Property Record
300 N 4TH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Buena Vista House |
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| Other Name: | Randy's Buena Vista House |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 74732 |
| Location (Address): | 300 N 4TH ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1847 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | hotel/motel |
| Architectural Style: | Side Gabled |
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| Wall Material: | Asbestos |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| 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: | 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. Built in 1847-48 for Henry Boegel who sold it to William Wiggenhorn in an unfinished state in 1848, the historic Buena Vista Hotel is a sample vernacular gable roofed building that has been altered by the addition of horizontal siding to the exterior. A two-sided porch supported by turned posts covers the corner entrance and large storefront windows on the south end of the east elevation. A large two-story gable roofed addition intersects with the main structure on its west side. Sold by Wiggenhorn to Meiswinkel and then sold to Andreas Bertling in 1868 who owned it for the next 25 years, the Buena Vista Hotel has suffered much alteration over the years. The historic Buena Vista Hotel is a gable roofed vernacular building altered by the addition of siding to the exterior of the frame building. Reportedly altered greatly over the years, the Buena Viasta Hotel is not architecturally significant. However, this historic hotel and tavern built in 1947-48 contributes to the historic character of the Main Street Commercial Historic District. The Buena Vista House was begun in 1848 by Henry Boegel. A German immigrant, he named it after a Mexican War battle. Before finishing the building, though, Boegel sold it to another German immigrant, William Wiggenhorn, who finished the building. The hotel was a favorite men's club, in particular for Germans who were educated immigrants to Watertown in the mid-nineteenth century. Called "Latine Farmers," these educated men often met at the Buena Vista House. William Wiggenhorn owned the hotel until 1868. It was sold to Andreas Bertling, who owned it for the next 25 years. The building is operated as a tavern today. This building is significant for local history under National Register criterion A because it is an important pioneer hotel and popular meeting place for Germans. The Buena Vista house is the oldest existing hotel building in Watertown. For this reason, and because Watertown was an important stopping-off point for travelers in the nineteenth century, the building has commercial significance. But it is further significant because it is associated with the German settlers in Watertown. As a popular early gathering place for German men, it was almost like an early fraternal club. Because of this association with the Germans, and its commercial significance, the hotel is individually historically significant, as well as being contributing in the Main Street Commercial Historic District. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Sanborn Insurance Map, City of Watertown, 1884. (C) Watertown Daily Times, Centennial Edition, July 1, 1936. (D) C. Hugo Jacobi, "Reminiscences of Early Days in Watertown," Watertown Daily Times Feb. 2, 1924; Feb. 13, 1924 and April 3, 1924. (E) Henry E. Colonius, "Pioneer Memoirs of Early Watertown," Watertown Daily Times, reprint, Oct. 14, 1986 and Oct. 16, 1986. Watertown Times 2/28/1981. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |