Property Record
107/109 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Pritchard-Bassford Building |
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| Other Name: | Krier's Store for Men |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 76221 |
| Location (Address): | 107/109 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1855 |
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| Additions: | 1986 1860 |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | James Kershergen |
| 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: | In this double storefront, the first known businesses located there were the J. Schultz drug store (1876-1885) and Moses Schwab clothing store (1876-1893). The Schultz drug store later was operated by August Rau, John Molzahn, and Leo Polzin until around 1900. Moses, and later D.W. Schwab's clothing store became the Hertel and Hoffman and then the Hoffman-Kelly Company clothing store. Around 1900, Hertal and Hoffman too over the entire double storefront. Today it is still a clothing store. Also in this building during the early years of the twentieth century were the offices of A.F. Solliday, a prominent dentist. This building is significant for local history under National Register criterion A because it was the location of a long-time clothing store and had the offices of prominent citizen A.F. Solliday. This building well represents the transition in retailing that went on around the turn of the century in downtown Watertown. Originally the two storefronts housed two different businesses. One business, the Schwab clothing store was a long-term tenant of the building. Around 1900 their business became the Hertal and Hoffman store, and this business took over the entire double storefront. The expansion into two storefronts was typical of what was happening at the time to retailing. Many stores expanded their lines to become large department stores. Other store remained smaller, but began to expand their specialized line. By the early twentieth century, general stores and tailor shops were replaced by large department stores, and men's or women's clothing stores. There were also larger speciality stores such as shoe stores (replacing boot and shoe maker shops), china shops, and fancy goods stores. The Hertal and Hoffman business transformed Schwab's store into a large specialty shop supplementing the large department stores. Built for A. Pritchard and P. Bassford in 1855, the orginal part of the building at 109 E. Main St. received a west addition of two bays (107 E. Main) a few years later around 1860. Exhibiting a common broad bracketed Italianate wooden cornice trimmed by a row of dentils, the four-story cream brick Bassford building is further characterized by straight projecting window heads decorated by molding and a small rectangular pediment. Replacement metal window sashes are located in the windows. The Bassford building, the site of a men's clothing store under various owners for many years has been further altered by the addition of a contemporary storefront. In addition, the building has been altered by the sandblasting of the brick facade in 1986. At this time, the interiod also was rennovated. The Pritchard-Bassford Block is important as an example of the Italianate commercial style. One of several three-story examples of the Italianate influence in the proposed Main Street Commercial Historic District, the Pritchard-Bassford building exhibits th eprerequisite projecting bracketed cornice as well as the articulated window heads associated with Italianate design. Other good examples of the Italianate style in the proposed Main Street Historic District include the Misegades Wagon Works at 202 No. Water (63-4), the buildings at 116-118 W. Main (72-22), 413 E.Main (65-2) and 103-105 E. Main (72-6). Built in 1855 with an addition around 1860 for A. Pritchard, who also was president of the Bank of Watertown and P. Bassford, a local builder, this four-story, cream brick building has been altered by the process of sandblasting the brick surface and by the extensive remodeling of the interior as well in 1986. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Watertown Democrat Oct. 23, 1856; June 10, 1986; Sept. 11, 1986. (C) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |