the second floor of 132 W. Cook (57/13) in 1908-09. By 1910, he moved to 136 W. Cook. A. photographer's studio, perhaps the one of Ira Ridgeway, existed on the second flooor of 132 W. Cook between 1885 and 1910 (Democrat 7/30/1897; Portgage Daily Register 4/22/1972). An unidentfied saloon was also located in the basement of 136 W. Cook between at least 1885 and 1910. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Sanborn-Perris Map Co. (B) Columbia Co. Treasurer 1863- (C) Directories. (D) Dave Eulberg 1993. (E) Portgage Daily Register 12/23/1889, 4/22/1972. (F) Democrat 7/30/1897. Historic Portage, WI: Downtown & Waterfront Walking Tour, 1995. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |