Property Record
560 S JUDGEMENT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | |
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| Other Name: | Rickert, Samuel, House and Carriage House |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 75102 |
| Location (Address): | 560 S JUDGEMENT ST |
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| County: | Lafayette |
| City: | Shullsburg |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
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| Year Built: | 1852 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Greek Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Limestone |
| Architect: | Stephens, Henry |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A two-story, T-shaped house of coursed limestone that has a sloping roof, bracketed cornice and short cornice returns in the open gable ends. The entrance is in the center bay of the long side of this symmetrically designed house. The side-lighted door and the delicately carved post brackets and balustrated deck on the entrance porch accent this basically Greek Revival structure. The limestone rubble carriage house is a substantial structure with a sloping roof. Its walls, like those of the house, are two feet thick. Gun slits in the masonry from the time it was used as a defensive structure against the Indians are still visible. The early date of this stone mansion in itself makes this house architecturally significant. In addition it is the only stone house influenced by the Greek revival style that has survived in Shullsburg. Furthermore, the house is an important example of the work of an early Shullsburg architect and builder, Henry Stephens. The Rickert House is significant for its association with Samuel Richert and pioneer mines of Shullsburg. Samuel Rickert came to Lafayette County in 1841 and commenced mining.(B) In 1846 he and another man discovered a very rich deposit. In 1850, he began mining on land known as Stephens' Diggings--southwest of Shullsburg, which produced 10,000,000 lbs. That year he married Ellen Stephens, Henry Stephens' daughter.(B) Two years later, Stephens built this house for them. Stephens, originally from Cornwall, England had learned the carpenter trade before coming to this country.(B) In 1859 Rickert began mining on his own land, formerly owned by Stephens. He continued developing mining land until about 1880 when he retired. He had two daughters, Belle and Fronie.(B) Rickert lived in the house until his death. Belle later inherited the house. Her sister, Fronie, married John P. Williams, a prominent lawyer in Shullsburg. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. "S. History of Shullsburg, 1827-1977" (Shullsburg, WI: Historical Soc., 1977), p. 74 B. Butterfield, "History of Lafayette County," 1881, p. 740. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |