click zoom to display a high-res image
Summary
SUMMARY FOR WEB
Upper Lone Tree Farm Historic District
Town of Brooklyn, Green Lake County
Architect: William A. Merigold Jr.
The Upper Lone Tree Farm was one of two “model” farms on the 1,150-acre estate of Victor Lawson and Jessie (Bradley) Lawson. Model farms were erected between 1885 and 1930 nationwide for the very wealthy as part of a grand country estate, allowing the gentleman farmer to pursue his livestock breeding interests without the need to show a profit. As a result, the buildings and structures that comprise a model farm are typically architect designed, constructed of high-quality materials, and feature state-of-the-art technical innovations and architectural flourishes not often seen on other farms of the same era. Very few were built in Wisconsin.
Victor Lawson was the owner and publisher of the Chicago Daily News, a very successful newspaper that made him a multi-millionaire. Jessie Lawson was his wife and the driving force behind the creation of the estate and its model farms. It was she who planned their development and guided their operation until her death in 1914. Upper Lone Tree Farm was erected between 1913 and c.1918. Jessie’s other model farm was Lone Tree Point Farm, located close to Green Lake, constructed between 1904 and 1910. While Jessie wanted her farms to supply enough produce to feed her households and employees in Chicago and Green Lake County, and to serve as models of best farming practices, the goal that was most important to her was to provide healthy food to the needy in Chicago, as she had done through her charitable works for many years. As soon as her model farms began producing, Jessie regularly shipped milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables to Chicago to feed the hungry, a practice she continued until her death in 1914.
Victor completed Upper Lone Tree Farm according to Jessie’s vision after she passed away. He managed both farms until his death in 1925. The estate was operated as a country club from 1926 until 1941. In 1943, the American Baptist Assembly acquired the property for use as a training and conference center, a use it still serves. It has been called the Green Lake Conference Center since 1975.
The houses, barns, and outbuildings in the district are private and are not open to the public. Please respect the privacy of the property owner and residents.
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.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or have other questions about the registers, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Upper Lone Tree Historic District Listed in the State Register of Historic Places
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Upper Lone Tree Farm Historic District in the Town of Brooklyn in Green Lake County on the State Register of Historic Places.
