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Main Street Historic District (Fort Atkinson)
Encyclopedia
The Main Street Historic District in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984. The district is composed of 51 buildings on or within a block of Main Street.
Although many of the storefronts have been remodeled over the years, the original decorative brickwork is still visible on the upper levels of most buildings.
to Fort Winnebago
. The first white settlers arrived in the 1830s and settled on both sides of the Rock River
. Soon after, a wooden bridge was built linking North and South Main Streets.
From the 1840s to the 1870s, Main Street had mostly wood frame stores with wide shingled canopies resting on wooden posts. In the 1880s these small frame shops gave way to the buildings that exist today - two and three story brick buildings constructed with local cream brick, and adorned with fancy cornices and dentils. Canvas awnings replaced wooden canopies.
s crossing the Rock River
at this location. Prior to the building of the first one in 1843, people and wagons would attempt to ford
the river or were ferried
across. City founder Dwight Foster operated the first ferry service using raft
s and dugout canoes. The first bridge was a flimsy wooden structure built by local pioneers with material that were at hand. In 1870 an iron bridge costing $9,400 replaced it. A second iron bridge was built in 1881. In 1909 this structure was widened, with an elevated bandstand
in the shape of a stockade
constructed in the center. The present concrete bridge was built in 1917.
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Fort Atkinson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the Rock River, a few miles upstream from Lake Koshkonong. In 1996, Money Magazine named Fort Atkinson "One of America's Hottest Little Boomtowns." The population was 11,621 at the 2000 census.- History :Fort...
was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984. The district is composed of 51 buildings on or within a block of Main Street.
Although many of the storefronts have been remodeled over the years, the original decorative brickwork is still visible on the upper levels of most buildings.
History
Main Street is the oldest street in Fort Atkinson. It was originally part of a military road that connected Fort DearbornFort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of...
to Fort Winnebago
Fort Winnebago
This article is about the U.S. Army fort. For the civil township of the same name, see Fort Winnebago, WisconsinFort Winnebago was a 19th century fortification of the United States Army located on a hill between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers in Portage, Wisconsin...
. The first white settlers arrived in the 1830s and settled on both sides of the Rock River
Rock River (Illinois)
The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Illinois. It rises in southeast Wisconsin, in the Theresa Marsh near Theresa, Wisconsin in northeast Dodge County, Wisconsin approximately south of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin...
. Soon after, a wooden bridge was built linking North and South Main Streets.
From the 1840s to the 1870s, Main Street had mostly wood frame stores with wide shingled canopies resting on wooden posts. In the 1880s these small frame shops gave way to the buildings that exist today - two and three story brick buildings constructed with local cream brick, and adorned with fancy cornices and dentils. Canvas awnings replaced wooden canopies.
Main street bridge
There have been three bridgeBridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s crossing the Rock River
Rock River (Illinois)
The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Illinois. It rises in southeast Wisconsin, in the Theresa Marsh near Theresa, Wisconsin in northeast Dodge County, Wisconsin approximately south of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin...
at this location. Prior to the building of the first one in 1843, people and wagons would attempt to ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
the river or were ferried
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
across. City founder Dwight Foster operated the first ferry service using raft
Raft
A raft is any flat structure for support or transportation over water. It is the most basic of boat design, characterized by the absence of a hull...
s and dugout canoes. The first bridge was a flimsy wooden structure built by local pioneers with material that were at hand. In 1870 an iron bridge costing $9,400 replaced it. A second iron bridge was built in 1881. In 1909 this structure was widened, with an elevated bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
in the shape of a stockade
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
constructed in the center. The present concrete bridge was built in 1917.
Notable buildings
The buildings include:- 234 South Main - Built in 1888 as a furniture store, it was soon purchased by William D. HoardWilliam D. HoardWilliam Dempster Hoard was the 16th Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1889 to 1891.-Early life:...
for his expanding publishing company. Hoard had his office on the second floor. From 1910 to 1970 it was again used as a furniture store. - 238 South Main - Built in 1883. Used until 1908 as the Hoard printing plant. It was a hardware store from 1936 to 1980.
- 9 Milwaukee Avenue West - Milo Jones built the Green Mountain House hotel in 1848. It was later known as the Higbee House, the Snove Hotel and Hotel Fort. In 1915 Frank Hoard and Harry Curtis built the Black Hawk Tavern adjoining the hotel. In 1929 the Green Mountain House was torn down and replaced by the present building.
See also
- Merchants Avenue Historic DistrictMerchants Avenue Historic DistrictThe Merchants Avenue Historic District in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin was placed on the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1986...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Wisconsin