Property Record
531 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Ralph P. Perry House |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 61157 |
| Location (Address): | 531 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Sauk |
| City: | Reedsburg |
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| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1908 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1977 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival |
| Structural System: | Balloon Frame |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Perry, Ralph P., House |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 3/29/2022 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 3/29/2022 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | Multiple Resources of Reedsburg |
| Additional Information: | The Ralph P. Perry house is a large two story frame residence, sided with clapboards and dominated by a two story portico with paired fluted columns and crocketed capitals. The portico is centrally located on the symetrically designed facade. A pedimented gable with modillions, green wood shingles, a lunette window and a molded cornice form the roof of the portico. Four multi-pane hip roof dormers are on the south side of the second story porch. Decorative wooden railings enclose this porch as well as the top of the one story addition of the east and porte corchere on the west. Six windows, three on each side, flank the central doorway. Each of the two outer windows are twelve-over-one and have cornice heads and molded frames with corner blocks. The windows closest to the door are nine-over-one with undecorated wood frames. The building, which is in excellent condition, features a rectangular shaped plan configuration (with an addition), a brick foundation, a clapboard exterior, a wood trim and a wood shingled gable roof. One story round columns with plain capitals support the full front porch. Two pilasters are on the house itself. The single door entry has sidelights flanked on each side by two pilasters with a diamond pattern wood panel above the lights. Window placement is the same as on the second story. The outer windows are twelve-over-one with undecorated wood frames and the windows flanking the door have nine panes. The gable roof has modillions under the eaves and small dentils along the cornice. The eave faces the front and the gable has returns. An exterior red brick fireplace is on the west side of the house. The same red brick covers the raised basement foundation area. The cap of the fireplace is trimmed with stone, as are the caps of two interior fireplaces. A twelve-over-one window with a cornice head and molded frames is on the second story on each side of the fireplace. A narrow one story projection on each side of the fireplace has a twelve-over-one window. It gives the appearance of a box bay window bisected by the fireplace. The porte cochere is attached at the northwest corner of the house. The east side of the house has a one story square enclosed extension with many windows. South of the extension on the east side is a three part multi-pane window on the first story. Two small two-over-two windows are in the gable and three multi-pane windows are on the second story. The northern most second story window is part of a two story extension on the northeast of the house beneath a gable roof (the gable faces north) with modillions and returns. Wood shingles and a circular window dilineate the gable. The north or rear of the house has enclosed porches on both stories on the west half. Ths section is flat roofed (the east half of the rear is the two story extension). At least four more hip roof and multi-pane dormers are on the north side of the roof. A garage is on the northeast part of the lot. The house is situated on a corner lot facing Main Street, surrounded by neatly trimmed shrubbery and trees. It has maintained a high degree of integrity. Architectural/Engineering Significance: The Ralph P. Perry house is a locally significant example of Colonial Revival domestic architecture, distinguished by a two story portico reminiscent of classical styles which adds an elegant and stately appearance to this well proportioned and neatly delineated house. The house, visually prominent because of its Main Street location, is one of three fine Colonial Revival residences in the city (the other two are in the Park Street Historic District), but this house is the most classically designed of the three. It is a significant asset to the architectural resources of Reedsburg. Historical Background: Ralph P. Perry was born in Reedsburg in 1860. He began working in James Lusk's law office in c. 1879. Lusk was an officer in the Reedsburg Bank and in the offices above the bank (233 Main Street). In 1885, Perry was the District Attorney. He became a major stockholder of the Reedsburg Bank in 1887 and from 1896 to 1927 and from 1930 to 1935, Perry was the bank President. He was chairman of the board from c. 1927 to 1930. He helped in the woolen mill reorganization in 1886 (see Bib. Ref. C) and 1892. In 1892 he was treasurer of the mills. (See Bib. Ref. B, D). Before moving to the Main Street house, Perry lived at 440 South Park Street. Perry was associated with the residence located at 531 East Main Street from c. 1908 or 1910 to 1952. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. Mrs. Otto Pawlisch, current owner. B. "Reedsburg Times Press," April 10, 1952. C. "Reedsburg Free Press," August 12, 1886. D. "Reedsburg Free Press," May 19, 1892. E. WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL 2/4/1996. F. "Reedsburg Times Press," 7/9/1997. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |