Property Record
101 E MAIN
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | F.P. Brooks Building |
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| Other Name: | Maloney's; River Park Properties |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 7176 |
| Location (Address): | 101 E MAIN |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1873 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Main Street Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 6/2/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | This building was the long-time post office before the construction of a separate and new building in 1912. Also located here were the offices of city hall, before the new city hall building was built in 1885. During the nineteenth century, post offices were located where the postmaster lived or did business. This meant a change of location numerous times until in the late nineteenth century, when this building was, for at least 20 years, the post office location. City Hall had offices originally in the Dennis Block at 106-110 w. Main St. They were then moved here and after city hall was built in 1885, some offices remained here for a time. Also located in this building was the Wisconsin Telephone Company (c. 1907 - c. 1924) and the Charles Gamm Drug Store (c. 1907 - c. 1921). This building is significant for local history under National register criterion A, because it was the long-time location of the post office, city hall and the Wisconsin Telephone Company. Because the old city hall no longer exists, the locations of city government prior to city hall are significant. The Dennis Block was the first known formal location of city government, and this building was the second. Also, it is the only long-term historic location of the post office because the 1912 building was eventually demolished. These government offices were significant to the lives of almost every citizen, and their location is significant. Also significant is the long-time location of the phone company. When phone service came to Watertown it signaled a new era for citizens. After telphone service was fully established, it was operated out of this building until a new structure was built on S. Fourth St. The building also has significance for the development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District, because of the long-term drug store and other businesses also held in this building. A long, narrow building displaying a three-bay facade and a fourteen-bay west elevation, this two-story vernacular cream brick building was constructed for F.B. Brooks c. 1873 as a financial investment. The west elevation is divided vertically by a series of arches accented by articulated keystones resting on two-story capped brick pilasters, forming an arcade across the long expanse of the west side elevation. Rectangular windows now altered by the addition of metal windows sashes placed below the tympanum are situated in each of the arched bays of the facade and west elevation. The initials "F.P.B." are inscribed on th ekeystone so fthe three windows on the upper facade, A paneled, corbelled and cut-brick cornice decorates the top of the facade and of the west elevation. A storefrton located at the south end of the west elevation features a plain projecting cornice over a frosted glass transom window that extends across the top of the storefront, a paneled window apron and a separate entrance door with a transom window. Showing muchless historic character, the projecting Main Street storefrtno has been completely remodeled in a contemporary manner. The F.P. Brooks building is significant under criterion C as an example fo commercial vernacular architecture influenced for the most part by classical design influences. Characterized by an entablture and segmental arches visually supported by two-story applied pilasters inherent in the brick work of the facade and west elevation, this building is one of the most elaborate examples of a vernacular commercial building in the proposed Main Street Historic District. The other good building is the Schroeder building at 401 E. Main St. (65-8). Built for Frank P. Brooks around 1873 as a financial investment, this building featuring a ninteenth century storefront at the rear of the west facade has been altered by the addition of a contemporary storefront on the facade. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) C. Hugo Jacobi, "Reminiscences of Early Days in Watertown," Watertown Daily Times, Feb. 20, 1924. (C) Building inscription. (D) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |