Located five blocks north of the commercial center of the City of Baraboo, Wisconsin, the Walworth D. Porter Duplex Residence stands out as a fine example of a highly intact Queen Anne style structure. At first glance, this two –story residence appears to have the asymmetrical silhouette, massing, and the “variety of surface textures, roots, and wall projections” that are typical of better quality Queen Anne style single family houses; however, in this case, looks are deceiving, as this structure is actually a completely symmetrical building that originally contained two identical side-by-side two-story living units. The side-by-side duplex, also referred to as a “doublehouse” is not a building type commonly seen in Baraboo. These building types are often found in Milwaukee, and are even sometimes referred to as “Milwaukee Duplexes.”

At the turn of the 19thCentury, the time when the Walworth D. Porter Duplex Residence was constructed, the City of Baraboo was growing at an extremely fast pace due to the development of the town’s circus. This local circus thrived in Baraboo and would develop into what is known today as the Ringling Brother’s Barnum & Bailey Circus, frequently cited as, “The Greatest Show on Earth.” As the circus grew in popularity, there was an increase in demand for rental housing in Baraboo. In order to accommodate the housing need, many single family residences were converted into multi-family dwellings, which often served as rental units. Walworth D. Porter, a small scale real estate developer, took note of this housing demand and constructed the Walworth D. Porter Duplex Residence. Interestingly, the first individual to rent out the east duplex unit in this residence was none other than Charles E. Ringling, one of the five Ringling Brothers and the general manager of the circus. The Walworth D. Porter Duplex Residence maintains a large degree of architectural integrity, both relating to its exterior as well as many of its interior features.

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