Property Record
412 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Henry Pritzlaff Building; Watertown Grain Co. |
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| Other Name: | Vogue Cleaners |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 76317 |
| Location (Address): | 412 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1880 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
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| Wall Material: | 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: | This building housed a number of businesses after it was built around 1880 for Henry Pritzlaff. It housed the F. Miller and Company Produce company, the Watertown Grain Company, the Watertown Pool Room, a confectionary, a drug store and in 1924 became a cleaning store, which it remains today. This building has some historical interest as the location of a number of retail businesses. None are individually historically significant at this location, but they contribute to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District. Built around 1880 for Henry Pritzlaff, this three-bay vernacular brick commercial building is characterized by a molded raised brick cornice decorated by a row of dentils and drip moulding that is visually supported by capped brick pilasters. Round arched projecting brick window hoods resting on consoles placed over arched long windows are situated in each of the dentil trimmed bays recessed between the applied pilasters. A plain projecting cornice over a refractive glass transom window remains on the storefront. A recessed central entrance, tile window aprons and an entrance door to the upper floor topped by a transom window also are features of the slightly remodelled storefront. Several small one-story brick buildings housing dry cleaning activities since the early 20th century extend at the rear of the building. The Pritzlaff building is significant as an example of a commercial vernacular building influenced by classical design sources including the Italianate and the Classical Revivals. Among the best preserved of the commercial vernacular brick buildings in the commercial district, the Pritzlaff building exhibits the elaborate arched eyebrow window heads and cornice of the Italianate style as well as the suggestion of an entablature supported by capped applied brick pilasters as seen in the Neo-classic style. Other good examples of the combination of the classical and Italianate influences on a commercial vernacular form in the proposed Main Street Historic District are the Mulberger building at 215 E. Main (65-35) and the Schroeder building at 401 E. Main (65-8). Built around 1880 for Henry Pritzlaff, who operated a grain commission house, this building continues to exhibit a 19th century storefront with refractive glass transom windows. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |