Property Record
8118-8122 W NATIONAL AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Abbott-Stern Building |
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| Other Name: | Douville Building |
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| Reference Number: | 9264 |
| Location (Address): | 8118-8122 W NATIONAL AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | West Allis |
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| Year Built: | 1888 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20072017 |
| Historic Use: | retail building |
| Architectural Style: | Boomtown |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | 2 ORIELS ON FRONT. WOOD SHINGLES ON UPPER STORY. Previously surveyed in 1980, with AL'S BICYCLES / PENTHOUSE COIFFURES. Resurveyed in 2007, new photo provided, at which time the storefronts included Louie's Barber Shop and F-5 Comics. 2017 survey information: This two-story, Queen Anne-inspired, Boomtown front commercial building rises from a largely stone foundation and is sheathed with narrow clapboard and wooden shingles. The first floor includes two storefronts, both of which include a recessed entry. The display windows have been reduced in size and further modified by the addition of vertical board along the top edge. The western (left) store continues to retain its original, wooden panel-and-glass, double-door entry, while the eastern storefront includes a later (albeit historic) wood-and-glass door. A third wood-and-glass door provides entry to the second level. A pair of three-sided, bay window projections on the second floor is separated by a pair of one-over-one-light, double-hung sash windows that occupy the central space of that level. A decorative wooden panel inset separates those sash openings. The uppermost portion of the building includes a series of five blind arches that are further accentuated by the use of the decorative wooden shingles, while dentil-like trim underscores the central parapet. The remaining three sides of the building are sheathed with narrow clapboard. A one-story, frame addition on a concrete block foundation extends from the east half of the rear of the building. An historic image of the building does indicate that the storefront originally included three spaces. By no later than 1910 it would appear that the storefront was reduced to two. The historic image also confirms the loss of decorative trim along the building’s parapet, as well as the modernization of the storefront windows. A variety of sources suggest either an 1882 or 1895 date of construction for what has historically been referenced as the Douville Building. The photograph indicates at the time of the photo, it served as a grocery store, post office and a hardware store. As of 1913, the building was purchased by dry goods dealer Max Stern, who moved his business from across the street (8121-8125 W. National Avenue) and into the eastern storefront space, while the other was utilized by the Groh family as their grocery store. Stern remained in business there until retiring in 1938, after which he remained in one of the second-floor apartments until his death in 1952. His son William, a dentist, operated a dental office out of the building from at least 1932 to 1960. In addition to the grocery business, the west space was occupied by a number of businesses, including a barber and a shoe repair shop. As of 1950, the Play Shop, a sporting goods store, moved into the west space, after which it expanded into the eastern portion of the building. Today the building is home to a comic store and a barber shop, while the upper floor continues to include two apartments. See Also DOE completed for the Abbott-Stern Building. |
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| Bibliographic References: | City directories. Fisher, Esther L. (ed.) Brief History of Town of Greenfield, 1976. Citations associated with the 2017 survey: Historic image of the subject building, noted as the “Douville Building,” In possession of the West Allis Historical Society, West Allis, WI. While the image is dated in a 2003 publication as circa 1905, the date is more likely between 1901-1902; Sanborn Map Company, Fire Insurance Map—West Allis, Wis. (New York: Sanborn Map Company, 1910). A published book indicates an 1882 date of construction, while information regarding a walking tour (locally produced) notes an 1895 construction date, Albert Mucha, Images of America: West Allis (Chicago: Arcadia Publishing Co., 2003), 23; “Pioneer Historic District Walking Tour,” no date, Information compiled by and in possession of the WAHS; West Allis City Directory, 1910-11, 1916, 1932, 1940, 1950, 1960; “Funeral Rites for Max Stern, Pioneer Resident,” West Allis Star, 12 June 1952. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |