Property Record
5178 COUNTY HIGHWAY S
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Harvey, Governor Louis P. and Cordelia, House |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 85439 |
| Location (Address): | 5178 COUNTY HIGHWAY S |
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| County: | Rock |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Turtle |
| Unincorporated Community: | Shopiere |
| Town: | 1 |
| Range: | 13 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 3 |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1851 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2004 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Greek Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | Previously surveyed in 1977. [2004] - A historic photograph shows that the house had Greek Revival details, including a wide frieze with returned eaves, pilasters, symmetrical fenestration of six-over-six light, double-hung sashes with operating shutters, and walls covered with clapboards. Today, the main block is covered with vinyl siding, hiding or eliminating the original Greek Revival details except for the returned eaves. Thewindows of the main block have been replaced with modern sashes and two windows on the first story of the main or north elevation have been replaced with a very large "picture" style window. A large two-story ell projects from the west elevation of the main block. It, too, has vinyl siding and modern sash windows. Another one-story addition projects from the west elevation of the ell. It, too, has vinyl siding and modern windows. An ell porch on the north elevation has been enclosed with vinyl siding, wood paneling, and modern paired sashes. The main entrance is in the ell porch. Harvey moved to Kenosha, WI in 1851, where he opened a school and founded a newspaper. He became involved in politics and eventually joined the newly formed Republican party. In 1847, Harvey married Cordelia Perrine, whose family had a farm near Clinton, Wisconsin. Harvey operated a store near the Perrine farm and was elected a representative from Rock County to Wisconsin's Constitutional Convention in 1847-48. (McLenegan, pp. 80-81) In 1849, Harvey was running a store in Shopiere and was the local Postmaster, a political appointment. He formed a partnership With two men to build a grist mill in the community and also run the saw mill. In 1851, Louis and Cordelia Harvey and Harvey's parents, David and Almira Harvey, moved to Shopiere and David Harvey built the main block of this house in that year. The Harveys lived together in the house for eight years as Louis Harvey continued to build his political career. In 1853, Harvey was elected to the State Senate, then in 1859, he was appointed Wisconsin's Secretary of State. At that time, the Harveys moved to Madison, where Harvey also was a School Land Commissioner and a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. In the fall of 1861, Harvey was elected Wisconsin's governor and took office in January of 1862. (McLenegan, p. 81) Harvey's governorship was short-lived. In April of 1862, Harvey led a party of medical personnel with supplies to the Union troops from Wisconsin. While returning, on April 19, the party needed to change boats during a rainstorm. While waiting to board the new boat, Harvey slipped and fell into the Tennessee River and his companions could not save him. Shortly after his death, Cordelia Harvey was appointed state sanitary agent and toured Union hospitals in the south. She was convinced that soldiers would recover better if brought back to northern states and hospitals and urged the federal government to establish such facilities. This plan was not approved, but Cordelia Harvey met with President Lincoln personally and received permission to establish her hospital in Madison. In 1863, she established the Harvey U. S. Army Hospital in Madison. Later, other hospitals were established at Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien. (Mollenhoff, p. 96) |
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| Bibliographic References: | McLenegan, Annie S. Centennial History of the Town of Turtle, Rock County, Wisconsin, 1836-1936. Pamphlet on file at the Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, Wisconsin. Mollenhoff, David V. Madison: a History of the Formative Years. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 1982. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |