Property Record
208-210 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Fischer and Rohr Building; Henry Bieber Saloon |
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| Other Name: | Dean Witter Reynolds; Ray's Shoe Store |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 73310 |
| Location (Address): | 208-210 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
| Township/Village: | |
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| Year Built: | 1864 |
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| Additions: | 1986C. 1865 |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Romanesque Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | James Kersbergen |
| 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 double storefront building housed a number of businesses. At 208 E. Main St. was a saloon between c. 1876 and c. 1893. After that time this store became a millinery shop operated first by Minnie Lange and then by Irma Scholl. At 210 E. Main German immigrant Willima Rohr began a clothing store as Fischer and Rohr and later as the William Rohr store between c. 1876 and c. 1899. Later this building housed a confectionary and a grocery. This building has some historical interest as the location of a number of retail businesses. None are individually historically significant, but contribute to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial historic district. 208 EAST MAIN STREET: Built around 1865 for Henry Bieber who had a saloon on the premises, this small three-bay commercial building is characterized by a molded brick cornice ornamented by a row of dentils and divided vertically by applied brick pilasters with corbelled ends. Round arched window heads resting on corbelled consoles on the upper storey of the facade forms a continuous arcade with those on the adjacent building (originally four adjacent buildings had the same design: 208-210-212-214 East Main). Having retained the plain cornice over the storefront, the Bieber Saloon presently has a contemporary front that relates to the historic character of the building, featuring a recessed entrance and paneled window aprons, two over two rectangular window sashes and blind arches fill the window openings. A two-story cream brick addition and a two-story partially enclosed wooden porch are located at the rear. The Henry Bieber Saloon is a commercial vernacular building characterized by a wide brick cornice and Italianate eyebrow window heads. Although this buildng is not architecturally significant, the Bieber building contributes to the historic architectural character of the proposed Main Street Historic District. Built in 1865, the Bieber building was constructed in the same style as an extension of the Fischer and Rohr Clothing Store built a year earlier in 1864. 210 EAST MAIN STREET: Built around 1864 for Fischer and Rohr after a fire in 1862 destroyed the four buildings on the east end of the block, this small three-bay comemrcial building is characterized by a molded brick cornice ornamented by a row of dentils and divided vertically by applied brick pilasters with corbelled ends. Round arched window heads resting on corbelled consoles on the uper story of the facade forms a continuous arcade with those on the adjacent building, forming a blinc arch where the two buildings join. (Originally four adjacent buildings had the same design: 208-210-212-214 East Main). A door to the upper stories of both buildings is located under the blind arch. Having retained the simple cornice over the storefront, the Fischer and Rohr Clothing Store storefront was remodeled in 1986 by James Kersbergen in a style sympatheic to the historic character of the building. In addition, the facade was altered when the surface was sandblasted. The Fischer-Rohr building presently is part of the adjacent property including 212 and 214 East Main Street. The Fischer and Rohr Clothing Store is a commercial vernacular building characterized by a wide brick cornice and Italianate eyebrow window heads. Although this building is not architecturally significant, the Fischer and Rohr building contributes to the historic architectural character of the proposed Main Street Historic District. Built in 1864 as the Fischer and Rohe Clothing Store, this building exhibits the same style and is built in conjunction with the adjacent Bieber Saloon built a year later at 208 East Main Street (68-18). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) "Revised Tariff Rates for Watertown, Wis.," National Board of Fire Underwriters, April 13, 1876. (C) Photograph, Folio, City of Watertown, 1887, Archives, Octagon House, Watertown Historical Society. (D) Watertown Daily Times Sept. 11, 1986. (E) C. Hugo Jacobi, "Reminiscences of Early Days in Watertown," Watertown Daily Times March 19, 1924. (F) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |