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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 121-123 E COOK |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia |
| City/Village | Portage |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1885 |
|---|---|
| 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 | David Eulberg (1993) identified the building's use as a bar and restaurant for many years. He recalled the name Bill's Lunch. In 1885, a tailor was located at 121-123 E. Cook. William Bunker established his harness shop in 1866 and occupied his new brick building at 121-123 E. Cook (56/3) in 1885. By 1877, he carried stable goods, horse clothing, robes, saddles, harness oil, and carriage umbrellas and whips as well sa harnesses. By 1880, he employed one other worker. He probably remained in the building through 1905 (Democrat 7/30/97; Butterfield 1880: 881: Portage Daily Register 12/23/1889; Register-Democrat 5/31/1919; Merrill and Woodard & Co. 1877; U.S. Department of the Interior 1850-1910 [1880: Industrial schedules). Between at least 1889 and 1894, William Bunker, harness maker, shared 121-123 E. Cook (56/3) with an unidentified cofbbler (Sanborn-Perris Map Co. 1889; 1894). Joseph H. Bryan ran a meat market by 1908 until 1909 adjacent to the harness shop of William Bunker in 121-123 E. Cook. He had been in business at a different address on the north side of Cook since at least 1884 (Wright 1890). By 1910, the business was operated by Joseph H. anmd Harry Bryan, as Bryan and Son, at 119 E. Cook (56/4). Robert F. Pfeil and Luman Sharp operated as book and job printers by 1910 and 123 E. Cook. 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. In 1910, Mrs. Katherine Hill, a millinery, occupied part of the building. Miller and Winkler, a tire , battery and electrical service, occupied 121-123 E. Cook about 1929. Bill's Lunch located in the building by 1955. |
| Bibliographic References | Sanborn-Perris Map Co. 1929: saloon (all) 1918: printing (east), millinery (west) 1901: Harness (east), grocery (west) 1894, 1889: Harness (east), shoes (west) 1885: Harness (east), tailor (west) Columbia Co. of 1863- 1930 Miller and Winkler 1925: W.G. Bunker Est. 1883-1925: W. G. Bunker 1882: D.A.. Goodyear The property value indictes that the building was erected in 1885. It is not shown on 1882 map (Stoner) Directories: 1955: (121) Bill's Lunch (Johnson Printing Co.) 1937: Miller ad Winkler at 130 E. Cook - tire, ,battery, and electrical service (Comonwealth Telephone Co.) - different address 1929: (121) Miller and Winkler, repair (123) J.S. Hong, laundry (Johnson Printing Co.) 1924-25:? 1921: Pfeil, Robert, printer (1920) (R.L. Polk) 1917-18: (123) Pfeil's Practical Printing, Christian Science Society 1914-15: Pfeil, Robert, Printer (R.L. Polk & Co.) 1913-14: Pfeil, Robert and Ernsperger, S.B. Printer (R.L. Polk & Co) 1911-12: Pfeil and Sharpe (Robert and Luman) book and job printers, 123 E. Cook (R.L. Polk & Co.) 1910: Bunker is on 4 16 E. Cook 1910: (119 E. Cook) Bryan & Son, Groceries (moved); Pfeil and Sharpe, job printer, 123 E. Cook; Mrs. Katherine Hill, 121 D. Cook (Voshardt) 1908-09: Bryan, Joseph, Grocer, 121-123 E. Cook (S.H. Moore) 1905-06, 1903-04, 1901-02, 1897-98, 1895-96, 1893-94: Bunker, William harness (R.L. Polk & Co.) 1905-06 also justice and coroner 1890: Bunker, William G., hjarnessmaker, n.s. Cook, 9e (DeWitt Wright) 1886: Bunker, W.G., manufacturer and dealer in harness, saddles, and horse clothing, Cook (Rockwood and Godell) |
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 |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
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