Property Record
222 W MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Edward R. Evans Building |
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| Other Name: | Baba Louie's Tavern |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 77364 |
| Location (Address): | 222 W MAIN ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1856 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
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| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| 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: | Little is known of this building between its construction around 1856 and c. 1885. It was a general store and saloon between c. 1885 and prohibition. During the time of prohibition it was the E. W. Hoeffner soda fountain. This building has some historical interest as the location of several saloons and a prohibition replacement for the saloon, the soda fountain. However, none of the businesses are historically significant, although as a whole the building contributes to the overall commercial significance of the Main Street Commercial Historic District. Built on the site of the earlier Coonan building for Edward R. Evans in 1856 where he housed his leather goods shop, this simple vernacular three-story cream brick building has plain rectangular windows topped by flat stone lintels, stone sills and a plain raised brick cornice with red tile coping. A second story enclosed porch and stairway projects from the west elevation. An iron lintel extends across the storefront that features an open corner supported by an iron column, a corner entrance and refractive glass transom window (now covered by paint). A one and a half story brirkc addition with projecting wooden triangular shaped pediment windows and a wooden second story porch and stairway is located at the rear. The interior was repaired after a fire damaged the building in December 1934. The Edward R. Evans building is significant under criterion C as an example of commercial vernacular architecture. One of several well preserved simple vernacular brick buildings on the proposed Main Street District, the Evans building features a plain brick front exhibiting no particular histric ornament. Other good examples of the utilitarian brick commercial building exhibiting little or no historic ornament are the adjacent Johnson building at 220 W. Main (66-10), and the Washington Hotel at 516 E. Main (68-13). Built in 1856 for Edward Evans, who had a leather goods shop as well as his residence in the building, the Evans building has retained its modest but historic architectural character. |
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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 July 21, 1856. (C) Watertown Times Dec. 1, 1934. (D) Watertown Daily News Nov. 26, 1917. (E) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |