Property Record
203 HIGH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | FIRST NATIONAL BANK |
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| Other Name: | FARMERS SAVING BANK |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 59680 |
| Location (Address): | 203 HIGH ST |
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| County: | Iowa |
| City: | Mineral Point |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
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| Year Built: | 1906 |
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| Additions: | 1907 |
| Survey Date: | 19821993 |
| Historic Use: | bank/financial institution |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Sandstone |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Mineral Point Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 7/30/1971 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | DESIGNED IN THE RICHARDSONIAN ROMANESQUE STYLE, THIS TWO AND A HALF-STORY BANK BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED FROM 1906 TO 1907 BY THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OF MILWAUKEE. (SEE BIB. REF. A). THE STRUCTURE FEATURES A RECTANGULAR SHAPED PLAN CONFIGURATION, A STONE FOUNDATION, SANDSTONE EXTERIOR WALLS, LAKE SUPERIOR RED STONE TRIM, AND A TILE-LINED GABLE ROOF. INTERSECTING WITH THE MAIN ROOF ARE GABLED DORMERS. RECTANGULAR SHAPED WINDOWS WITH STRAIGHT LINTELS APPEAR IN THESE DORMERS AND IN THE ATTIC STORY OF THE OPEN GABLE ENDS. LARGE, ROUND ARCHED OPENINGS DISTINGUISH NOT ONLY THE WINDOWS ON THE FIRST AND SECOND STORY, BUT ALSO ON THE FRONT ENTRANCE. THE SECOND-STORY WINDOWS ON THE FRONT ELEVATION ARE ALIGNED TO FORM AN ARCADE, WHILE THOSE ON THE EAST ELEVATION ARE ALIGNED IN PAIRED GROUPINGS. A TRANSOM WINDOW AND SIDELIGHTS ARE CONTAINED WITHIN THE FEDERAL-STYLED DOORWAY. THE STRUCTURE IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS BUILDING WAS KNOWN HISTORICALLY AS THE FIRST National BANK (SEE BIB. REF. A), THE MINERAL POINT TELEPHONE COMPANY (FIRST FLOOR rear) (SEE BIB. REF. C), AND a MINING OFFICE on the second floor (SEE BIB. REF. C). BANKING VENTURES CONDUCTED BUSINESS AT THIS SITE FROM 1906 TO THE PRESENT DAY. 1917 TO 1924, THE IOWA COUNTY BANK OCCUPIED THIS SITE. THE STRUCTURE was CALLED THE FARMER'S SAVINGS BANK until 1992 when they moved to a new building. THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNATED LOCALLY, BECOMING PART OF THE MINERAL POINT LANDMARK DISTRICT IN 1972. From "A Field Guide to Mineral Point" by Nancy Pfotenhauer of the Mineral Point Historical Society, 1st Edition, 2012, Little Creek Press: "Built by the General Construction Company of Milwaukee for the First National Bank, with a stone foundation, sandstone exterior walls, Lake Superior red sandstone trim, and a tile covered gable roof, this stolid building was meant to reflect the solidity of the bank. Unfortunately, this illusion was shattered in 1909 with the discovery of long term embezzlement on the part of bank Vice President Philip Allen, Jr. Allen, recently referred to as "the Bernie Madoff of Mineral Point" was a pillar of the church, a Sunday school superintendent, sometimes occupied the pulpit, and was implicitly trusted. He was the administrator of many trusts and estates and widows and orphans were especially hard hit by his theft. Many in the community lost a great deal of money; contemporary accounts eventually settled on $700,000 as the amount embezzled, although they also give the impression that at some point, the officials stopped counting. This is the equivalent of more than $16 million in today's money. After the embezzlement fiasco, the building was taken over by the Iowa County Bank. They were succeeded by Farmers Savings Bank who occupied this space until 1992." Covenant/Easement: In Perpetuity. Effective 8-15-1995. A 'covenant file' exists for this property. It may contain additional information such as photos, drawings and correspondence. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. |
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| Bibliographic References: | “Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct USH 151: Dodgeville To Belmont.” WHS project number 92-0510IA/LT. October 1993. Prepared by Great Lakes Archaeological Research Center (GLARC). A. "IOWA COUNTY DEMOCRAT," 8 FEBRUARY 1906, 15 MARCH 1905, 9 AUGUST 1906, 18 OCTOBER 1906, 31 JANUARY 1907, 21 FEBRUARY 1907, 11 JULY 1907; MINERAL POINT TAX RECORDS, 1840-1900; SANBORN MAP, CITY OF MINERAL POINT, WI., (NEW YORK: SANBORN MAP CO., 1900-1929). B. "IOWA COUNTY DEMOCRAT," 9 AUGUST 1906. C. "IOWA COUNTY DEMOCRAT," 11 JULY 1907. "Would've...Could've...Should've...A Sesquicentennial Story About Mineral Point, Wisconsin" by George H. Bechtel, p. 59. D. Historic Mineral Point Architectural Walking Tour brochure, 2000. E. Mineral Point Chamber/Main Street & The Mineral Point Historical Society, Historic Mineral Point Architectural Walking Tours, not dated. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |