Property Record
110 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Keck Furniture; James Chappell Building |
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| Other Name: | Keck's Furniture |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 76222 |
| Location (Address): | 110 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1850 |
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| Additions: | 1920 1910 |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | large retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | George Fred Keck |
| 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: | When this building was constructed around 1860, it housed a tobacco warehouse for J. Chappell, probably a tobacco dealer. It was also the location of Henry Meyer's boot and shoe shop. In 1897 the Keck Furniture store moved here and have remained here until the present time. German immigrant John Keck, who came to Watertown in 1851, established his furniture store after being a cabinet-maker for several years. At first all the furniture was made in Keck's shop and sold at his first location at 314 Mai St. (demolished). In 1856 Keck briefly partnered with Emanuel Lehmann and Keck Furniture moved to ..... St. where it remained until 1897. In that year the store moved here. In 1910 a three-story addition was made to the back of this building, and in 1920, the entire store was remodeled both inside and outside under the direction of George Fred Keck, grandson of the founder, and a noted Chicago architect. John Keck's son Fred G. Keck took over the business in 1891. His son, John W. Keck took over the firm in 1938. Keck Furniture has remained at this location and in business until the present time. This building is significant for local history under National Register criterion A because it is the long-time home of the Keck Furniture store, a pioneer business still in operation today. Few pioneer businesses have remained in the same family for over 130 years. Keck Furniture has been an important retail business in Watertown sinc ethe 1850s and this location is probably the most well-known. It shares significance with the store on 110 S. Second St. which was constructed expressly for the firm and has seen somewhat less remodeling. However, the remodeling of this building, done during the period of significance by a Keck family member who was also a noted architect, probably adds to the historical significance of the building, rather than detracting from it. The remodeling made the building definitely the Keck store, erasing the older details of the original building which was constructed for another business. because the Keck store was such an important retail business in Watertown, it is individually significant for local comemrcial history. And, the building contributes to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District since there has been commercial activity in this building since the 1850s. Originally exhibiting a cream brick facade with a pair of triangular shaped pediments rising above the roof line, the 1850s J.K. Chappell building was remodeled extensively by George Keck in 1920 to present an early modern appearance. Exhibiting plain rectangular windows with brick lintels on the third story and large "Chicago style" commercial windows on the second story of its contemporary styled plain brown brick facade, the historic Keck Furniture Company building is characterized by a contemporary storefront featuring a recessed entrance, white masonry end piers and granite window aprons. A large two-story addition featuring segmental arched windows with brick voussoirs is located at the rear of the building. Reportedly, this is the earliest brick building remaining in the city. The Chappell building historically better knwon as the Keck furniture Store, originally a cream brick, comemrcial vernacular building, was remodelled to its present contemporary appearance in 1920 by George Fred Keck, who was a grandson of John Keck and a noted architect. Characterized by Chicago styled windows and plain brick surfaces devoid of historic ornament, the Keck Furniture Company is not architecturally significant. Better examples of the early 20th century contemporary style in the Main Street Historic District are the Kramp building at 615 E. Main (73-3), the Wiggenhorn building at 13 E. Main (65-17), and the Cole building at 216 E. Main (63-25). |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Photograph, Folio, City of Watertown, 1886, Archives, Octagon House, Watertown Historical Society. (C) "The First 100 Years of the Keck Furniture Company," pamphlet, N.P., 1953, Files, City Library, Watertown. (D) Watertown Daily Times Feb. 19, 1887. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |