Property Record
304 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Peter Seibel Building; Emil Seibel Store |
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| Other Name: | Sherwin Williams Dec. Co. |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 76454 |
| Location (Address): | 304 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1868 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | small retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| 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: | In this building originally Emil Seibel located his dry goods store. Later, the building was taken over by the Grube dry goods store from 302 E. Main St. Today, the stores are still connected with a single business. This building has some historical interest as the location of the Seibel store, one of the many moderately sized dry goods stores in Watertown. Later, it was part of the Grube store, another moderately sized dry goods store that has some historical interest as well. Like the Grube store, the Seibel store might have more significance upon further research, however, it was not of the same standing as the Schempf store and the Brandt store, It does contribute to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Comermcial Historic District. Built around 1868 for Peter Seibel, who arrived in Watertown in 1850, to house his dry goods store, this cream brick, small, three-bay comemrcial building features a metal projecting cornice and frieze with a triangualr shaped pediment extending above in the center and console end brackets topped by finials. The facade is characterized furtehr by recessed panels above the group of four windows that extends the width of the facade. The original cream brick constriction is evident in the rear. The Seibel building has been altered by the addityion of a contemporary storefront shared with the adjacent building at 302 Main. Also, the building has been altered by the application of paint to the facade. The Peter Seibel building is a vernacular building exhibiting the influence of the Italianate style. Although this building is not architecturally significant, the Seibel building contributes to the historic architectural character of 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) C. Hugo Jacobi, "Reminiscences of Early Days in Watertown," Watertown Daily Times March 31, 1924. (C) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1920, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |