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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 210 DEWITT |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia |
| City/Village | Portage |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1895 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1992 |
| Historic Use | large retail building |
| Architectural Style | Italianate |
| Structural System | Brick |
| Wall Material | Brick |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
First floor store front altered, parapet; pressed metal cornice; brick corbeling; segmental arch windows with corbel stop; recessed panels under second floor windows. Dave Eulberg (1993) remembers the building as Lawson's office supply for a long period. H.G. Lewis operated a hardware business at 208 DeWitt from the date of his building's construction in 1895 through 1910. He remained in business after 1913 as Lewis and Theil, dealers in farm implements and hardware. By 1917, J./E. Wells and Co. located in the building at 210 DeWitt although Lewis continued to own it until about 1920. Like other hardware companies in the city, a tinsmith occupied the second floor of the building through 1910. J.E. Wells continued to employ a tinsmith when he took over the shop by 1917 and operated it until about 1920. Robert F. Pfeil and Luman Sharp operated as book and job printers by 1910 at 123 E. Cook (56/3). By 1913, S.B. Ernsperger had replaced Sharp and in 1914 Pfeil appeared to possess sole ownership of the company which was known as Pfeil's Practical Printing by 1917. He remained at 123 E. Cook until about 1920 and moved the Portage Printing Company to 210 DeWitt (24/33) between about 1921 and 1930. By 1929, the Columbia County Fair Association also used the building as their office. |
| Bibliographic References | Sanborn-Perris Map Co.: 1929: printing 1918, 1910, 1901: Hardware (tin shop second) 1894: different building-cobbler Columbia Co. Treasurer 1863- 1925, 1930: R.F. and Martha Pfeil 1895-1920: H.G. Lewis Directories: 1955; Uncertail use: Paske Rhine (Johnson Printing Co.) 1929: Portage Printing Co. and Columbia Co. Fair Assoc. (Smith Baumann Direc. Co.) 1924-25: (no address): Portage Printing Co. owned by Robert F. Pfeil (R.L. Polk and Co.) 1917: J.E. Wells & Co., hardware and plumbing at 210-12 (Farrell). 1913-14: Lewis and Theil, dealers in farm implements and hardware (R. L. Polk and Company). 1910: J.E. Wells, hardware and plumbing at that address (Voshardt) 1908-09: H. G. Lewis,; hardware (120 DeWitt) and J.E. Wells, 104 W. Cook only (Sh. H. Moore & Co.) |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Portage Retail Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Apr 27, 1995 |
| State Register Listing Date | Oct 24, 1994 |
| Contributing | Yes |
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