Property Record
118 N WATER ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Otto Biefeld & Co. Building |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 80235 |
| Location (Address): | 118 N WATER ST |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1914 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19862020 |
| Historic Use: | industrial building |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | |
| 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 buliding was built for the Otto Biefeld Company as part of an expansion of his quarters on N. Water St. In 1914 the Biefeld company needed to expand its facilities. They built the first structure at this address in that year (building with cornerstone). In 1918 (JE 72/11), and addition was made and in 1926 (JE 72/10) another addition was made that completes this site. These buildings were occupied until 1938 when Biefeld moved to South Second St. This complex is significant as part of the entire complex of the Otto Biefeld Company at this address and at 202 N. Water St. It is significant for local history under National Register criterion A because it was the site for the formative growth of the Biefeld Company, an important metal fabricating industry in Watertown in the twentieth century. When the Biefeld Company outgrew the old Misegades building they expanded on this site. The company continued to expand here, building additions in 1918 (JE 72/11) and 1926 (JE 72/10). During the time the company expanded into these buildings, they increased the type of producrs they manufactured, including snow ploughs and dairy equipment. In 1938 they vacated these buildings for their new facility. While probably not significant on their own, these bulidings contribute to the overall significance of the entire Biefeld manufacturing site. Bulit in 1914 for Biefeld and Company, this cream brick Machine Shop is characterized by a gable roofed wooden clerestory and shaped gables with masonry coping rising above the roof line at both ends of the building. Large multipaned windows on the east elevation and front and rear facades also light the interior. A group of five segmentally arched windows with six over six lights are located on the front gable above a large double leafed wooden vehicular service door. An iron cornice and a door and window now bricked up are the remains of the former main entrance on the southern most bay of the east elevation. The Otto Biefeld building is significant under criterion C as an example of an early 20th century utilitarian industrial building. Exhibiting historical shaped gable ends, the flat surfaces of the brick buliding are articulated by large, plain multipaned windows typically found on late 19th and early 20th century industrial buildings. The Biefeld building is significant also because it is one of the very few historic industrial buildings maintaining its integritry still extant in the city and is one of two excellent examples of industrial architecture in the proposed Main Street Commercial Historic District. [Also see Misegades Wagon Shop at 202 No. Water (63/4)]. Well preserved, the historic Biefeld Company building presently is vacant. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) "Biefeld Brothers, Otto and Richard, Started Steel Fabricating Company" Watertown Daily Times, Centennial Issue, June 24, 1954. (C) Sanborn Perris Insurance Maps 1915-1937. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |