click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Location
| Location (Address) | 913-929 W EXCHANGE ST |
|---|---|
| County | Green |
| City/Village | Brodhead |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1869 |
|---|---|
| Additions | C. 1908 |
| Survey Date | 1984 |
| Historic Use | large retail building |
| Architectural Style | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Brick |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
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, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. One of the oldest and largest commercial buildings in the district, the Pfisterer building is also one of the most distinctive: built between 1869 and 1871, the half-block long cream brick building is distinguished by its commercial Italianate detail including an unusual pattern of interlacing brick arches at the cornice. Although the first story facades have been extensively remodelled in a variety of "contemporary" styles, the upper portion of the building retains complete integrity of fabric and design. Articulating the building's division into a series of storefronts, the second story fenestration is grouped into three sets of five windows. Each set is dominated by a central round headed window which is flanked on either side by two segmentally arched windows, all of which are surmounted by heavily molded and corbelled brick hoods. The windows are further distinguished by their extremely tall proportions which provide a counterbalance to the low horizontal profile of the structure. But the most remarkable element of the building is the decoration at the cornice. The long facade is enlivened and unified by a fanciful series of brick arches, springing from corbelled imposts, which create a design of overlapping rounded and pointed arches. The composition provides both solidity and movement to the north side of the square. Built between 1869 and 1871 (during the height of the Exchange Square building boom) the Pfisterer building was first owned by William Frazee who sold it to Brodhead jeweler John Pfisterer in 1872. Pfisterer, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, came to the city in 1866 and established himself as a dealer of diamonds and other gems. He used a portion of his new building for a store and rented the remaining units to other Bordhead merchants, thus creating an early (and the largest) commercial block in the fledgling Exchange Square. Eventually the Square became the mercantile center of the city, and the Pfisterer building continued to be a central location, housing numerous commercial concerns throughout the 19th and 20th century, as it continues to do so today. |
| Bibliographic References | (A) 1871 map of Brodhead. (B) 1908 Sanborn-Perris Map. (C) History of Green County. 1884, p. 835. (D) Wally Ekum Abstract Co. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Exchange Square Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Nov 15, 1984 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| 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.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
NW CORNER OF EXHANGE ST AND CENTER AVE
67975
Located in Brodhead, Green County
