Property Record
116 E GORHAM ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ELIZABETH AND TIMOTHY BROWN HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 28948 |
| Location (Address): | 116 E GORHAM ST |
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| County: | Dane |
| City: | Madison |
| Township/Village: | |
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| Year Built: | 1863 |
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| Additions: | 1936 1892 |
| Survey Date: | 1991 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Mansion Hill Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 6/4/1997 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 2/11/1997 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | Madison Historic Landmark: 3/6/1972. MAP CODE IS 070914404151. MOST OF THE PLASTER CAPITALS ON THE PORCH HAVE BEEN RECAST FROM THE ORIGINALS. THE CURRENT PORCH DATES FROM THE TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY. Built during the years 1863-1865, the Timothy Brown House is a cream brick residence built in the Italianate style. Brown came to Madison in 1855 at the behest of a fellow New York stater, Napoleon Bonaparte Van Slycke, to be a part of a growing Yankee contingent in the Big Bug Hill Area. He was a co-founder of the First National Bank and an official of the Madison Gas Light and Coke Company. His real estate dealings and business investments made him one of the city's most well-known commercial figures. Later residents of the house included three justices of the state Supreme Court: Charles V. Bardeen; Robert G. Siebecker, Chief Justice and law partner of Robert M. LaFollette; and Timothy Brown, also a Chief Justice and a grandson of the original owner. "Built in 1863, the cream brick residence is in the Italianate style. The stately neo-classical veranda dates to the turn-of-the-century. Timothy Brown came to Madison in 1855 at the request of a fellow New York stater, Napoleon Bonaparte Van Slyke, to be a part of growing Yankee contingent in the "Big Bug" or Mansion Hill area. Brown quickly became the cashier and principal stockholder of the Dane County Bank. With others he reorganized it into the First National Bank in 1863. In 1870, Brown took control of the floundering Madison Gas Company and turned it into a financially sound business. Brown's real estate holdings and business investments made him a well-known commercial figure and one of Madison's wealthiest people. In civic affairs, he served as treasurer of the board of regents, alderman, county supervisor, and leader of the Dane County Calvary during the Civil War. His wife, Elizabeth, continued to live in the house until her death in 1896. Mrs. Brown's house became the center of a family compound. Later residents of the Brown family homestead included three justices of the state supreme court: Charles V. Barbeen; Robert G. Siedecker, chief justice and a law partner of Robert M. La Follette; and Timothy Brown, also a chief justice and a grandson of the original owner. A rambling carriage house is to the east." Madison's Pioneer Buildings: A Downtown Walking Tour, 1987. |
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| Bibliographic References: | WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, P. 1I, 5/8/1994. MADISON TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, INC. NEWSLETTER, OCTOBER 1994. Sandstone and Buffalo Robes: Madison's historic buildings, third edition, 1975. Madison's Pioneer Buildings: A Downtown Walking Tour, 1987. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |