Property Record
1400 PARK AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Thomas Smith Farmstead House |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 3508 |
| Location (Address): | 1400 PARK AVE |
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| County: | Columbia |
| City: | Columbus |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1996 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| 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: | |
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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, State Historic Preservation Office. FLAT POINTED ARCH WINDOW HOODS. This farmstead was originally owned by Thomas Smith and his wife and family, who lived here from ca. 1861 until his death in 1881. It is believed that the fine brick Italianate style farmhouse dates from this period. After Smith's death, his widow lived here for just a few years, then sold the farm to Chad and Ed Roys, large scale stock dealers in the Columbus area who made a specialty of raising horses for harness racing. The Smith farm then became known first as the Roys Bros. Wheatland Stock Farm, then the Avalon Farm, and was used by them to raise harness horses (they built a training track across the road) and built a large barn on the property (non-extant). The Roys Brothers then sold the farm to W. C. Leitsch ca.1917, and it was afterwards sold to Elmer Miller, who called it the Miller Stock Farm. The seven farm buildings that adjoin and surround the farmhouse are all believed to date from the twentieth century and are probably associated with either Leitsch or Miller. The entire ensemble is the only intact farmstead remaining within the city limits. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Butterfield, C. W. History of Columbia County, WI. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1880, pp. 977-978. City of Columbus Historic Landmarks and Preservation Commission site files. City of Columbus Real Estate Tax Rolls. Columbus Republican: October 24, 1885, p. 1. Stare, Frederick A. The Story of Columbus. Installment Nos. 133-136 (pp. 202-204). |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |