Gattiker Block (Baraboo, Wisconsin)

 building, Italianate style (architecture), commercial building, 19th century construction, 1879_construction, 1870s construction

 Upload a photo

A large fire in 1878 destroyed much of the Oak Street block facing the courthouse square. A new brick Italianate-style double-block was constructed in 1879 by George Holah for James J. Gattiker. The woodwork was done by Thomas Thompson and the building cost approximately $6,000. A triangular pediment marks the center of the seven by two story design and highlighted with a central stone block that reads: "Gattiker 1879." Brick provides the sole ornamentation. Window hoods are segmented arches and bricks are used to create dentils at the first story and roof and columns between the windows. Plate glass windows, iron columns, sidelights and transom are all largely unaltered on the southern storefront located at 512 Oak Street. The northern storefront, however, has been altered extensively, but still maintains a recessed entry.

James Jacob Gattiker was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1826 and taught French, Italian and Mathematics as a professor until 1855, when his entire family immigrated to the United States. In 1858, J.J. Gattiker, and his brother Alfred, settled in Baraboo and opened a hardware store. The Gattiker brothers were responsible for the development and construction of many of the buildings around the courthouse square during the 1870s and 1880s, providing materials and financing. J.J. Gattiker, in particular, was leader of the local community, convincing many German speaking immigrants to settle in the Baraboo area and providing social and financial assistance. He retired from business in 1886.

In 1880, August Fisher moved his drug store to the 516 Oak Street address and named the store the Fisher Brothers Drug Store (later Fisher Drug Store/The Fisher Drug Store/Fisher's Drug Store). The Fisher Brother’s installed a plate glass storefront in 1889. The store was known for its innovation, utilizing a road medicine wagon in the 1890s and installing a two-story soda fountain in 1891. The store was sold to employees in 1913 and continued as a drug store. In the 1920s the store constructed a new exterior storefront and extensive interior work including a 1925 Frigidaire soda fountain. The drug store was bought out by the rival Thompson Drug Store around September 1975 and closed. Greeting card and gift shops The Carousel took over the storefront from around early-October 1975 until Spring 1988 and then Jerry's Hallmark from June 28, 1988 (originally located at 114 4th Street) until 2014. Today, the storefront currently houses an antique toy store Baraboo Toy Soldier Shoppe & Miniatures (originally located at 524 Oak Street, Suite 15), it opened on February 23, 2019.

The southern storefront, located at 512 Oak Street, was occupied by the Pfannstiehl Dry Goods and Grocery upon completion. Emil Pfannstiehl was married to one of J.J. Gattiker’s daughters. In 1892, the storefront was occupied by Mould and Buckley Book Store and Cigars. The store became the Buckley and Taylor Book Store in 1906. The structure has continually been treated as two stores, as have many of the other double blocks in downtown Baraboo. In 1879, the Baraboo Republic newspaper moved their quarters into the second floor of the new Gattiker Block. Several organizations used the upper hall in the building, including the Grand Army of the Republic, the Ladies Art Society, and the Baraboo Choral Union. Read more at: webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:VKJMPwINl...

The exterior northern storefront of this building was also featured in the 1994 romantic comedy film I Love Trouble starring Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte. Jerry's Hallmark, which was housed on the northern storefront during that time was temporarily transformed into a barber shop set for the movie. Filming took place around that area between October 4-18, 1993.