On October 29, 1842, George Bell, carpenter, and William Henderson, stonemason, created a legal contract for building the Henderson building. The contract documented specifics for a building Bell and Henderson were planning to build in partnership. The basement was to be 32’-0” wide in front , 29’-0” in depth, 35’-0” wide in rear, 18” thick walls that are 7’-0” high. The first, second and third floor walls were to be 8” thick brick. (Court Docket, 1842)
When the building was completed, in the summer of 1843, “the building was celebrated”. (Holford, 1900) The Henderson building brought the celebration of American Independence to the town of Potosi. A majority of the people from the town had immigrated to America and were connected to fighting for American Independence. Bunting and flags, to name a few items, were proudly displayed on July 4.
Pre-Wisconsin statehood (May 29, 1848), the three-story, Federal style, Henderson Building was the oldest example of an urban multi-use building in Grant county. The uses included residential housing, a blacksmith shop, general store, professional service offices of law, dental, photography, hotel, and a newspaper.
The Henderson Block sits on a limestone plinth. The plinth held a, two buildings, a blacksmith shop, built of limestone, in 1841, and the three story brick Henderson building. The blacksmith shop and the commercial Henderson building shared a limestone structural wall.
The commercial Henderson building had three separate entrances. Two Retail entrances on the north and south, of the facade, entering into the first floor shops. The third entrance, a center door, between the two retail entries, brought professionals and residences up the stairs to the second and third floors. The façade was topped with a bracketed, metal and wood, corbelled fascia and a central pediment rising in the middle.
The Henderson building’s facade had six double-hung wood windows inset in masonry brick openings with a stone sill and lintel.
The roof of the building was a flat roof with parapets on three sides.
In 1843, the law offices of Cole and Biddlecom opened in the Henderson building. Orasmus Cole lived in the Henderson Building with his family from 1849 through 1855.
The newspaper, Potosi Republican, started on the third floor of the Henderson Building. (Potosi Republican Advertisement) It was a weekly, democratic, newspaper. It was first edited by J. M. Denton, followed by James W. Seaton and finally Edwin Paul. The demise of the newspaper came because of the exodus of miners to California approximately 1854-55.
In 1847, George Bell and wife had a case against William Henderson. Orasmus Cole represented Henderson and William Latamer represented Bell. During the case proceedings William Latamer provoked a duel against Colonel White. The duel took place in front of the Henderson Building and Latamer died from losing the duel.
For several years, in Grant county, the Henderson Building was the only three story, mixed use, building.
In Potosi, the Henderson building was one of two examples of Federal Style. The town of Potosi, which includes Snake Hollow, Van Buren and Lafayette was also established in 1848.
In 1945 the Durley’s sold the parcel to the Maah’s. The Maah’s family started the bar and restaurant called The Blue Spruce. This establishment is known to the present citizens of Potosi today.
The Henderson buildings survived three fires in the Snake Hollow, Potosi. The fires in 1900, 1916 and 1918 destroyed many buildings. Sadly, it did not survive the demolition of the Village of Potosi board members in January, 2019.