Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Willard and Fern Tompkins House Listed on the State Register of Historic Places
MONONA, Wis. - The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Willard and Fern Tompkins House in Monona, Dane County, on the State Register of Historic Places.
Located on a tree-lined cul-de-sac near the southeast shore of Lake Monona, the Tompkins House contrasts with its leafy surroundings. It features flat roofs, cubic forms, horizontal bands of windows, and a near-total lack of ornamentation identifying it as an outstanding example of the International Style of architecture. The Tompkins House remains striking in appearance today, thanks in large part to the current owner’s use of Wisconsin’s historic homeowners’ tax credit to help preserve and restore this unique house.
The Tompkins House was designed in 1937 by architects Hamilton Beatty and Allen Strang, two of the earliest and most significant designers of the International Style in Wisconsin. Their work is primarily concentrated in and around Madison and represented a new and progressive approach to residential design that is recognized today as part of the beginning of modern architecture in America.
The State Register is Wisconsin's official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin's heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.
Additional information for the Willard and Fern Tompkins House is available at
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI5585
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: www.wisconsinhistory.org.
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.
