| 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.
This fine large multi-store brick Neo-Classical Revival style building was built in 1904 for M.H. Bekkedal and O.A. Unseth, the latter of whom operated a drugstore in the building and the former of whom operated the Westby State Bank in the corner store. The names of the owners are visible in the cornice. Sanborn-Perris maps for 1911 show that the building's first story also contained the Westby post office in that year and the second story was largely given over to a theater space known as the "opera house".
1995- "This fine two-story multi-store Neo-Classical Revival style building occupies the northwest corner of the intersection of Main and State streets and it was built in 1904 for M. H. Bekkedal and O. A. Unseth, the latter of whom operated a drugstore located in the west end of the building and the former of whom operated the Westby State Bank in the corner store. The building is polygonal in plan, it measures 80-feet deep x 100-feet wide, has a cut stone foundation, a full basement, and brick-clad exterior walls, and its main facade faces south onto State Street. Originally, the first story of this building contained three separate stores and historic photos show that the original first story of the south-facing facade was divided into three large bays. The right-hand bay, which is still intact, contained a single large two-light window. The two much larger bays to the left both consisted of equal size storefronts that were each divided into two large display windows that flanked centered, recessed entrances and an entrance door located between these storefronts gave access to the second story. The first story of the east-facing main facade was divided into a series of flat-arched window and door openings, nearly all of which are still intact. In addition, the canted southeast corner of the building (which is still intact) features a first story entrance door and a second story window, each of which is framed by classical order pilasters and is surmounted by an architrave and a cornice.
The second stories of both of these elevations feature alternating groups of flat-arched window openings that are surmounted by semi-circular arched transoms and groups of flat-arched windows that are surmounted by flat-arched transoms; the latter groups are g1ven additional prominence by having their windows separated from each other by Doric Order and lonic order pilasters. Both elevations are then surmounted by a simple cornice, but the cornice on the south-facing State Street facade also has the names of the original owners of the building set into it as well. These names are formed out of raised brick letters, they are placed above each of the three stores, and they read (from left to right: "Unseth", "Unseth & Bekkedal", and "Bekkedal".
Sanborn maps show that in 1904 the west store contained a drugstore (this was Unseth's store), the center store contained a general store, and the east store contained a bank (the Westby State Bank, headed by Bekkedal). All three businesses were still intact in 1911, but by that time the bank's space had been subdivided and the Westby post office occupied the rear portion. In addition, the second story then contained an opera house as well. By 1938, however, the opera house had apparently been removed and the post office space had been further divided into two stores.
All of this building's second story windows are still intact today, but the first story windows have all been replaced with modern ones (most of the openings are still intact, however) and the two storefronts on the south-facing main facade have also now been altered, although historic photos show that the right-hand one was altered early in this century. Otherwise, the building is in very good and largely original condition and it is currently occupied by the Westby branch of the Westby - Coon Valley State Bank and the Westby Pharmacy."
2018: "This two-story, brick, Neoclassical-style commercial building was built in 1904. It was designed by architect A.E. Parkinson of Dockendorf and Parkinson, who operated throughout western Wisconsin. The building is located on the northwest corner of Main Street and State Street. It was originally built for businessmen M.H. Bekkedal and O.A. Unseth. Bekkedal was instrumental in the growth of the tobacco industry in Westby and the larger Vernon County area. He later went into the banking industry with the money earned from his tobacco exploits. Historically, the building has been used as a pharmacy, bank, opera house (on the second floor), and post office. The primary entrance is located at the southeast corner of the building within a Classical surround consisting of Doric pilasters and an architrave with dentils. The second story above the entrance features a large window with a similar surround, but instead framed by Ionic pilasters. This is an intentional design detail referencing the stacking of orders on many ancient Classical buildings, such as the Colosseum in Rome.
The east, Main Street elevation and the south, State Street, elevation are similar in design. The first story consists of a series of storefront windows sheltered by awnings, with a recessed secondary entrance near the center of each elevation. On the second story are regularly spaced window openings with alternating round arch and rectangular transoms. Those with rectangular transoms are grouped together into slightly projecting bays and framed by pilasters. Additional Classical detailing includes a decorative cornice with dentils. Centered on the parapet on the south, State Street elevation are the words, "Unseth & Bekkedal," and across the parapet at the corner of the building is the word "Bekkedal."" |
|---|
