Property Record
1461 E GOODRICH LN
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Washington and Sarah Becker Summer Home |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 156481 |
| Location (Address): | 1461 E GOODRICH LN |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Fox Point |
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| Year Built: | 1900 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2009 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Arts and Crafts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Board |
| Architect: | Alexander Eschweiler |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| 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. Washington Becker married Sarah Worthing Merrill in 1875 and in 1880 purchased the West Side Street Railway from her father, Sherburn Merrill. During his tenure, Becker extended the line, added cars, and electrified the line. In 1899, he sold to the predecessor of The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company and a year later built the house in Fox Point. From 1893 to 1929 Becker was also the president of Wisconsin Marine & Fire Insurance Company Bank (which merged with National Exchange Bank in 1930 and later became the Marine National Exchange Bank). Upon Becker's passing in 1929, the estate went to his only son, Sherburn Merrill Becker. In 1906 at the age of 29, Sherburn had been elected mayor of Milwaukee. Known as "the boy mayor", Sherburn was probably best known for his fast car and for dislike for sidewalk obstructions. He reportedly personally assisted with destroyed jeweler's street clocks in an effort to clean up the streets of advertising. He served as mayor for one term before moving to New York where he took a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. The house remained with the family until his death in 1949. Mary S. Hanley lived here until after the death of her husband John M Hanley, when the property was subdived and several more homes were built on the property. The estate also contained a caretaker's house and barn. Both were torn down in 1976 when the property was divided. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Evening Wisconsin newspaper dated Jan. 20, 1900. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |