Skip to main content

click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Record

360 HIGHLAND AVE

Historic Name:
ENSIGN HOUSE
Other Name:
Reference Number:
81847

Property Location

Location (Address)
360 HIGHLAND AVE
County
Rock
City/Village
Beloit
Township
Unincorporated community
Town
Range
Direction
Section
Quarter Section
Quarter Quarter Section

Property Features

Year Built
1872
Additions
Survey Date
1991,2015
Historic Use
Architectural Style
Structural System
Wall Material
Clapboard
Architect
Other Buildings On Site
Demolished
No
Demolished Date
Additional Comments
House characterized by a one-third enclosed front porch. The roofline of the porch spans the entire front of the house. Open two-thirds section of the porch is supported with two full-turned posts and noe half-turned engaged post. In Eastlake style, the posts are bracketed and support an upper-turned spindle rail that reaches the full width of the open two-thirds of the porch. Front gable on main block. House has had one addition to its T-extension. The enclosed porch area has a stained glass window on east facade. House is two rooms wide and three and 1/2 rooms deep. Storage shed off T extension. Has wide cornice board. Interior has front bedroom partially located in the enclosed porch area and a bath behind. Living room on opposite side. Dining room and kitchen form T extension. Second floor, attic story, has two bedrooms. Porch enclosed as of 1908. Probably part of original design.

Mrs. S.D. Ensign owned two other Brasstown Cottages at 524 Highland Ave. (219/9) and 513 Vernon Ave. (219/5). This one at 360 Highland Ave. was built in 1872 and valued at $500 at that time.

This house is isgnificant under criterion A, event, because it retains integrity in location, design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling and association in order to convey the broad pattern of industrialization in Beloit. One aspect of this industrialization was the growing population and the need to provide affordable housing for industry workers near the factories located on the westside of the Rock River. Brasstown Cottages fulfilled this basic need, furnishing workers with single-dwelling vernacular frame houses on relatively spacious city lots. Moreover the Cottages' modest but distinctive profiles found in their variety of size and ornamentation conveyed a sense of individuality while at the same time being identified with the large industrial complex. Beloit's rapid growth from the 1880s to the 1920s was a direct result of this industrialization and created the cityscape of Beloit today. It was in this period of heavy industrialization and growth that most of the extant Brasstown Cottages were built. Many of the owners of Brasstown cottages were skilled workers applying their specialized knowledge to the machine-making and paper-making industries of Beloit.
Bibliographic References
(A) Beloit City Tax Rolls, 1870-1885, Rock County Historical Society Archives, Janesville, WI. (B) Beloit City Directories, 1872, 1889 Rock County Historical Society Archives, Janesville, WI and the Beloit Historical Society, Beloit, WI. (C) Beloit Intensive Survey, Beloit, WI, 1981. (D) Massey, James C. and Shirley Maxwell, "The illustrated Old House Glossary," (n.p.: The Historic House Association of America), 1983. (E) Sanborn Map, City of Beloit, 1908, The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Archives, Madison, WI.

National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings

National/State Register Listing Name
Not Listed
National Register Listing Date
State Register Listing Date
Contributing
Unique ID
HI81847

Architecture & History Inventory

The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.

Learn More about AHI

Contact Us

Questions?

Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!

Email Us

Attribution

For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier. 

The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.

For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.

 

Access Property Records

Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.

Schedule Appointment

Property Record
524 HIGHLAND AVE

524 HIGHLAND AVE

71214

Located in Beloit, Rock County

View Property
Property Record
115 MERRILL AVE

115 MERRILL AVE

38672

Located in Beloit, Rock County

View Property
Property Record
123 MOORE ST

123 MOORE ST

80879

Located in Beloit, Rock County

View Property
Property Record
107 MERRILL AVE

107 MERRILL AVE

38671

Located in Beloit, Rock County

View Property
Property Record
759 8TH ST

759 8TH ST

81294

Located in Beloit, Rock County

View Property
Property Record
107 MOORE ST

107 MOORE ST

80875

Located in Beloit, Rock County

View Property
Go to top
Wisconsin Historical Society
Search Dropdown