Property Record
215 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Henry Mulberger Building |
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| Other Name: | Mark Wegman Certified Public Accountant |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 76400 |
| Location (Address): | 215 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1874 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
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| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| 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 |
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| Additional Information: | This building was built in the early 1870s for Henry Mulberger. He was located here until around 1880. It then became the Jacob Koerner shoe store until around 1900, then the Joseph Hertel shoe store until around 1907, then the George W. Spahn shoe store until around 1925. Henry Mulberger was born in 1824 in Germany. He was educated in German schools and began a merchant career in his native country. In 1847 he came to America, and to Watertown in 1848. He operated a store at this location and studied law. In 1856 he began to work with the noted pioneer law firm of Enos and Hall. He later practiced alone, in this building. He became a successful attorney and businessman, but was also noted for being Watertown's mayor between 1868 and 1869, the first in a family that would have three members serve as mayor of Watertown. This building has local historical interest as the location of Henry Mulberger's office. Henry Mulberger was an important early resident in Watertown and a successful attorney. The building is contributing for overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial Historic District. Exhibiting a large molded cornice with dentil trim and drip molding that is visually supported by capped brick pilasters on the second story, the Henry Muberger buliding was constructed around 1874 to house his office and store. Raised, layered round arched brick window ood with corbelled ends above long round arched windows are situated in the recessed dentil trimmed bays. Half a blind arched bay at the west end suggests the building originally was designed to be compatible with the adjacent building remodeled in the early 20th century. The Mulberger buliding has been further altered by the addition of a contemporary storefront. A combination brick and wood addition is located and extends halfway across the rear of the building. The Henry Mulberger building is important as an example of commercial vernacular building influenced by classical design sources including the Italianate and the classical revivals. Among the best preserved commercial vernacular brick buildings in the commercial district, the Mulberger buliding exhibits the elaborate arched eyebrow window heads and cornice of the Italianate styles as well as the suggestion of an entablature supported by capped applied brick pilasters as seen in the 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 Schroeder building at 401 E. Main (65-8) and the Pritzlaff building at 412 E. Main (65-35). Built around 1874 for Henry Mulberger for his store and as the site of his law office, this buliding has retained its architectural character on the second story while the storefront has been remodeled. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) "Revised Tariff Rates for Watertown, WI," National Board of Fire Underwriters, 1876. (C) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. (D) C. Hugo Jacobi, "Reminiscences of Early Days in Watertown," Watertown Daily Times MArch 22, 1924. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |