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Summary
Walter and Mabel Fromm House
Town of Hamburg, Marathon County
Architect: Curtis & Yale
Date of construction: 1928
Walter Fromm and his brothers owned and operated Fromm Brothers, Inc. an internationally known silver fox fur and ginseng farm. His house is a part of a large complex of buildings and acreage associated with the farm. His tremendous business success allowed the construction of an elaborately ornamented house, not often seen in rural Wisconsin.
The Fromm House reflects the great popularity of Period Revival houses. While some houses from the first half of the twentieth century were historical replicas; others blended various historical influences. The Fromm House freely mixes historic elements from different times and places. It has an ordered classical composition with a front porch supported by Ionic columns. Other features, drawn from Spanish Revival styles, include decorative wrought iron work, bracketed eaves, and a clay tile roof. Mediterranean style ornament is seen on the interior, where wrought iron work, rough plaster walls, tile floors, and a beamed ceiling in the living room create a rich, hand-crafted appearance.
Friederich Estenfelder, a German master decorative painter executed the interior decorative treatments in 1932. Estenfelder prepared textured plaster walls, trimmed moldings and bordered ceilings with stencils and gold leaf, and painted floral murals in the basement recreation room and sun porch. These decorative touches were combined with ceramic tiles and leaded glass windows, resulting in an exceptional interior.
The house is located on private property and is not open to the public. Please respect the privacy of the owners.
Property Details
Resources Within The Property
Designations
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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