Princeton Downtown Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Princeton Downtown Historic District
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A portion of the district.
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| Location | Approximately .33 miles E from Jct. WI 23 and WI 73, Princeton, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000271 |
| Added to NRHP | March 21, 1997 |
The Princeton Downtown Historic District is a special part of Princeton, Wisconsin. It's a collection of old buildings that show what the town's main business area looked like a long time ago. This district helps us remember the history and growth of Princeton.
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Exploring Princeton's Historic Downtown
This historic district is made up of Princeton's original business center. It includes several buildings that were important shops and businesses in the past. These buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This means they are recognized as important historical sites in the United States. They were also added to the State Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin the next year.
Buildings from the Past
Many of the buildings in the district show interesting architectural styles from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Let's explore some of them:
Early Italianate Buildings
- Teske Dry Goods Store: Built in 1859, this store is a great example of Italianate architecture. This style often features tall, narrow windows and decorative brackets under the roof. A dry goods store sold things like fabric, clothing, and other household items.
- Worm Saloon: This building, from 1860 and updated in 1884, was once a saloon. Saloons were places where people gathered to drink and socialize.
- Henning Meat Market: Before 1885, this building housed a meat market. It also shows the Italianate style, even though it was made of wood.
Late 1800s Structures
- Schall Building: Built in 1882, this building also features Italianate architecture. Many businesses would have operated from buildings like this.
- Luedtke Store: From 1890, this store is another example of the Italianate style. It would have been a busy place for shoppers.
- Rimpler Dry Goods Store: This store, built in 1891, continued the tradition of selling essential goods to the community.
- Princeton State Bank: Constructed in 1894, this bank stands out with its Richardsonian Romanesque style. This type of architecture often uses heavy stone, round arches, and strong, simple shapes, making buildings look very solid and important.
Early 1900s Additions
- Schade Saloon and Jewelry Store: Built in 1901, this building had two different businesses. It was a place for drinks and also where people could buy jewelry.
- Yahr Building: Also from 1901, this building shows a style called Commercial vernacular architecture. This means it was built for practical business use, without a lot of fancy decorations. It first sold furniture and even caskets.
These buildings together tell the story of Princeton's growth and its daily life more than a century ago.
