604 W CENTRAL ST

604 W CENTRAL ST

Chippewa

Chippewa Falls

1875

C. 1930, 1887,C. 1880, 1928

1984

house

Italianate

Brick

No

Articulated projecting arched window heads with corbeled ends and keystones; paired brackets and dentil trim under eaves; arched entrance with double leafed door; full-length open porch with cut-out freize, pediment and carved posts with elaborate capitals; rear two-story addition; five-sided east bay window with round arched windows and bracketed eaves. Built for Elzear Le Duc, the bookkeeper of the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company during the period of 1874 through the 1880's (F) the red brick Duc House has the paired brackets under the broad hipped roof and the denticulated cornice typical of the style as well as elaborate, highly articulated projecting window hoods typical of the Italianate style, and ease bay window and an open porch with elaborate carved posts. The original wooden 9 foot square cupola was removed in the 1930's. A well preserved Victorian structure, the Le Duc House is an excellent example of the simple square Italianate style house, and one of the two best representatives of this type in Chippewa Falls. Construction of this residence was begun in 1875 by Elzear Le Duc. The residence was not completed, in part because of financial difficulties, until the early 1880's. (A,C) In 1886 a stone wall was erected around the property, and in 1887, a porch was added. (D,E) The house was designed as an eighteen room family residence as Elzear and Eleanor Le Duc had ten children. Elzear Le Duc was a bookkepper for the Chippewa Lumber & Boom Company. (A). In 1918, the property was sold to daughter Clauia, who in turn sold to her brother Louis in 1928. At this time major improvements were made including wiring, sewer and indoor plumbing, and the construction of a basement. In the early 1930's, the cupola was removed. In 1962 Louis sold the house to his children, Carl and Bernice. Bernice still lives in the house. (A). This property is of local interest because of its early construction date, and because for over 100 years the residence has remained in the possession of the Le Duc family. In 1974 the Le Duc family received the Century Farm and Home Ownership Certificate recognizing this achievement. (A).

(A) Chippewa Herald-Telegram 6 December, 1984. (B) The Herald 13 May, 1887. (C) The Chippewa Herald 14 March, 1879. (D) The Herald 4 June, 1886. (E) The Herald 3 May, 1887. (F) Bernice Le Duc, "The Le Duc Home," unpublished paper.

West Hill Residential Historic District

Oct 22, 2021

Nov 11, 2020

Yes