Property Record
STATE HIGHWAY 163, W SIDE, .25 M S OF COUNTY HIGHWAY G
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Lukesh House & Associated Outbuildings |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 26241 |
| Location (Address): | STATE HIGHWAY 163, W SIDE, .25 M S OF COUNTY HIGHWAY G |
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| County: | Kewaunee |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Franklin |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 22 |
| Range: | 23 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 24 |
| Quarter Section: | SE |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: | NE |
| Year Built: | |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19752007 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Other Vernacular |
| Structural System: | Log |
| Wall Material: | Log |
| 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: | VARIOUS LOG BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS SAID TO HAVE BEEN BUILT BY A BOHEMIAN The most important element of this farmstead is a one and one-half story T-plan Czech log house. The house has a side-gabled front block, facing south, with a shed roof porch supported by square wood posts set on high masonry posts. The rear wing has an enclosed porch on the northwest corner. The logs are planked and dove-tail notched, characteristics of Czech log construction. The frames of the two-over-two windows show that they were installed at the time the house was covered with wood clapboards, all of which has been removed except those in the gables. The farmstead also includes a wood privy, concrete silo, small wood frame barn and two large metal barns. Plat maps show that in 1876 an 80 acre parcel belonged to M. Kemisch; in 1924 an 120 parcel belonged to Wenzel Lukesh; in 1937 an 120 acre parcel belonged to Wencil Lukes (an anglicized form of the prior name; this surname is also spelled Lucas) and in 1978 an 120 acre parcel belonged to Lester J. Lukes, possibly the son of Wencil Lukes. The Kewaunee Enterprise of October 1, 1909 and February 21, 1913 refer to two men named Matt Klimesch, farmers in the Town of Franklin. The property appears likely to be significant as a good example of a distinct Czech log house form and craftsmanship, with better integrity than most other examples. Most Czech log houses in the area appear to have been covered with artificial siding or encased in later construction, or, in a notable number of cases, incorporated into later barns. Those examples that may be regarded locally as "restored," frequently have had much of their historic fabric scraped away or have been moved from their historic location. The current highway, CTH "AB," runs in an L around the property. The house is about 1/4 mile from the highway on the north and about 260 feet from the highway on the east. According to engineers at Ayers Associates, the improved curve would depart from the present highway corridor 500 feet north of the driveway to the property and thus would have no effect on the inventoried historic property. From the north and northeast the view of the log house is striking, being highly visible across open fields, with no hedgerows obscuring the view. From the east, the house is obscured by dense. second growth forest and a large metal barn, with only a glimpse of the front and side of the house visible down the unpaved lane leading into the property. From the southeast the house is entirely obscured by very dense wet forest. |
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| Bibliographic References: |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |