Property Record
N SIDE, E OF HILL AND MAIN ST INTERSECTION
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | WATSON'S STORE |
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| Other Name: | NEW DIGGINGS STORE |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 65146 |
| Location (Address): | N SIDE, E OF HILL AND MAIN ST INTERSECTION |
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| County: | Lafayette |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | New Diggings |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 1 |
| Range: | 1 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 26 |
| Quarter Section: | NE |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: | NW |
| Year Built: | 1843 |
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| Additions: | 1890 |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Side Gabled |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 1989 |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| 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. DESTROYED BY FIRE 2/3/89. A FRAME, SLOPING ROOFED COMMERCIAL AND REIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FACING THE STREET. THE IRREGULARITY OF THE STRUCTURE IS THE RESULT OF AT LEAST 5 ADDITIONS. THE EAST END WAS ADDED SHORTLY AFTER THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS BUILT, WHILE THE PRESENT LIVING ROOM WAS ADDED IN 1890. THE PRESENT KITCHEN AND ADJOINING BEDROOM WAS ADDED TO THE NORTH END IN 1890. THE NORTHWEST EXTENSION INCORPORATED A CENTRAL OPEN PORCH INTO A STORAGE AREA AT THE REAR OF THE STORE. THE STORE FRONT WINDOW WAS REMODELED IN 1914. AN OUTSIDE 2ND LEVEL DOOR ON THE WEST END OF THE STORE SUGGEST THAT AN EXTERIOR STAIRWAY EXISTED AT ONE TIME. THE WATSON STORE IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DIGGING'S COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. THIS BUILDING WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST STORE IN NEW DIGGINGS UNINCORPORATED VILLAGE. THE NEW DIGGINGS LEAD REGION WAS BEING DEVELOPED EXTENSIVELY IN THE 1840'S. AS MORE PEOPLE WERE ATTRACTED TO THE REGION, SERVICES AND PROVISIONS WERE IN GREAT DEMAND. TO MEET THIS DEMAND HENRY POTWIN OPENED THE FIRST GENERAL STORE ABOUT 1845. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING IS THE LEFT FRONT CORNER SECTION. THE SEVERAL ADDITIONS, AT LEAST 5, SUGGEST THE BUSINESS AND FAMILIES LIVING THERE EXPANDED THROUGH THE YEARS. SEVERAL OWNERS OPERATED THE STORE BEFORE GEORGE WATSON BOUGHT IT IN 1868. WATSON DIED IN 1893, BUT THE BUSINESS REMAINED IN THE FAMILY FOR OVER 100 YEARS. THE PRESENT OWNER BOUGHT THE STORE FROM FLORENCE WATSON IN 1980. THIS IS THE OLDEST OPERATING COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE IN THE VILLAGE. IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A 19TH CENTURY COMMERCIAL BUILDING WITH AN ATTACHED RESIDENCE. THE PRESENT OWNER ALSO LIVES IN THE REAR RESIDENCE PORTION OF THE BUILDING. THIS STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT TO THE VILLAGE OF NEW DIGGINGS AS THE SINGLE REMAINING COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE STILL FUNCTIONING IN THE VILLAGE. IT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION IN WISCONSIN, AND THE OLDEST FUNCTIONING STRUCTURE IN THE VILLAGE OF NEW DIGGINGS. IT IS A TYPICAL COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX FOUND IN THE RURAL 19TH CENTURY. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. ABSTRUACT OF DEED. B. BRADLEY LE ROSE, NEW DIGGINGS, WISCONSIN. C. BUTTERFIELD, "HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY," P. 567. Joanne (Curwen) Bennett, "Aetna, Former Boom Town, Now Extinct" Badger History, pub. by the State Historical Society. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |