Property Record
561 S JUDGEMENT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Stephens-Hoover House |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 75103 |
| Location (Address): | 561 S JUDGEMENT ST |
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| County: | Lafayette |
| City: | Shullsburg |
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| Year Built: | 1856 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| 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 brick two-story that has a low hipped roof and is decorated with an Italianate bracketed cornice. Stone lintels are placed about the windows, some of which are of the long, Italianate style. Although the house was diagnosed as a symmetrical structure with a double-doored entrance in the center bay, the two-sided porch and the south extension give the feeling of irregularity to the house, the delicately carved porch brackets and the grille of circular forms between the support post of the porch (recently restored) accent the house. Originally there was also a balustrated deck on the porch. Although the bricks have been painted, this house has architectural significance because it is an example of the work of an early Shullsburg architect and builder, Henry Stephens, who also lived in the house. Also, the house has Italianate features which is uncommon in the houses of the community. The Stephens-Hoover house is historically significant because of its association with Henry Stephens, a pioneer of the community and who engaged in extensive mining operations on his property and as a leading figure in the development of the Shullsburg commercial district. Henry Stephens was born in Cornwall, England in 1807. He had learned the carpenter's trade in England, and worked there for about five years.(B) He emigrated to Canada in 1832. In 1836 he moved to Mineral Point, Wis., and in 1840 he came to Shullsburg. Since that time he was always engaged in mining and was supposed to have some of the most extensive mining operations in the area.(B) His mining property was in south Shullsburg where his home was also located. (B) The house was built in 1856.(A) In 1860, Stephens connected his mining levels to the "Bull Pump," located in what is now Badger Park. This enabled new discoveries of ore to be found on Stephens' and Rickart's estates(C). Stephens' mines were some of the longest to be mined. Stephens was also important to the development of the commercial district. He built one of the first commercial buildings in Shullsburg in the 1850's. It was called the Stephens' Brick Building. Later he sold the building and it was incorporated into the present Brewster Hotel.(D) Stephens' daughter, Mrs. Mary Hoover, inherited the house. Thus associated with the house are Dr. Harvey Gratiot and Kate Gratiot Farrell. The present owners acquired it in 1971(A). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. "Seq. History of Shullsburg, 1827-1977," p. 75 B. Butterfield, 'History of Lafayette County," 1887, p. 740-41 C. Ibid., p. 572 D. Art Stocker's Abstract of the Brewster Hotel Property |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |