The Mazomanie Downtown Historic District was
listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1992.
One building within the district, the Mazomanie Town Hall (49 Crescent
Street), was placed on the Register earlier on October 20, 1980.
A. Boundaries.
(1) The Mazomanie Downtown Historic District is located
wholly within the Village of Mazomanie in Dane County, Wisconsin.
The boundaries include all those lots or portions of lots within a
six-block area historically associated with the buildings within the
district and such portions of the railroad yard as are necessary to
create a coherent whole. The district is bordered on the south by
the length of the now discontinued east-west running Exchange Street,
on the east by Cramer Street and the now covered-over tail race of
the Mazomanie Mill, on the west by Brodhead Street, and on the north
by Hudson Street.
(2) A map with specific boundaries is a part of this document.
B. General character.
(1) The Mazomanie Downtown Historic District is divided
into visually distinct north and south portions, each of which is
distinguished by markedly different land usage. The south portion
of the district consists of a broad, elongated, crescent-shaped parcel
of flat land at the foot of the slope and constitutes the central
portion of the railroad corridor that bisects the Village from east
to west. Most of this south portion was and is given over to the railroad
usage although nearly all the buildings and structures that were historically
associated with the railroad within the district, including the water
tank, the pump house, and the round house and turntable, have now
been demolished. Today, this portion of the district contains four
contributing buildings, one of which is associated directly with the
railroad and the others with the various manufacturing and processing
concerns that once utilized the land adjacent to the railroad. These
buildings are the Mazomanie Electric Power Plant and Village Hall
(118 Brodhead), the Mazomanie Railroad Depot (102 Brodhead), the Lynch
and Walker Flouring Mill (114 Cramer), and the outbuilding associated
with the mill.
(2) The north portion of the district contains the more
densely built-up commercial center of the Village. Most of Mazomanie's
retail store buildings face east and west onto Brodhead Street, the
principal north-south thoroughfare of the Village. As a consequence,
Brodhead Street serves as both the principal thoroughfare of the Mazomanie
Downtown Historic District and its main entranceway as well. The view
of the district seen from Brodhead Street at the top of the High Street
slope is also the finest in the Village and the one most frequently
seen by visitors exiting from US Highway 14.
(3) The north portion of the district contains 30 buildings
in all, of which 13 front on Brodhead Street, seven front on Hudson
Street, and the remaining 10 front on Crescent Street. Two of these
buildings are small frame construction garage buildings associated
with larger district buildings, two are single-family residential
buildings whose dates of construction and placement between other
district buildings warrant their inclusion within the district (34
E. Hudson and 53 Crescent), one is noncontributing to the district
because of the substantial alterations made to its exterior (1 Brodhead),
and two are noncontributing to the district because of the late date
of their construction (41 and 37 Crescent). The remaining 23 buildings
include all of the surviving buildings associated with Mazomanie's
commercial history not otherwise included in the south part of the
district. These buildings can be divided into two basic types: freestanding
buildings built mostly to shelter small manufacturing, agricultural
and industrial processing or warehousing concerns and more densely
packed commercial specialty store buildings, most of which are placed
in rows and are joined by party walls, forming continuous blocks of
buildings. Regardless of type, most of the buildings within the district
are faced in either brick or stone and none of them is more than two
stories in height.
C. Architectural character.
(1) Collectively, the buildings within the district represent
the continuous evolution of the various building styles associated
with commercial buildings in Mazomanie through eight decades of the
Village's history, beginning with the frame construction Greek Revival
style John Davidson Store Building (23 Hudson) built in 1859 and ending
with the late Tudor Revival style Mazomanie Community Building (9-11
Brodhead) built in 1935. With the exception of the Italianate style
J. A. Schmitz Block (18 Brodhead) and the buildings just mentioned,
nearly all the rest are examples of various stages in the development
of the Commercial Vernacular and the Astylistic Utilitarian forms.
District examples of the Commercial Vernacular form in particular
are characterized by the understated designs of their principal facades
and by their restrained use of ornamentation, regardless of the period
during which they were built. In general, most of the district buildings
exhibit a high degree of integrity for buildings of these types even
though nearly all of them have experienced some exterior or interior
changes. This is especially true of the commercial specialty stores
that line Brodhead and Hudson Streets. Almost all of these buildings
have had their first floor display windows modified to conform to
more modern taste in the last two decades. Fortunately, most of these
modifications are reversible and many of the cast-iron window frames
and most of the decorated cast-iron columns that originally enframed
the display windows are still intact beneath the later alterations.
(2) The mix of building types and styles found in the
district illustrates every phase of Mazomanie's commercial history
and every phase of the architectural evolution of the buildings which
represent this history. The buildings within the district are also
representative of the larger patterns of stylistic evolution that
shaped similar commercial buildings in other area communities. What
makes Mazomanie significant as an exemplar of this progression, however,
is both the completeness of the extant examples in terms of the styles
represented and the relatively high degree of integrity that buildings
within the district display.
The Village of Mazomanie, along with other Wisconsin
communities, has become increasingly concerned about preserving historically
and architecturally significant buildings and sites. There are multiple
rationale and benefits to be derived from preservation.
A. Sense of place. Perhaps the most important rationale
is the desire of the community to regain and protect a "sense of place."
Much of the American landscape has gone the way of billboards, standardized
housing projects, franchise businesses and other indistinguishable
building projects. Many of the features that distinguish one community
from another have been lost to new construction, destruction and remodeling.
The uniqueness of our community or those things that make downtown
Mazomanie what it is must be protected. The buildings and landmarks
within the Downtown Historic District provide us with our "sense of
place" or belonging.
B. Economic benefit. Preservation can be a significant
economic benefit. As more people are placing a value on uniqueness
and ties with our various heritages, business and property owners
are realizing clear financial advantages in maintaining and protecting
historic structures. Americans are searching out those places that
can provide a connection to the past. The Downtown Historic District
is a drawing card to shoppers and tourists. Furthermore, changes in
tax regulations as embodied in the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981
provide financial incentives for preserving historic buildings and
sights. Also, rehabilitation of old buildings if often more economical
than building anew.
C. Resource conservation. Preservation of older buildings
and districts is one of the most cost-effective ways of conserving
resources. Frequently, the quality of construction in older buildings
cannot be matched by newer construction practices. Extending the life
of these older buildings not only retains the quality built into them
but also reduces our reliance on new materials.
D. Individual accomplishment. Finally, one of the most
rewarding rationale for preservation is the fostering or awakening
of community pride as individuals become involved in projects to save
their heritage. In Mazomanie, individuals who have already participated
in preservation either through the protection and maintenance of individual
sites or through participation in various committees have derived
a feeling of pride and accomplishment in contributing to the community
in a manner which may be handed down to future generations. Many residents
have a strong personal commitment to preserving values which are symbolized
in the structures we have built.
The following goals state the intent of municipal
and public decisions and actions relating to historic preservation:
A. Preserve and maintain historic sites which reflect
or represent elements of the Village's cultural, social, economic,
political and architectural history.
B. Educate residents and visitors to the Village of Mazomanie
about the history of the community as reflected and represented in
historic sites.
C. Stabilize and improve historic property values in
the Village of Mazomanie.
D. Preserve and enhance the appearance and aesthetic
values associated with historic sites.
E. Enhance the economic vitality and livability of historic
neighborhoods.
F. Foster civic pride in the beauty and noble accomplishments
of the past.
G. Conserve natural resources and energy that are embodied
in older structures.
H. Promote economic development which incorporates the
preservation and continued use or reuse of historic structures.
I. Coordinate historic preservation with other planning
and development programs of the Village of Mazomanie. These include,
but are not limited to, economic development, land use planning, park
and recreation planning, capital improvement programming and neighborhood
planning.
The following policy statements should guide
the Historic Preservation Commission and the Village Board in designating
landmarks, landmark sites and historic districts and reviewing proposals
for changes or improvements on these properties.
A. Policies for designation.
(1) All structures, sites and historic districts eligible
for or listed in the National Register of Historic Places should be
considered for local preservation designation.
(2) Any improvement, site or historic district, whether
eligible for the National Register or not, may be designated a local
landmark for any of the following reasons:
(a)
The structure, site or district exemplifies
or reflects the broad cultural, political, economic or social history
of the nation, state or community;
(b)
The structure, site or district is identified
with historic personages or with important events in national, state
or local history;
(c)
The structure site or district embodies the
distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type inherently
valuable for a study of a period, style, or method of construction
or of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or
(d)
The structure, site or district is representative
of the notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose
individual genius influenced his or her age.
B. Policies for exterior alterations.
(1) The distinguishing original qualities or character
of a building, structure or site and its environment should not be
destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historical material or
distinctive architectural feature should be avoided.
(2) All buildings, structures, and sites should be recognized
as products of their own time. Alterations which have no historical
basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged.
(3) Changes which may have taken place during the course
of time are evidence of the history and development of a building,
structure or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired
a significance in their own right, and this significance should be
recognized and respected.
(4) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled
craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure or site should
be treated with sensitivity.
(5) Deteriorated architectural features should be repaired
rather than replaced. In the event replacement is necessary, the new
material should match the material being replaced in composition,
design, color, texture and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement
of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications
of features, substantiated by historical physical or pictorial evidence
rather than conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural
elements from other buildings or structures.
(6) The surface cleaning of structures should be undertaken
with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning
methods that will damage the historic building materials shall not
be undertaken.
(7) Every reasonable effort should be made to protect
or preserve archaeological resources affected by, or adjacent to,
any acquisition, protection, stabilization, preservation, rehabilitation,
restoration or reconstruction project.
C. Policies relating to new construction in historic
districts.
(1) The mass, volume and setback of proposed structures
should appear to be compatible with existing buildings in the immediate
area.
(2) The facade of new or remodeled structures should maintain
a compatible relationship with those of existing structures in terms
of windowsill or header lines; proportion of window and door openings;
horizontal or vertical emphasis of major building elements; and extent
of architectural detail.
(3) The building materials and colors used should complement
and be compatible with other buildings in the immediate area.
(4) The sizing, design and placement of signs should fit
the building and be comparable to signs in adjacent structures.
(5) All landscaping and parking provisions should compliment
and be compatible with improvements in the immediate area.
D. Policies relating to demolition.
(1) No building or structure should be demolished if it
is of such architectural or historic significance that its demolition
would be detrimental to the public interest, contrary to the general
welfare of the Village of Mazomanie or detract from the general historic
character of the Historic District.
(2) Any new structure which is proposed to be constructed
or any change in the use which is proposed to be made should be compatible
with the buildings and environment of the historic district in which
the subject property is located.
The following preservation guidelines represent
the principle concerns of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding
this historic designation. However, the Commission reserves the right
to make final decisions based upon particular design submissions.
These guidelines shall be applicable only to the Downtown Historic
District. Nothing in these guidelines shall be construed to prevent
ordinary maintenance or restoration and/or replacement of documented
original elements.
A. Guidelines for rehabilitation These guidelines are
based upon those contained in the Historic Preservation Ordinance
for the Village of Mazomanie. These guidelines are not intended to restrict an owner's
use of his/her property but to serve as a guide for making changes
which will be sensitive to the architectural integrity of the structure
and appropriate to the overall character of the district.
(1) Roofs.
(a)
Retain the original roof shape. Avoid making
changes to the roof shape which would alter the building height, roofline,
pitch or gable orientation. Dormers, skylights and solar collector
panels may be added to roof surfaces if they do not visually intrude
on those elevations visible from the right-of-way.
(b)
Retain the original roofing materials, wherever
possible. Avoid using new roofing materials that are inappropriate
to the style and period of the building and neighborhood.
(c)
Replace roof coverings with new materials that
match the old in size, shape, color and texture. Avoid replacing deteriorated
roof coverings with new materials which differ to the extent from
the old in size, shape, color, and texture that the appearance of
the building is altered.
(2) Exterior finishes.
(a)
Masonry.
[1]
Unpainted brick or stone should not be painted
or covered. Avoid painting or covering natural stone and unpainted
brick. This is likely to be historically incorrect and could cause
irreversible damage if it was decided to remove the paint at a later
date.
[2]
Repoint defective mortar by duplicating the
original color, style, texture and strength. Avoid using mortar colors
and pointing styles which were unavailable or not used when the building
was constructed.
[3]
Clean masonry only when necessary to halt deterioration
and with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting brick or stone
surfaces is prohibited.
[4]
Always replace or repair deteriorated material
that duplicates the old as closely as possible.
(b)
Stucco. Repair stucco with a stucco mixture
duplicating the original as closely as possible in appearance and
texture.
(c)
Wood.
[1]
Retain original material, whenever possible,
and avoid removing architectural features such as half-timbering,
window architraves and doorway pediments. An architrave is a molded
ornament skirting the head and sides of a door or window. These are
in most cases essential parts of a building's character and appearance
that should be retained.
[Amended 12-8-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-2]
[2]
Repair or replace deteriorated material with
new material that duplicates the appearance of the old as closely
as possible. Avoid covering architectural features with new materials
which are inappropriate or were unavailable when the building was
constructed, such as artificial stone, brick veneer, asbestos or asphalt
shingles, or vinyl or aluminum siding.
(3) Windows and doors.
(a)
Retain existing window and door openings that
are visible from the public right-of-way. Retain the original configuration
of panes, sash, lintels, keystones, sills, architraves (molded ornaments
skirting the head and sides of a window or door), pediments, hoods,
doors, shutters, and hardware. Avoid making additional opening or
changes in the principal elevations by enlarging or reducing window
or door openings to fit new stock window sash or new stock doors sizes.
Avoid discarding original doors and door hardware when they can be
repaired or reused.
[Amended 12-8-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-2]
(b)
When replacing window sash and doors, respect
the stylistic period or periods a building represents and duplicate
the original window sash and door design. Avoid using inappropriate
sash and door replacements such as unpainted, galvanized aluminum
storm and screen window combinations or plastic metal strip awnings
or fake shutters. Avoid using modern-style window units such as horizontal
sliding sash in place of double-hung sash or the substitution of units
with glazing configuration not appropriate to the style of the building.
(4) Porches, trim and ornamentation.
(a)
Retain and avoid altering porches and steps
visible from the public right-of-way that are historically and architecturally
appropriate to the building.
(b)
Retain trim and decorative ornamentation, including
copings, cornices, cresting, finials, railing, balconies, oriels,
pilasters, columns, chimneys, bargeboards or decorative panels. An
oriel is a bay window, especially one built out from a wall and resting
on a bracket or similar support. Repair or replace, when necessary,
deteriorated material with new material that duplicates the old as
closely as possible.
[Amended 12-8-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-2]
B. Guidelines for streetscapes. Maintain the height,
scale, mass and materials established by the buildings in the district
and the traditional setback and density of the block faces. Use traditional
landscaping, fencing, retaining walls, signage and streetlighting
which are compatible with the character and period of the district.
C. Guidelines for new construction. It is important that
new construction be designed so as to harmonize with the character
of the district. A positive feature of the Downtown Historic District
is that it is an eclectic collection of buildings representing a broad
range of architectural styles, dating from the 1860's to the 1930's.
It is not the intention of this plan that new construction should
try to emulate or copy past styles. It is the intention of the plan
that new construction should reflect the traditional siting, scale
and form of existing buildings. Siting refers to setback distance,
spacing between buildings, their orientation and their relationship
to each other. Scale refers to the overall height and bulk of new
buildings and their compatibility with existing structures. Form refers
to the profiles of roofs and building elements which project and recede
from the main block. New construction should express the same continuity
established by existing buildings within the historic district.
D. Guidelines for demolition. Although demolition is
not encouraged and is generally not permissible, there may be instances
when demolition may be acceptable if approved by the Historic Preservation
Commission. The following guidelines shall be taken into consideration
by the Commission when reviewing demolition requests:
(1) Condition. A demolition request may be granted when
it can be clearly demonstrated that the condition of a building or
a portion thereof is such that it constitutes an immediate threat
to health and safety.
(2) Importance. Consideration will be given to whether
or not the building is of historical or architectural significance
or displays a quality of material and craftsmanship that does not
exist in other structures in the area.
(3) Potential for restoration. Consideration will be given
to whether or not the building is beyond economically feasible repair.
(4) Additions. Consideration will be given to whether
or not the proposed demolition is a later addition which is not in
keeping with the original design of the structure or does not contribute
to its character.
(5) Replacement. Consideration will be given to whether
or not the building is to be replaced by a compatible building of
similar architectural style and scale.
E. Fire escapes. Additional required fire escapes shall
be designed and located so as to minimize their visual impact from
the public right-of-way.
F. Signs. The installation of any permanent exterior
sign other than those now in existence shall require the approval
of the Commission. Approval will be based on the compatibility of
the proposed sign with the historic and architectural character of
the building and the district.
The program noted in this section consists of specific strategies for implementing the goals identified in §
A420-5. The major features of the action program are four distinct strategies which combine the use of education, regulatory powers, economic incentives, and Village improvement programming. All of these strategies will require input and action from the members of the Historic Preservation Commission, the Mazomanie Historical Society, the Village Board and the Village staff. In general, the Historic Preservation Commission, with assistance from the Mazomanie Historical Society, should be charged with educational and public information responsibilities, designating landmarks and historic districts and reviewing changes to improvements on such properties. The Village Board should be the appeal review body for all regulatory actions of the Historic Preservation Commission. The Village staff should be responsible for keeping minutes of Historic Preservation Commission actions and serving as a liaison between the Village Board, the Historic Preservation Commission and the general public.
A. Education strategy. In general, the Historic Preservation
Commission and Historical Society should provide a program for public
information. The Historic Preservation Commission members will organize
and conduct most of the public information programs associated with
historic preservation. The Village staff will be available to provide
some clerical and support help, but the impetus for education will
need to be sponsored by the Historic Preservation Commission and Historical
Society. Specific education programs may include the following:
(1) Conduct walking tours and workshops.
(2) Publish brochures and literature.
(3) Provide plaques and signs where appropriate and resources
permit identifying historic sites.
(4) Provide video tape or other audiovisual materials
promoting historic preservation.
(5) Work with individual property owners to explain the
historic preservation goals and policies of the Village.
(6) Provide technical information to property owners and
other individuals on construction techniques associated with preservation
and suggest methods to meet the design guidelines contained in the
Historic Preservation Ordinance.
B. Regulatory strategy. The Village's development regulations
should be used to require the preservation and maintenance of designated
landmarks. The Historic Preservation Commission should be charged
with designating landmarks, landmark sites and historic districts
and reviewing proposals for changes to improvements on these properties.
[Amended 12-8-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-2]
C. Economic incentive strategy. The financial advantages
to business and property owners in maintaining and preserving historic
structures provide the "carrot" element of the program for historic
preservation. Increased property values and business activity provide
the primary economic incentives; these are supplemented by incentives
provided by tax regulations and the possibility of public financial
assistance. The federal government through its tax incentive programs
and grants-in-aid program has maintained a public policy of providing
economic incentives for historical preservation. Through block grant
programs and other techniques for providing local development incentives,
such as tax incremental financing, the Village has the opportunity
to provide additional incentives for historic preservation. The following
specific actions are recommended as a means of implementing an economic
incentive strategy for historic preservation:
(1) The Historic Preservation Commission should provide
written material and communicate through other media concerning the
availability of federal tax incentives for historic preservation.
In particular, information on the twenty-five-percent tax credit program
for improvements to certified commercial and income-producing property
as provided by the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 should be made
widely available.
(2) The Village Board should explore the opportunity of
utilizing federal block grant funding for loans or grants for the
rehabilitation of locally designated landmarks.
(3) The Village Board should consider establishing a revolving
loan fund from general revenue or other local revenue sources to assist
the rehabilitation of locally designated landmarks.
(4) Potential low-interest loans may be available from
local lending institutions for facade improvements.
D. Village municipal property strategy. Several historic
buildings are publicly owned structures. The Village has the opportunity
to set an example, act as a steward and be a leader in the area of
historic preservation by assuring that public capital improvements
are sensitive to the historic integrity of landmarks and historic
districts. The following specific steps should be taken to screen
public actions for historic sensitivity:
(1) All Village improvement programs which will impact
designated landmarks or properties identified in the intensive survey
as significant should be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission.
(2) All proposed Village improvements within designated
historic districts should be reviewed by the Historic Preservation
Commission for historic sensitivity. Where affordable, street furniture,
public lighting and pavement surfaces within historic districts should
be designated to integrate into the character of the district.
Historic preservation planning is most meaningful
if it is coordinated with other planning activities of the Village
of Mazomanie. The Historic Preservation Plan reflects this coordination
in two ways:
A. Goals.
(1) The goals for historic preservation must compliment
and reinforce community goals as expressed in the soon to be developed
Village Master Plan. At its most general level, historic preservation
planning reinforces the concern for the aesthetic and visual elements
of the urban experience. Preservation of historic structures and districts
is viewed as part of an overall program to encourage quality urban
design.
(2) The goals of historic preservation planning also restate
and reinforce the Village's goals for economic development and revitalization.
The economic benefits of historic preservation have been well documented
nationwide. These benefits range from high job creation ratios and
spin-off economic benefits to properties adjacent to historic structures
to cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation over new construction.
B. Specific implementation.
(1) The strategies for implementation of historic preservation
goals are closely associated with the downtown revitalization strategies
already being implemented in the Village of Mazomanie.
(2) The action program described in this plan is designed
to integrate into the efforts of Village staff and the Village Board.
The Historic Preservation Commission is expected to work closely with
each of these groups to coordinate its historic preservation efforts
with other planning activities in the Village.