| Additional Information: | This Vernacular hotel building features an irregular shaped plan configuration, a stone foundation, a stone exterior, a stone trim and an asphalt shingled flat roof. Various construction dates are attributed to this hotel. According to a sign posted near the building, the date of origin occurred in 1836. Other sources attribute the dates of construction as being in the 1850s and in 1861. (See Bib. Ref. A & F). An addition was built in 1866. (See Bib. Ref. C).
Stone lintels appear above the rectangular shaped windows, each with six-over-six lights. Entrances were placed into each of the three sections. Some of the doorways have Federal features. A wooden deck/porch structure is attached at both the north and south sections. A balcony on the main facade has no longer been in existance since 1982. The building was apparently constructed in at least three parts, the earliest of the three - the north section - is believed to have been built in the 1850's. According to the Inventory card describing this property, the building was constructed into a limestone cliff. This structure is in good condition.
Historic names of this building include the Mineral Point Hotel (See Bib. Ref. A), and the William Walker Building (See Bib. Ref. B). Walker, an Irishman, came to Mineral Point in 1841. He originally worked as a teamster hauling lead to Galena and Milwaukee. In anticipation of the coming railroad, which put most area teamsters out of work, he built this hotel. The structure was associated with commerce and functioned as a hotel until the early twentieth century. The building was restored in 1964. It also served as the Walker House hotel and restaurant until the early 1990s. The former hotel is now a vacant building.
This building was designated locally, becoming part of the Mineral Point Landmark District in 1972. |
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| Bibliographic References: | “Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct USH 151: Dodgeville To Belmont.” WHS project number 92-0510IA/LT. October 1993. Prepared by Great Lakes Archaeological Research Center (GLARC).
A. "Mineral Point Tribune," 4 June 1862, 6 January 1869; Mineral Point Tax Records, 1840-1900; Sanborn Insurance Map, City of Mineral Point, WI. (New York: Sanborn Map Co., 1884-1929); "History of Iowa County, Wisconsin," (Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881) p. 871; "National Democrat," 18 November 1859, 1 September 1866, 20 June 1929; Taylor and Willits, Mineral Point, Iowa County [map] (Chicago: Taylor and Willits, 1871).
B. Ibid. "National Democrat," 18 November 1859.
**Walker owned this land (Lot 232) at least as early as 1847, although there is no presently available evidence that he used the building as a hotel unitl 1861 to 1862. He also operated a tavern in the builidng formerly adjacent to the south side of the Chesterfield Inn (not extant), "National Democrat, 18 November 1859.
C. "National Democrat," 1 September 1866.
D. "Mineral Point Democrat Tribune," 5 May 1994.
E. Historic Mineral Point Architectural Walking Tour brochure, 2000.
F. Mineral Point Chamber/Main Street & The Mineral Point Historical Society, Historic Mineral Point Architectural Driving Tour, not dated.
G. Mineral Point Chamber/Main Street & The Mineral Point Historical Society, Historic Mineral Point Architectural Walking Tours, not dated. |
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