Merchants Avenue Historic District

Updated on Dec 08, 2024

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NRHP Reference # 86001303 Added to NRHP 13 June 1986		Area 4 ha Nearest city Fort Atkinson

Location Roughly bounded by S. Third St. E and S. Milwaukee Ave. E, Foster St., Whitewater, and Merchant Aves

The Merchants Avenue Historic District in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin was placed on the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The district is composed of 33 mostly residential buildings within six city blocks around Merchants Avenue.

History

Because of its proximity to the Main Street mercantile area, Merchants Avenue became a natural residential location for many businessmen and professionals. Home designs were influenced by the gilded age attitude toward architecture. This resulted in many different architectural styles used in the district, including Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne and Spanish Colonial. The predominate building materials used were either the locally manufactured yellow brick or wood, framed into houses with clapboard walls and shingled roofs.

Notable buildings

The buildings include:

407 Merchants Avenue - The Hoard Historical Museum - This Gothic Revival house was built in 1864. A wing was added in 1875 and in 1906 Frank Hoard doubled the size of the building and renovated it with an Arts and Crafts motif. The Hoard family donated the building to the city in 1956 for use as a museum. Since then three major additions have been added, including the National Dairy Shrine in 1981.

414 Foster Street - Foster House - Built for $2,000 in 1841, this Greek Revival style building is Fort Atkinson's oldest frame house. The lumber used was floated down the Rock River from Watertown. Wooden pegs are used throughout and it has cherry cellar stairs.

References

Merchants Avenue Historic District Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

History

Notable buildings

References