Property Record
7624 COUNTY HIGHWAY O
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | WARREN GREELEY HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 10575 |
| Location (Address): | 7624 COUNTY HIGHWAY O |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Waterford |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 4 |
| Range: | 19 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 8 |
| Quarter Section: | NW |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: | SE |
| Year Built: | 1882 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1975 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | 2019: This two-story 1882 cream brick ell-shaped Italianate farmhouse was built by the Warren Greeley family, early pioneers to this part of Wisconsin Territory for New York or Vermont. The homestead grew to 200 acres with the house as its centerpiece. The house rests on a mulit-colored granite fooundation. The present porch replaced a long veranda that once extended from the front door to the end of the ell. The Greeleys were part of the Yankee migration from the eastern United States, arriving between 1840 and 1845. The Greeleys raised Merino sheep whose dark wool was desirable for the Civil War. They continued to thrive by selling bredding stock. This house was built in front of where the original Greeley cabin had been erected; the finest materials were used in its construction and design and features nine-foot plastered ceilings in the basement. It is thought that the house was constructed by Scandinavian builders. This house was included in The Heritage Guidebook, Landmarks and Historical Sites in Southeastern Wisconsin by H. Russell Zimmerman, published in 1976. The Grass Roots History of Racine County (book) published in 1978 indicates that the family has made contributions to its community from its beginning. "Warren Greeley was but nineteen and a private in Company F of the Wisconsin Infantry when he became desperately ill. A neighbor, Perry Craig, went through the Union lines to the Confederate forces, as an Odd Fellow, and was escorted to the Confederate prison camp where Greeley was confined. Greeley was brought to Milwaukee but died shortly after. Another Warren Greeley in the family loaned the Farmer's Club Hall of Caldwell $100 to purchase the lot for their hall in 1874. This Farmer's Club Hall of Caldwell is now located at Old World Wisconsin. In 1910, Arthur Voss bought this house and continued farming there until the house passed to John James Elias, then to Marjorie Simon and her descendants. STILTED SEGMENTAL ARCHED WINDOWS, SOME W/ KEYSTONES |
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| Bibliographic References: | Merlo, Vivian, "Century Buildings for 2019" Preservation Racine News, Summer 2019, Vol 16. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |