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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 306 E MAIN ST |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson |
| City/Village | Watertown |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1867 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1986,2020 |
| Historic Use | small retail building |
| Architectural Style | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Brick |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
This building was built around 1867 for H. Bellack, who operated a store here until about 1893. There were several other retail operations here as well. Between 1910 and about 1920, this building also housed the Orpheum Theatre, one of Watertown's early movie houses. This building has some historical interest as the location of several retail businesses and an early movie theatre. None of these businesses is individually historically significant but they do contribute to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Commercial historic district. Initially used as a general merchandise store by its owner, H. Bellack, this small vernacular brick building is characterized by a molded, raised brick cornice trimmed by a row of dentils. Plain rectangular windows are located on the upper story of the plain brick facade. This 1860s commercial building has been altered by the addition of a contemporary storefront featuring a recessed entrance and an entrance door to the upper story on the west end. In addition, the application of paint has altered the brick surface of the facade. A one-story addition with a second story open porch is located at the rear. The H. Bellack building is a commercial vernacular building ornamented only by a raised brick cornice. Although this building is not architecturally significant, the Bellack building contributes to the historic architectural character of the proposed Main Street Historic District. |
| Bibliographic References | (A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area Research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) "Revised Tariff of Rates for Watertown, Wis.," National Board of Fire Underwriters, April 13, 1876. (C) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Main Street Commercial Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Jun 02, 1989 |
| State Register Listing Date | |
| 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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