Property Record
108 S 2ND ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | John Keck Furniture Store; Watertown Gazette |
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| Other Name: | Laitsch Law Office; Watertown Insurance Services |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 74662 |
| Location (Address): | 108 S 2ND ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1856 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
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| 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: | The storefront at 108 S. Second St. was built in 1856 for John Keck's furniture store. He occupied this building until 1897 when he moved to Main Street. In 1921 James Moore moved his offices of the important weekly, the Watertown Gazette, here where it was located until at least 1930. The Gazette suspended publication in 1937, probably at this location. This building is significant for local history under National Register criterion A, because it was the early location of the Keck Furniture Company, an important furniture retailer in Watertown. It also was the later location of the Watertown Gazette. The Keeck Furniture Company has been a long-time retail institution in Watertown and has contributed significantly to the development of commerce on Main Street. Because this was their early location, in a building constructed especially for them, it is significant for local history. The Watertown Gazette was one of the more significant and long-lived of the many weekly newspapers in Watertown before the Daily Times became the newspaper of record in town. Because its original office has lost so much integrity, this building is the best resource associated with the newspaper in town. Because of the commercial establishments housed in this storefront, it contributes to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Rolls for the City of Watertown, Area Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wisconsin Library. (B) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown, Wisconsin Public Library. (C) The FIrst 100 Years of the Keck Furniture Company, probably published in Watertown by the Keck Furniture Company in 1953. (D) "James Moore Published Weekly Gazette Here," Watertown Daily Times Centennial Issure, June 26, 1954, n.p. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |