Property Record
3991 COUNTY HIGHWAY N
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Casper Dorn House |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 13914 |
| Location (Address): | 3991 COUNTY HIGHWAY N |
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| County: | Washington |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Hartford |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 10 |
| Range: | 18 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 18 |
| Quarter Section: | NE |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: | SE |
| Year Built: | 1854 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19772012 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Gabled Ell |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Fieldstone |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | Y |
| 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: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. FIELDSTONE SIDE GABLED PORTION W/ASBESTOS COVERED WING. 2012: Since 1977, the rear porch has been replaced and the previous two-over-two-light sash windows have been replaced with modern one-over-one-light examples. THe rear wing has since been resheathed with board-and-batten siding. This farmstead is centered around a circa-1854, one-story, side-gabled, fieldstone house (AHI#13914) that includes a one-story, board-and-batten and vinyl-sheathed wing (also on a stone foundation) to the rear. Regarding the main block, the primary southeast elevation, which is almost entirely obscured by foliage, includes a central door that is flanked by two, one-over-one-light sashes to either side. An overhead transom or sidelights are not apparent. Remaining windows of the original stone block, as well as the rear wing, are one-over-one-light sash examples. A replacement porch extends from the rear wing’s south elevation. Immediately behind the house is a vinyl-sheathed, gabled garage, behind which is a frame, board-sheathed machine shed with a metal roof (ca. 1900, AHI#220797). To the southeast, outbuildings/structures include a side-gabled, Bank barn (ca. 1880s, AHI#220796); a poured concrete silo with cap (ca. 1920s, AHI#220796); a windmill (AHI#220798); and a hipped-roof, concrete-block milk house (ca. 1920s, AHI#220798). This property was purchased by Casper Dorn by no later than 1854, following his arrival to Wisconsin from Pennsylvania. The main block of the subject house is believed to have been constructed at that time or shortly thereafter. Casper was born in Germany in 1809 and immigrated to the United States in 1835. In 1841, he wed Catherine Sackreiter; together they had eight children. Casper worked as a farmer and he and Catherine remained on the farm, working the land, until 1881, when they moved into the Village of Hartford. The property was then passed on and maintained by their son John, who resided there with his wife, the former Elizabeth Schmitt, since their marriage in 1875 until 1903. In 1903, John’s son William took over farming operations, which he continued until 1920, when he sold to Edward Rettler. Although Rettler owned the property, it appears that he may have maintained residency with his parents at 4040 CTH N and, later, in the City of Hartford. Rettler died in 1969. The farm is currently owned by Allan & Delores Rettler. Because of the home's fieldstone construction, its age, and its original owner was an early settler, a Determination of Eligibility was completed on the farm. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Hartford Surname files. On file at the Hartford history room, Jack Russell Memorial Library, Hartford, WI. Plat Maps of Washington County, 1859, 1873-74, 1892, 1915. “Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct CTH N: Dodge Co. Line To Airport Dr. WHS project number 12-0688/WT.” |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |