Neillsville Downtown Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Neillsville Downtown Historic District
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500 Block Hewett St. and 118 W. Sixth St., Neillsville, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000701 |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 2000 |
The Neillsville Downtown Historic District is a special part of old downtown Neillsville, Wisconsin. It has many buildings that are very old, some built as far back as 1872. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000. This means it's recognized as an important historical place in the United States.
Contents
Exploring Neillsville's Past
How Neillsville Began
The story of Neillsville started in June 1845. A man named James O'Neill and his friends cut a path through the thick forest. They traveled from Black River Falls to this new spot.
They built a sawmill next to O'Neill Creek. Here, they started cutting down tall pine trees. They would float the cut wood down the creek to their mill.
The logging business did very well. More and more people came to live in the area. By 1860, about 250 people lived there. New businesses started to open along Main Street, which is now called Hewett Street. At first, most of these buildings were made of wood.
The First Brick Buildings
The very first brick building in Neillsville was built in 1872. It was also the first brick building in all of Clark County. This building is still part of the historic district today. It was the Hewett and Woods General Store, located at 502 Hewett Street.
People called it "the Brick Store" for many years. Its style shows some Italianate influence. This means it had design elements popular in Italy at the time. The bricks were likely made right there in Neillsville.
Famous Buildings on Hewett Street
Many interesting buildings line Hewett Street. Each one tells a part of Neillsville's history.
Lowe Brothers Building
At 508 Hewett Street, you'll find the Lowe Brothers building. It was built in 1896. This graceful brick building has Romanesque arches. These are rounded arches, like those seen in ancient Roman buildings. It also has a fancy cast iron cornice at the top. From 1927, a Red Owl grocery store was located here.
Bast Bakery and August Snyder Clothing Store
The Bast Bakery at 510 Hewett was built around 1890. It's another brick Italianate building with a cornice. It first sold meat and flour. The August Snyder Clothing Store at 518 Hewett was built in 1900. It also has an Italianate style and a cornice. This building has a cool second-story bay window. It sticks out over the sidewalk.
Clark County Bank
The Clark County Bank building at 522 Hewett was built in 1887. It was later made bigger and more detailed. It was updated to the Queen Anne style. This style often includes different textures and shapes. It has a unique clipped gable roof and iron cornice.
Sniteman Drug Store
The Sniteman Drug store at 528 Hewett is a very noticeable building. It's a tall brick Italianate building with a metal cornice. Charles C. Sniteman, the owner, came to Neillsville in 1879. He bought the drug store in 1891. In 1895, he added a second story to the building. He also updated the front to look like it does today. Sniteman was known for inventing a fly spray for farmers. He also made a special ointment for lumber camps.
Commercial State Bank
The Commercial State Bank at 534 Hewett was built in 1887. It was made of red brick. It first housed a store that sold dry goods and groceries. In 1917, the bank changed the front of the building. They made it look more formal in the Classical Revival style. It has a central opening framed with limestone blocks.
Neillsville Bank
The Neillsville Bank at 538 Hewett was built in 1887. It started as a red brick general store. It was known as the Gates Block. In 1909, the bank changed the outside of the building. They used a style called Commercial Prairie Style. They covered it with tan brick and limestone. They also moved the entrance to the middle of the east side.
Varieties Store
Just around the corner from the Neillsville Bank, at 118 W 6th Street, is the Varieties Store. It was built in 1886. It has simple Commercial Italianate details. It even has a coal chute on the front.
Buildings on the East Side of Hewett Street
The east side of Hewett Street also has many historic buildings.
Mark Kappelan Block
The Mark Kappelan Block at 551 Hewett was built in 1893. It once held a drug store, a barber shop, and a saloon. The second-story windows are framed by square arches made of brick. In 1897, the building's front was updated. It was decorated with an iron cornice and new window designs.
Emery Bruley's Men's Clothing Store
Emery Bruley's Men's Clothing Store at 541 Hewett was built in 1882. It is in the Commercial Italianate style. Mr. Bruley was from Canada. He first had a blacksmith shop in Neillsville. Later, he opened a clothes store. This building first housed his clothing store, a cigar store, and a saloon. A cigar factory was on the second floor.
Republican Press and Dewhurst Block
The Republican Press at 531 Hewett is another Commercial Italianate building. It has a cornice and was built in 1895. It used to be the post office. The Dewhurst Block at 521 Hewett is a red brick Commercial building. It was built in 1891. It once housed a general store. More recently, it was a Coast to Coast Hardware store. Richard Dewhurst, an attorney and politician, built it.
Hein & Beaulieu's Dry Goods Store
Hein & Beaulieu's Dry Goods Store at 517 Hewett was built in 1897. It's a Commercial Italianate building with some Queen Anne influences. It has a very decorative cornice with brackets.
