Friday, May 17, 2024
Dr. Joseph and Olivia Soper House Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
STURGEON BAY, Wis. - The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Dr. Joseph and Olivia Soper House in the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 2024. Constructed in 1881, the single-family residence is located in Sturgeon Bay, Door County.
The Dr. Joseph and Olivia Soper House was designed in the Italianate style using locally produced artificial stone. This is an early form of concrete that was patented in 1868 by George Frear, a former house painter, in Chicago. It was promoted as an affordable alternative to natural stone with the advantages of being both strong and versatile with a wide range of color tones and a nearly infinite variety of molds into which it could be cast. Only two other properties in Wisconsin have been identified as using Frear artificial stone, and the Soper House stands as a rare example of this construction.
This building is architecturally significant for its use of Frear artificial stone. The primary character-defining features include its smooth Frear stone veneer with corner quoins, wide overhanging eaves with prominent gable ornamentation, tall and narrow double-hung windows with Frear stone sills and decorative Frear stone arched hoods, and largely intact interior plan. Additionally, it features a projecting bay window with tall and narrow stilted arch windows, overhanging eaves, and decorative brackets. The private residence is currently undergoing restoration as part of a state historic tax credit project.
Additional information for the Soper House is available at:
https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2795
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: https://wisconsinhistory.org/hp/register/
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
