1101 North Main Street (Racine, Wisconsin): Difference between revisions
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{{coord|42.73478|-87.78430|display=title}}▼
{{Infobox building
▲| coordinates = {{coord|42.73478|-87.78430|display=inline,title}}
| name = 1101 North Main Street
| image = File:1101 North Main Street, Racine, WI, 2004.JPG
| building_type = Commercial building
| location = 1101 [[Main Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|North Main Street]]<br/>[[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Wisconsin]]
| start_date = 1918
| opened_date =
| owner = MAP Sixth Street LLC<ref>[https://cityofracine.org/Source/Templates/WebPro.aspx?TabIndex=1&CardNumber=1&AccountNumber=2121 City of Racine Property Records]</ref>
| developer =
}}
'''1101 North Main Street''' is a currently vacant commercial building on the northeast corner of [[Main Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|North Main Street]] and [[Dodge Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Dodge Street]] in [[Racine, Wisconsin]], built in 1918 for an automobile dealership. Most recently, it was home to Main Marine and Ski, a boat dealership and equipment store which opened in 1967 and closed in 2013.
==History==
===Early history (1918–1936)===
The current building at 1101 North Main Street was built in 1918,<ref name=makeover-2003/> and was first occupied by Racine Overland Sales, an automobile dealership.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54329390/the-journal-times/ Advertisements], [[Racine Journal-News]], August 7, 1918.</ref> By November of that year, the dealership had left, and undertaker Thomas L. O'Keefe moved his funeral home into the building from [[613 Sixth Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|613 Sixth Street]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54348266/the-journal-times/ "Announcement"], [[Racine Journal-News]], November 2, 1918, page 12.</ref> In July 1921, the {{w|Stearns (automobile)|Stearns}} automobile company opened a dealership branch and [[service station]] in the building.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54348669/the-journal-times/ Advertisement], [[Racine Journal-News]], July 2, 1921, page 20.</ref> In its early history, the building was home to a succession of short-lived automobile dealers and dealerships, including the Gorton Motor Sales Company,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54349068/the-journal-times/ Advertisement], [[Racine Journal-News]], July 13, 1922, page 11.</ref> Badger Motor Company,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54349169/the-journal-times/ Advertisement], [[Racine Journal-News]], February 28, 1924, page 19.</ref> {{w|REO Motor Car Company|REO Sales Company}},<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54350293/the-journal-times/ Advertisement], [[Racine Journal-News]], April 23, 1929, page 3.</ref> George W. Seater,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54348967/the-journal-times/ Advertisement], [[Racine Journal-News]], November 20, 1929, page 7.</ref> Knudson Sales Company,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54353820/the-journal-times/ Advertisement], [[Racine Journal Times]], March 14, 1934, page 16.</ref> and Stanat Motor Sales.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54356050/the-journal-times/ Classified advertisement], [[Racine Journal Times]], May 23, 1935, page 20.</ref>
===Wiese Auto Sales (1936–1967)===
In 1935, the building became home to Central Auto Mart, previously located at [[5th Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|5th Street]] and [[College Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|College Avenue]]. In 1936, it was joined at its new location by Wiese Auto Sales, formerly located at [[2030 Douglas Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|2030 Douglas Avenue]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54341642/the-journal-times/ Advertisement], [[Racine Journal Times]], September 13, 1935, page 18.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54343856/the-journal-times/ Advertisement], [[Racine Journal Times]], December 6, 1935, page 20.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54334200/the-journal-times/ Classified advertisement], [[Racine Journal-News]], February 28, 1936, page 18.</ref> By May 1967, Wiese Rambler Sales had moved all its operations to its other location at [[800 South Marquette Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|800 South Marquette Street]].
===Main Marine and Ski (1967–2013)===
[[File:Main Marine and Ski door, Racine, WI, December 2019.jpg|thumb|
Main Marine and Ski, a shop selling boats, skiing and marine equipment and accessories, began leasing space in the front of the former Wiese Rambler dealership building,<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54297695/the-journal-times/ "Marine & Ski Store Opened"], [[Racine Journal Times]], May 9, 1967, page 6B.</ref> and opened on May 5, 1967.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54297926/the-journal-times/ Advertisment], [[Racine Journal Times]], May 5, 1967, page 4C.</ref>
When the [[Main Street Bridge (Racine, Wisconsin)|Main Street Bridge]] immediately south of the building was demolished and replaced in 1996, the store was difficult to access for several months, and Main Street was permanently rerouted, affecting access to the store. The city awarded the store $20,000 in compensation, but the store's owners sued for larger compensation, arguing that it had suffered $237,000 in damages. In February 1998, the store ultimately reached a settlement with the city, and received an additional $15,000 in compensation.<ref>[https://journaltimes.com/news/local/the-county/article_a38145fa-12db-5a59-adaa-4695ab12d96a.html "The County: City settles lawsuit with business"], [[Racine Journal Times]], March 6, 1998.</ref> In November 1998, the business successfully petitioned the city council to extend a storm sewer onto the property, as well as for permission to add an awning to the building.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54298822/the-journal-times/ "Item 14 of November 4, 1998"], Common Council Official Proceedings, [[Racine Journal Times]], November 25, 1998, page 6D.</ref>
Don Meyer, the founder of Main Marine and Ski, retired from the business on September 25, 2002.<ref>[https://journaltimes.com/news/local/people-in-business/article_c18b6fd6-76f5-55b1-bfcd-85bccc9d078e.html "People in Business"], [[Racine Journal Times]], September 22, 2002.</ref> His son Jim Meyer began renovating the building shortly after taking over the business, with the particular goal of improving the second-floor boat showroom.<ref name=makeover-2003>Burke, Michael. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54298590/the-journal-times/ "Historic building gets a makeover"], [[Racine Journal Times]], February 16, 2003, page 1B.</ref>
On July 15, 2005, a {{w|Kawasaki}} {{w|Jet Ski}} which had been sold by Main Marine and Ski exploded during operation in [[Eagle Lake, Wisconsin]], permanently paralyzing one of its occupants and injuring the other. The store was successfully sued for $500,000 by the injured parties, part of a $5,000,000 total settlement reached in 2009.<ref>[https://wislawjournal.com/2009/09/07/richard-and-laura-hart-and-robert-and-jean-jacobsen-vs-kawasaki-heavy-industries-ltd-kawasaki-motors-corp-usa-kawasaki-motors-manufacturing-corp-usa-main-marine-ski-inc-and-sentry-insurance/ "Richard and Laura Hart and Robert and Jean Jacobsen vs. Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. USA, Main, Marine & Ski, Inc. and Sentry Insurance"], [[Wisconsin Law Journal]], September 7, 2009.</ref>
Main Marine and Ski closed on August 31, 2013.
==References==
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