South Main Street Historic District (Janesville, Wisconsin)

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South Main Street Historic District
Lappin-Hayes Block 2.JPG
Lappin-Hayes Block, built 1855 and remodeled in 1899
LocationRoughly S. Main St. from Milwaukee St. to Rock Co. Courthouse grounds and E. Court St. from Parker Dr. to Rock R., Janesville, Wisconsin
Area3 acres (1.2 ha)
NRHP reference No. 90000820 [1]
Added to NRHPJune 1, 1990

The South Main Street Historic District a fairly intact remnant of Janesville, Wisconsin's old downtown east of the Rock River, built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1990 the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places. [2]

Description

Commerce in Janesville began in Henry Janes' cabin, built in 1836, where the Lappin-Hayes block now stands at the intersection of East Milwaukee and Main Streets. From that cabin Janes operated a rustic inn, general store, post office, and a ferry across the Rock River. In 1840 Thomas Lappin built a frame general store on the same site, and in 1855 he built part of the Lappin block that stands today. Over time, other buildings were added around it - some of them in trendy architectural styles. [2]

Many of those stores from the 1800s and early 1900s still remain. Many of the street-level storefronts have been extensively remodeled, but the upper stories often remain very much as built. Here are some good examples of the different styles, in roughly the order built:

Court Street Methodist Church, Second Empire-style, built 1868 Court St Methodist Church.JPG
Court Street Methodist Church, Second Empire-style, built 1868
Fredendall Block, Italianate style, built 1868-69 Image The Fredenall Block.jpeg
Fredendall Block, Italianate style, built 1868-69
Janesville Public Library, Neoclassical style, built 1902 Image Public Library.jpeg
Janesville Public Library, Neoclassical style, built 1902

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References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Carol Lohry Cartwright (July 1989). "NRHP Inventory/Nomination: South Main Street Historic District". National Park Service . Retrieved 2021-08-15. With nine photos.
  3. "Ensign H. Bennett and J.F. Clapp Block". Architecture and History Inventory. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  4. "Lappin-Hayes Block". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  5. "Court Street Methodist Church". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  6. "Fredendall Block (John C. Fredendall)". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  7. "Kent Block". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  8. "Janesville Public Library". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  9. "Schaller Block". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2021-08-15.