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Summary
Jacob Van Orden House
531 Fourth Avenue, Baraboo, Sauk County
Architects: Ferry and Clas
Date of construction: 1903
Jacob Van Orden, a prominent businessman in the city of Baraboo, commissioned the Milwaukee architectural firm of Ferry and Clas to design this three-story residence. George and Carl Isenberg, locally noted builders, were responsible for its construction in 1903. The house was completed at a cost of $35,000. This fine local example of the Tudor Revival style is faced with brick on the first floor and foundation with stucco and false half-timber details on the upper floors. The varied roofline gives the building visual interest; its eight gables are trimmed with bargeboards and pendants.
The relatively narrow street elevation of the house masks its true size. Likewise, this façade displays only two stories of windows. On the interior, the house was planned both for family living and for entertaining. It contains fourteen rooms, four bathrooms, and a ballroom on the third floor. The house retains its original room configurations and decorative finishes, including plasterwork, paneling, tilework, and built-in cabinets. Each room on the main floor is finished with a different wood; for example, the living room uses cherry, while the dining room and study are in oak. The small reception room, located near the front door, is finished in bird's eye maple and has an elaborate cornice.
The house remained in the Van Orden family until 1938 when it was sold to the Sauk County Historical Society. The building opened in 1939 as the new home of the Sauk County Historical Museum and is open to the public during the summer season.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1903 |
| Architectural Style | Tudor Revival |
| Architect | Isenberg Brothers,Ferry and Clas |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Single Dwelling |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Mar 25, 1996 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Sep 6, 1996 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Residence of J. Van Orden
circa 1910-1919
Exterior view of the Van Orden house. Caption reads: "Residence of J. Van Orden, Baraboo, Wis."
