Property Record
2105 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | WISCONSIN HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | WISCONSIN HOUSE STAGE COACH INN |
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| Reference Number: | 44442 |
| Location (Address): | 2105 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Hazel Green |
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| Year Built: | 1846 |
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| Additions: | 1862 |
| Survey Date: | 1976 |
| Historic Use: | inn |
| Architectural Style: | Greek Revival |
| Structural System: | Balloon Frame |
| Wall Material: | Aluminum/Vinyl Siding |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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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. ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENT: A FRAME (PARTLY SIDED) TWO AND A HALF STORY STRUCTURE WITH A SLOPING ROOF THAT EXTENDS OVER THE FULL LENGTH TWO LEVEL PORCH ON THE LONG SIDE OF THE HOUSE. A SIDE LIGHTED FRONT DOOR, SHORT CORNICE RETURNS IN THE SOUTH GABLE END OF THE HOUSE, DECORATIVE WINDOW CORNICES AT THE FRONT AND FLAT WOODEN LENTILS ON THE SIDE ELEVATIONS FURTHER CHARACTERIZE THE RESIDENCE. THE ORIGINAL TWO LEVEL BALUSTRADED OPEN PORCH WAS ALTERED C. 1960S TO A PARTIALLY ENCLOSED TWO LEVEL PORCH THAT IS SUPPORTED BY SHORT SQUARE POSTS. (D). THE STRUCTRUE IS SIMILAR IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO THE EMPIRE HOUSE LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET. THIS HOUSE IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF EARLY FRAME ARCHITECTURE IN HAZEL GREEN. FURTHERMORE, THIS HOUSE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE STREET SCAPE OF THE COMMERCIAL AREA OF THE VILLAGE. IT HAS BEEN A LANDMARK SINCE THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF HAZEL GREEN. HISTORICAL STATEMENT: THE WISCONSIN HOUSE IS SIGNIFICANT AS AN EARLY STAGECOACH INN TO THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF HAZEL GREEN. IT IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT FOR ITS ASSOCIATION WITH JEFFERSON CRAWFORD, OWNER OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND EXTENSIVE MINING COMPANIES IN HAZEL GREEN AND GALENA. IN 1846, A YEAR AFTER THE EMPIRE HOUSE WAS ERECTED ACROSS THE STREET, THE WISCONSIN HOUSE WAS BUILT. IT SERVED AS A STAGECOACH INN FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. JEFFERSON CRAWFORD BOUGHT IT SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS BUILT AND CONVERTED IT TO HIS PRIVATE RESIDENCE. IT HAS SINCE ALSO BEEN KNOWN AS THE CRAWFORD HOUSE. (C) CRAWFORD WAS BORN IN GREEN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN 1809. HE CAME TO WISCONSIN IN 1832 TO MINE AND SMELT. HE BECAME THE OWNER OF SOME OF THE RICHEST ORE BEARING LANDS IN THE HAZEL GREEN DISTRICT. (E). HE ALSO BUILT A LARGE STORE ON MAIN STREET FOR HIS GENERAL MERCHANDISING BUSINESS IN 1856. (GT 19-10). HE WAS A SUPPORTER OF PRIVATE EDUCATION. THE HAZEL GREEN COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE WAS LOCATED DURING ITS EXISTANCE FROM 1856 TO THE 1860'S IN THE CRAWFORD BUILDING. (F) IN 1862, CRAWFORD MERGED HIS MINING BUSINESS WITH THE CRAWFORD AND MILLS MINING COMPANY, A VERY EXTENSIVE MINING OPERATION. CRAWFORD AND MILLS EMPLOYED MANY MEN IN HAZEL GREEN. (C) CRAWFORD WAS ALSO A GOOD FRIEND OF ULYSSES S. GRANT WHO IS FROM GALENA, ILLINOIS. ACCORDING TO LOCAL LORE, GRANT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE VISITED CRAWFORD A FEW TIMES AND STAYED AT THE WISCONSIN HOUSE. (F) WHEN CRAWFORD DIED IN 1868, HIS SONS JOHN J. AND JEFFERSON, JR. MANAGED THE MINING COMPANY. BY 1884, JOHN HAD MOVED EAST AND JEFFERSON JR. HAD CONTROL OVER THE MINING LANDS SOLELY.(F) JEFFERSON, JR. MADE HIS HOME AND HIS FAMILY'S IN THE WISCONSIN HOUSE. THE WISCONSIN HOUSE REMAINED IN THE CRAWFORD FAMILY FOR OVER 100 YEARS. MISS HELEN CRAWFORD, GRANDDAUGHTER OF JEFFERSON CRAWFORD WAS THE LAST CRAWFORD TO OWN THE WISCONSIN HOUSE (1958). CHARLES BERRYMAN FROM SHULLSBURG BOUGHT THE BUILDING AND RESTORED IT. IT LATER BECAME A BED AND BREAKFAST. OTHER PREVIOUS OWNERS INCLUDE: W. K. JENNINGS, WHO OWNED IT IN 1845, AND FURLONG, WHO OWNED IT IN 1960. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. BUILDING PLAQUE. B. HOLFORD, C., HISTORY OF GRANT CO., (LANCASTER: TELLER PRINT, 1900), P. 545. C. BUTTERFIELD, C., HISTORY OF GRANT CO., (CHIGAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL SOC., 1881) P.738. D. GRANT COUNTY FILES: STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN. E. COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, 1901, PP. 899-900. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 12/13/1998. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |