Property Record
532 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | C.M.St. P. & P Railroad Depot |
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| Other Name: | Stoughton Chamber of Commerce |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 5900 |
| Location (Address): | 532 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Dane |
| City: | Stoughton |
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| Year Built: | 1913 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 197920132019 |
| Historic Use: | depot |
| Architectural Style: | Craftsman |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stucco |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Depot Hill Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 11/22/2021 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 11/22/2021 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| 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, State Historic Preservation Office. Locally designated landmark. Architectural Description: Protected from Main Street by a wide port-corchere, this craftsman influenced railroad depot nearly abuts the railroad tracks. One bay wide, it is five bays deep. Large windows allow light into an otherwise dark interior. Overall, the building is simply decorated, gaining visual interest from two contrasting belt courses, brick quoining in the port-corchere posts, and extended rafters. A dormer distinguishes the roof. The engineer's bay projects from the east elevation allowing the engineer to see arriving trains. Other construction elements of this depot include a rectangular shaped plan configuration, a stucco exterior, a brick trim and an asphalt shingled gable roof. The building is in good condition. Architectural Significance: The property is representative of the Later Railraod lines under the Transportation Theme for Stoughton. Historical Background: Built in 1913, (B) this depot first appears on the 1926 Sanborn Perris Insurance Map. The depot across Main Street became the freight depot, while this newer depot handled passenger traffic. (A). As the third depot historically in Stoughton, and making a total of two at the time of construction, this building reflects the importance of the railroad to the viability of the community. Unlike neighboring villages where the railroad did not stop, Stoughton had a healthy, growing economy from the 1880s to the 1920s. The railroad's presence made Stoughton a center for agriculture since products and people could be transported easily to and from the city. The depot is presently used as an office and exibit space for the Downtown Revitalization Office. Historical Significance: The surrounding concentration of transportation/agri-industrial - related buildings depended on the railroad for commercial support in customers and freight opportunities. The property is representative of later Rail Lines under the Transportation Theme for Stoughton. August 2013: No visible changes. August 2019: Appearance unchanged. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. Sanborn-Perris Insurance Maps: 1884, 1887, 1889, 1892, 1904, 1912, 1926, 1926-43. B. Survey Card, Wisconsin Inventory of Historic Places, DA 41/36, 11/27/1979. C. Vogel, The Railroad Depot in SE Wisconsin. D. Stoughton Weekly Courier Hub 12/13/1912. E. Rebecca Sample Bernstein for the City of Stoughton Landmarks Commission and Downtown Revitalization Association, Historic Main Street: An Architectural & Historical Guide to Downtown Stoughton, 1991. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |