Property Record
1331 2ND ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Wm. Spraggon Bakery; Alois Firkus Building |
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| Other Name: | Buffy's Lampoon Tavern |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 72729 |
| Location (Address): | 1331 2ND ST |
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| County: | Portage |
| City: | Stevens Point |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1866 |
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| Additions: | 1918 |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Mathias Mitchell Public Square--Main Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 8/13/1986 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| 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. Buffy's Bar consists of three structure. The central building, the Firkus block, stands two stories in height and is veneered with red brick. The second story windows have been replaced with wood panels. Wood also covers the storefront which continues across the building to the south. This smaller building, one story tall, is almost completely cnocealed by the frame siding. The only indication of the original design is a corbelled brick arcature at the cornice. To the north of the Firkus building is a two story structure, the Spraggon bakery, constructed in 1866. The Spraggon building consists of a two story stone section with a one story wing projecting to the rear. Rectangular windows are capped by plain lintels. The building was constructed during a period of interest in improving the city by constructing substantial, durable structures and was praised in the newspapers as a "credit to the city." The building has since suffered a loss of integrity with the boarding up of storefront, closing off of windows and painting of the exterior. W.W. Spraggon, building of the original portion of Buffy's Bar was one of the early political leaders in the community. In addition to operating his bakery, he had numerous other business activities. At the time of his death in 1901, he was president of the Citizens National Bank and the Coye Furniture Co. He also held several political posts starting with his election to Alderman in 1864. He was re-elected to that post several times and also served as Mayor for several one-year terms in 1866, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1886, 1887, 1890. This latter equals the record of General A.G. Ellis, editor of the Pinery and the two share the record for the most terms in office. He was also elected to the County Board of Supervisors on several occasions and once to the Stevens Point Board of Education. Although the building is not in good repair and has lost a large degree of its architectural integrity, it is the only building remaining in the city which is intimately connected with th life of W.W. Spraggon. The period of significance would be from 1866 to 1885 when the bakery business went to Spraggon's step-son David Bennett. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Wisconsin Pinery, 8/9/1866, p. 1, c. 1. (B) Building inscriptions. (C) Wisconsin Lumberman 6/12/1868, p. 1, c. 2. (D) Portage Co. Gazette 8/7/1901. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |