Stoughton Main Street Commercial Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stoughton Main Street Commercial Historic District
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Stoughton Main Street Commercial Historic District
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| Location | Stoughton, Wisconsin |
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| NRHP reference No. | 82001842 |
| Added to NRHP | October 21, 1982 |
The Stoughton Main Street Commercial Historic District is a special area in downtown Stoughton, Wisconsin, United States. It includes 36 old business buildings that are still standing today. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because of its important history.
Stoughton's Early Days and Growth
Stoughton began in 1847 when a pioneer named Luke Stoughton planned out a village. He built it along the Yahara River, which was then called Catfish Creek. Luke Stoughton also built a dam, a sawmill, and a grist mill. That same year, Alvin West opened an inn at what is now 101 W. Main Street.
The Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad arrived in Stoughton in 1853. This made the town a busy shipping center for wheat from nearby farms. In the 1860s, T.G. Mandt started a wagon-making factory. This factory became so successful that Stoughton was known as "the Hub City." By 1880, Mandt's factory made 5,000 wagons and many wheel hubs. It also employed almost 200 people.
The Great Fire and Rebuilding
Most of Stoughton's early stores were made of wood. In 1889, a big fire destroyed a whole row of wooden buildings on East Main Street. This included buildings from 139 to 195 E. Main. Only the Moen Bakery building at 147-143 E. Main survived. This bakery had been built around 1882 using brick. It was damaged but stood strong.
After the fire, the owners and the city decided to rebuild the entire block using brick. The new buildings were two stories tall and had a similar design. George Becker managed this large rebuilding project. Even the Moen Bakery got a new top part (called a cornice) to match the other new buildings.
Cool Old Buildings to See
Here are some important buildings in the Stoughton Main Street Commercial Historic District:
Masonic Hall (1869)
- The Masonic Hall at 160 E. Main is a three-story building made of cream-colored brick. It was built in 1869 and is the tallest building in the district.
- The original storefront on the street level is now hidden by a newer stone layer. But the upper parts of the building still look much like they did.
- It has tall, narrow columns (called pilasters) on the sides and rounded windows. The top part of the building shows an Italianate style with decorative brickwork (a frieze).
- This building has been a Mason's Hall, a cigar factory, and a clothing store.
Jensen Block (1871-1882)
- The Jensen Block at 180 E. Main is a two-story business building. It was built between 1871 and 1882 and still looks very much like it did originally.
- It has Italianate style with original windows that have rounded tops and brick arches.
- Above the windows, there is fancy brickwork (a frieze) and a decorative metal top (a cornice). This building first housed a boot and shoe store.
The Rebuilt Block (After 1889 Fire)
This group of six two-story brick buildings from 139 to 195 E. Main was rebuilt together after the 1889 fire. They all share a similar commercial Victorian style. They have arched window tops and a continuous decorative top (cornice) with a triangular shape (pediment) between each pair of buildings.
- The Hausmann-Chrestoffer Block at 195 E. Main housed a business.
- The Forton Building at 175 E. Main housed a clothes store.
- The Mikkelson Building at 161 E. Main housed a dry goods store.
- The Erikson Building at 151 E. Main housed a furniture store.
- The Moen Bakery at 143-147 E. Main housed a drug store.
- The Johnson Block at 139 E. Main housed a meat market.
Hyland-Olsen Block (1897)
- The Hyland-Olsen Block at 201 W. Main is a three-story building made of cream-colored brick. It was designed by Jay Knapp and built in 1897.
- Its walls and windows are framed with white stone. The top of the walls has a metal cornice. A triangular shape (pediment) is above that in the center.
- This building once housed "Stoughton's leading department store." It also had Stoughton's first telephone exchange, a bank, and offices.
Hausmann Block (1903)
- The Hausmann Block at 105 E. Main is a two-story brick business building from 1903.
- Its most unique part is the corner tower. This tower is covered with pressed metal and has a cone-shaped roof with a decorative ball on top.
- Its style is Queen Anne, which you can see in the corner tower and the different brick patterns. It was built for Carl Hausmann and later also housed a moving picture place.
Boyce Block (Remodeled 1905)
- The Boyce Block at 134 E. Main was first built in the late 1850s. It was updated in 1905.
- The upper front of the building has a design that looks like a wide column (pilaster). This column contains three tall, rounded windows with contrasting stone around their tops.
- Above that is a classical decorative band (entablature) with small block-like decorations (dentils) at the top. A drugstore was on the first floor, and a meeting hall was above.
Erickson Block (1905)
- The Erickson Block at 188-194 W. Main is a three-story building made of red brick. It was built in 1905.
- The upper two floors have a row of red brick columns (pilasters). These frame panels of cream brick and windows with arched tops.
- Each column has a decorative top (capital) made of terra cotta. These support a classical decorative band (entablature). Over the years, this building has housed a boot and shoe store, offices, and a bank.
Citizen's State Bank (Around 1907)
- The Citizen's State Bank at 171 W. Main is a Neoclassical building from around 1907.
- The front of the building has four brick piers (large supports) decorated with bands of light stone.
- Like the Boyce Block, its front is topped with a decorative band (entablature) that has small block-like decorations (dentils).
