Property Record
W9156 U.S. HIGHWAY 12
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ERASTUS & MARIETTA SNELL HOUSE |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | RED CEDAR LAKE HOUSE |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 117894 |
| Location (Address): | W9156 U.S. HIGHWAY 12 |
|---|---|
| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Oakland |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 6 |
| Range: | 13 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 17 |
| Quarter Section: | NW |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: | SE |
| Year Built: | 1850 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2013 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Front Gabled |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Aluminum/Vinyl Siding |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | Y |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | Erastus and Marietta Snell, early settlers of the Town of Oakland, settled near Red Cedar Lake in 1839. In 1850, the couple constructed a large house on their farm and began renting rooms, making their farmstead a regular stopping place on the stagecoach route that followed a path similar to that of current U.S. Highway 12. During the mid-nineteenth century, a Baptist Congregation was formed out of the growing Baptist community amongst some of the earlier settlers in the Town of Oakland. Initially, services and gatherings were held in private homes, including the Snell House. This structure was reportedly once a stagecoach inn. Also on the property are a barn (#117895), a silo, a corncrib, an animal shed (#117893), a smokehouse (#117892), and a machine shed. The house was located along the Madison-Milwaukee stagecoach route (present-day USH 12) and Marietta ran a hotel, calling it the "Red Cedar Lake House", as well as "Snell's Stagecoach Store". The businesses appear to have been located within a portion of the extant residence and may have been established as early as the 1850s. The property remained with the Snells at least through 1887. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Swart, Hannah. Koshkonong Country – A History of Jefferson County Wisconsin. Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin: W. D. Hoard & Sons Co., 1975. Pages 217 & 218. Historic name taken from plats. Circa construction date taken from Swart, Koshkonong Country. Architecture/History Survey. September 1999. Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |