Property Record
504 S JUDGEMENT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Williams, John P., House |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 75091 |
| Location (Address): | 504 S JUDGEMENT ST |
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| County: | Lafayette |
| City: | Shullsburg |
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| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1889 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | C. C. Gratiot, 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. A Victorian two story brick with a hip roof that is intersected by projecting gables, three large chimneys, a polygonal tower and a square tower with hipped roof, topped off with four cast iron finials. The irregularity of the structure is contained by the use of classical inspired dentiled wooden cornice around the entire three sided veranda and a bracketed wooden cornice around the upper house wall and upper tower walls. Other classical details include the pedimented portes cochere and short enfluted Doric porch columns set on masonry. The house originally designed in wood was brick veneered and the porches were added in 1890, a year after the original structure was built.(B) The house and its picturesque setting is architecturally significant because it is the only example of a brick picturesque mansion in a corresponding picturesque setting in Shullsburg. Furthermore, it is one of three houses designed by Dr. C. C. Gratiot, a prominent local physician/architect that remains in the community. The John P. Williams family were considered prominent due to their wealth and position at the bank. The John P. Williams house is significant because of its association with the lives of important people in the community. John P. Williams was born in Shullsburg in 1864 (C). His father, J. K. Williams, was a prominent lawyer in Shullsburg and the county. It was John K. Williams' estate which financed the building of the Farmers and Merchants Bank on the corner of Gratiot and Water Streets in 1884.(D) John P. Williams was a bookkeeper in the bank after it opened until 1909.(C) He also dealt in large real estate transactions. From 1909 until 1913, Williams was cashier of the bank.(C) In 1913 he was elected President of the bank and served until his death in 1923.(C,E) Williams married Frone Rickert, the daughter of Samuel and Ellen Rickert.(C) Samuel Rickert, who had extensive mining operations on the south ridge of Shullsburg, carved out a lot from his estate on S. Judgement Street for his daughter and son-in-law's house to be built. A frame house was built in 1889.(A,B) In 1890, D. C. C. Gratiot, a prominent physician and local architect designed the porches and added the brick exterior.(B) |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. "S. History of Shullsburg, 1727-1977" (Shullsburg, WI: Historical Soc., 1977), p. 74. B. Mrs. Karen Molle, Shullsburg, WI C. Usher, "Wisconsin: Its Story and Biography, 1914, pp. 2439-2440. D. The Pick and Gad Newspaper, 1884. E. J. P. Williams, Obituary, "Darlington Journal," 9-28-23. F. Gregory, "Southwestern Wisconsin," 1932, Vol. III, pp. 38-41. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |