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Janesville Historic Commission honors Merchant’s Hotel restoration at 109–113 E. Milwaukee St.
Summary
The Janesville Historic Commission presented its 2025 historic preservation award to Ben Thompson for restoration work at the Merchant’s Hotel (109–113 E. Milwaukee St.), highlighting revealed foundational features, facade repairs and interior work to restore historic character.
The Janesville Historic Commission presented its 2025 historic preservation award June 3 to Ben Thompson for restoration work at 109–113 East Milwaukee Street, historically known as the Merchant’s Hotel.
Commission staff introduced the building’s history and recent work, saying the Merchant’s Hotel dates to about 1855 with later additions around 1890 and that it once housed the post office in 1859. Commission staff noted the upper-floor residential units had been vacant for more than 10 years before recent rehabilitation.
Commission member Brian (staff) said he “love[s] doing the research” on the building’s history and described the recent work as significant, with “foundational structures revealed” and interior improvements that aim to maintain and showcase the building’s historic character. Another commission member, Mitch, said much of the building’s interior had changed over generations but that recent work exposed scaffolding features and other foundational elements “that were for many years hidden behind simpler walls.”
The commission said the rehabilitation included substantial structural work, replacement or upgrade of utilities, facade work and interior repairs. The project also featured historically sympathetic touches where original materials could not be preserved; the commission noted a recreated tin ceiling meant as a visual homage to historic finishes.
At the meeting the commission formally presented the award: “The historic preservation award for 2025 is hereby presented to Ben Thompson for exemplary historic preservation work at 109–113 East Milwaukee Street,” the chair declared.
The commission did not record additional formal actions on the project at the meeting. The presentation recognized the recent work and emphasized the project’s role in revealing and interpreting Janesville’s 19th‑century commercial history.
The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2025; no follow-up actions on this property were recorded at the June 3 meeting.
