Property Record
302 E WALNUT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Thomas and Rebecca Tubbs House |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 25405 |
| Location (Address): | 302 E WALNUT ST |
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| County: | Pierce |
| City: | River Falls |
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| Year Built: | 1894 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19902014 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
| Architect: | A. E. Michael |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | The 1990 survey elaborates on Tubbs' business--the Tubbs Medicine Company, pages 78-79. Born in Vermont, Tubbs moved to River Falls in 1866 and the business was founded in the early 1870s. "Tubbs brought from Vermont formulas for home remedies which he gave to family and friends and later marketed for profit." In 1884 he built a lab next to his (earlier) house and four months later in burned, after which he rebuilt again. In 1890, as cited above, he built another building, which was moved and remodeled in 1920. Thomas died on 28 January 1894, the same year the subject house was built. His son Willard would head the company for years thereafter. "Under Willard's control, the Tubbs Medicine Company continued to prosper, being described in 1900 as 'one of the principal industries of the city as large quantities of their medicine are shipped to all parts of the Northwest.' " Rebecca died in 1902 and it appears that Willard and his family then moved into the home, where they remained until at least 1930. Willard died in 1931. 2014: Significant addition to the east. |
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| Bibliographic References: | River Falls Journal, 23 February 1882: "Thomas Tubbs rented the Pingrey block for his pharmaceutical preparations." RFJ, 23 October 1884: "Thomas Tubbs built a laboratory east of his dwelling on Third Street." RFJ, 27 November 1890: "Thomas E. Tubbs put up large two story building on his premises corner of Walnut and third streets to accomodate his increasing business." RFJ, 17 May 1894: "AE Michael has contract to build dwellings for Daniel Currier and Willard Tubbs the former to be located on corner of Cascade and Oak Street, the latter on the corner of Third and Walnut street, the old house being removed to the lot next south. They will be handsome structures and will cost about $2000 each." RFJ, 15 January 1920: "WE Tubbs sold the building occupied by Tubbs Medicine Company on Walnut Street to Charles Bartholomew and will move it to lot off Main Street on Locust street and remodel it." |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |