Property Record
139 E NORTH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Waukesha County Manufacturing Company/Waukesha Motor Company |
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| Other Name: | Image Makers Advertising, Inc. |
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| Reference Number: | 88084 |
| Location (Address): | 139 E NORTH ST |
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| County: | Waukesha |
| City: | Waukesha |
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| Year Built: | 1866 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20092014 |
| Historic Use: | warehouse |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | Stone |
| Wall Material: | Stone - Unspecified |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Constructed circa 1866 and utilized for wool storage by the Waukesha County Manufacturing Company, which operated a woolen mill on the opposite side of North Street. In 1906, purchased by Harry L. Horning & Fred Ahrens who operated the Blue Front Garage. Their business evolved into the Waukesha Motor Company, manufacturers of internal combustion engines. Waukesha Motor built a new manufacturing facility at 1101 W. St. Paul Avenue in 1910 where they grew to become Waukesha's largest employer. The subject building then had a variety of tenants. Currently owned by Image Makers, who remodeled the building in the 1990s to serve as their offices, they installed new windows and storefront. Locally designated in 1998, Landmark #45. A DOE completed for this building in September 2009. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Sanborn Maps; Waukesha Landmarks Commission Field Survey and Nomination Form; Langill & Loerke, From Farmland to Freeway, pgs. 188, 192-94; History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin (1880, reprint 1976), pg. 675. Confirmation of the fire at the four-story woolen mill building (originally across the street): "Fire Record" The Waukesha Woolen Mills; within two hours the mill building was destroyed, in The Times Picayune (New Orleans, LA), 18 November 1884, 8/4, cites date of fire as November 17th. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |