209 East Main - 219 East Main Street (south side)
209-213 East Main Street (Benson & Reilly/Hanley Auto Company)
209-213 East Main Street
This commercial vernacular brick building was erected in two sections. Number 209 was built for the (Joseph) Benson and (Myron) Reilly Auto Company in 1917, while number 213 (a Modern Broadfront) was constructed for the Hanley Auto Company in 1926. The building has a simple corbelled cornice with a flat pediment. It has been altered with stucco and applied half-timbering at both the first- and second-stories. By 1918, John Hanley had bought out Benson, and the firm became Hanley and Reilly, Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealership until 1954, and Klusendorf Chevrolet from 1955 until 1966. The second floor housed the Mount Horeb Public Library from 1917 until moving to 138 East Main Street in 1925. Later tenants included the Al Austin photo studio, the Hanneman photo studio, and the Bachelor Club. In 1976, the exterior was remodeled to create the present Swiss chalet-like appearance for the Ryser Brothers cheese and gift shop (Village of Mount Horeb Tax Rolls; Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, pp. 25, 57 and 64). This property was owned by the Benson and Reilly Company from 1915 until 1918; by Hanley and Reilly from 1918 until 1925; by the Hanley Auto Company from 1925 until 1954; by Mildred Fosshage Dahle, Mary Thomas and Joan Underwood from 1954 until 1967; by the Ryser Brothers from 1967 until at least 1985; and in 1996, by Vitale. The Benson and Reilly/Hanley Building is not individually eligible for historic designation, but is a contributing element in the potential National Register Main Street Historic District, and the potential locally-designated Main Street Historic District. More information on our cheese factories- link. |
215 East Main Street (James Gesme Funeral Parlor)
215 East Main Street
This brick-veneered structural clay tile commercial vernacular building was erected for the James Gesme Funeral Parlor in 1922 (datestone). It is a Modern Broadfront and features decorative brick work, a stone panel inscribed "Gesme 1922," and a stone coping. James Gesme established a furniture store and undertaking business at 132 East Main Street (demolished) in 1894. He sold the furniture portion of the business circa 1905. This building was erected for the display of caskets and to prepare for visitations, which were then held in the deceased's home. James' son Isaac joined the business in 1926. James Gesme was a funeral director in Mount Horeb for over 40 years (The Mount Horeb Centennial Book, 1861-1961, p. 49). Around 1945, Isaac Gesme moved the business to the old Lingard House on Academy Street. When Gesme retired, he sold the business to John Ellestad (The Mount Horeb Centennial Book, 1861-1961, p. 10; Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, pp. 21, 44). From 1959 until at least 1961, this building housed Grant Hustad's laundromat. The building has been a dentist's office since at least 1975 (Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, p. 25). This property was owned by John Gesme from 1922 until at least 1930, by his estate from at least 1935 until 1945, by E. Gonstead from 1945 until at least 1955, by Grant Hustad from at least 1959 until at least 1970, by Dr. John Hymer from at least 1975 until at least 1985, and by Dr. Roland Wilson in 1996. The Gesme Funeral Parlor s not individually eligible for historic designation, but is a contributing element in the potential National Register Main Street Historic District, and the potential locally-designated Main Street Historic District. |
217 East Main Street (William Bunnell/Sam Thompson Blacksmith Shop)
217 East Main Street
This brick-veneered commercial vernacular building was erected for the William Bunnell blacksmith shop in 1867. It is a Boomtown Front, and originally stood on the northeast corner of present-day Springdale and Eighth Streets. It was the first blacksmith shop in Mount Horeb (The Mount Horeb Centennial Book, 1861-1961, p.11). Samuel Thompson bought the shop in 1872. In 1881, Thompson moved the building to 105 East Main Street. Thompson moved it too this site in 1892, to make room for the first Mount Horeb Bank (Village of Mount Horeb Tax Rolls; The Mount Horeb Centennial Book, 1861-1961, pp. 13, 24). From 1885 until about 1889, Thompson worked in partnership with Gustav Schneider. Thompson retired in 1985, selling out to Sater and Ross (Mount Horeb Weekly News, June 10, 1885; Mount Horeb Times, June 6, 1895). By 1896, the blacksmiths in residence were Ross and Henry Riphan. Riphan continued alone from 1899 until 1903. He was followed by Henry Bell and Peter Laufenberg until 1906. Oscar Jylland's blacksmith shop was here from 1906 until 1915. Bert Hinrichs' blacksmith shop was here until 1966 (Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, p. 23). Hinrichs had brick veneer put on the front facade in 1922 (Village of Mount Horeb Tax Rolls). This property was owned by Sam Thompson from 1872 until 1895, by Ross and Riphan from 1896 until 1899, by Henry Riphan from 1899 until 1903, by Henry Bell and Peter Laufenberg from 1903 until 1906, by Oscar Jylland from 1906 until 1915, by Bert Hinrichs from 1915 until at least 1970, by Wallace Keller in 1975, and by Duane Sutter since at least 1980. The Bunnell/Thompson Building is probably individually eligible for designation as a Mount Horeb Historic Site for its history, and is a contributing element in the potential National Register Main Street Historic District, and the potential locally-designated Main Street Historic District. |
219 East Main Street (Axel Krohn building/Mt. Horeb Mail Office - original demolished)
219 East Main Street
This frame Boomtown Front commercial vernacular building was erected at 211 East Main Street in 1911 for Axel Krohn to house the newspaper printing and publishing office of the Mount Horeb Mail. The storefront appears to have been altered. Krohn bought this lot, on which stood Samuel Thompson's wagon-making shop, razed that building and moved this one to it in 1915 (Village of Mount Horeb Tax Rolls; Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, pp. 23, 57). The Mount Horeb Mail was first published in 1901; O.M. Eidsmore was the editor, Alex C. Krohn was the printer, the office was located in a building at 207 East Main Street (demolished). In 1904, Krohn purchased the Mail from Eidsmore. In 1911, Krohn had this building erected at 211 East Main Street. Krohn moved the building to this site in 1915 to make room for the Benson and Reilly Auto Company (209-211 East Main Street, which see). Krohn retired in 1950, and was succeeded by his children, Elmer Krohn and Alice Krohn Fosshage. Elmer dies in 1960, and family members continued to run the paper until 1977. Since at least 1986, the Mail has been published by Curtis and Daniel Witte at 118 East Main Street (Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, p. 20). This property was owned by Alex Krohn, and later his children, from 1915 until at least 1965. Gary Greve had part ownership of the building with Robert Krohn in 1965, and sole ownership from at least 1970 until circa 1975. Solon Pierce owned it from at least 1975 until at least 1980. Doyle Curtis owned it in 1985. In 1996, the owner was Wealti. The Krohn Building is not individually eligible for historic designation, and is a noncontributing element in the potential National Register Main Street Historic District, and the potential locally-designated Main Street Historic District. |