Wisconsin is home to numerous historical places that share important stories with us. Some such buildings represent specific families or eras, such as the Victorian Thoreson House; other one-room schools like Reed School in Neillsville have become historic landmarks themselves.
Wisconsin’s original house of governance was an unassuming structure that dwarfs Wisconsin’s current capitol building in terms of size.
Thoreson House
Sven Thoreson was born in Sweden and immigrated to the United States in 1854, eventually settling in Halfway Creek, Wisconsin. During the Civil War he served with the First Independent Battery Light Artillery unit near Baton Rouge Louisiana.
Thoreson House dates back to 1911 and features a Late Victorian L-plan two-story residence featuring exterior walls covered in shingles and a shallow pitched hip roof that covers it.
Charles Lord was an influential ginseng farmer and once owned this estate. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sigma Phi Society now owns and maintains the house, making it available for tours. Fraternity brothers are charged with keeping it updated and restored as well as being familiar with its history and architecture so they can offer guided tours as requested. Unfortunately, however, some original features of the home have been lost over time, including its serial number plate and built-in trellis that once graced one side.
Dunlap Building
Dunlap Building in Marinette, Wisconsin stands as an office and retail space dating back to 1894 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A classic example of Victorian commercial block architecture with glazed atrium and brick facade features, Alva Dunlap was an integral figure in local government and agriculture development in Marinette.
Paducah Symphony Orchestra, a nonprofit organization that brings the joys of great music to everyone in Paducah, also calls this building home and has joined with Dunlap to preserve and revitalize it for future use.
Dunlap is currently writing a book about the dunes, using as his main workspace a three-sided centerpiece that was once part of ANB conference rooms. He hopes to complete his project before year’s end; doing it pro bono with help from local historian Doug Johnstone and Stephen Borkowski.
Jeremiah Curtin House
The Jeremiah Curtin House can be found in Greendale, Wisconsin and serves as the boyhood home of renowned American linguist and folklorist Jeremiah Curtin. Built in 1846 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Curtin was an influential writer and world traveller known for his numerous books on folklore, languages and history he published during his time studying modern languages at Harvard with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and James Russell Lowell as his tutors; in his travels through Ireland and Russia alone!
The Milwaukee County Historical Society preserves this property, offering tours, drop-in programs and summer concerts on it. Attractions on the grounds include a Cream City brick farmhouse, one of Wisconsin’s last stone barns and a threshing barn equipped with a 75-foot kiln. Furthermore, their museum houses an archive collection and artifacts; making this location a must for history lovers; guests will marvel at its intricate details and remarkable historical significance; one of Wisconsin’s premier landmarks!
Martin H Bekkedal Tobacco Warehouse
The Martin H Bekkedal Tobacco Warehouse, also known as the Northern Wisconsin Co-op Tobacco Pool Warehouse is an outstanding example of large tobacco processing warehouse design from 1906. Designed by La Crosse architects Parkinson and Dockendorff with two story tan brick building featuring two story curved parapet walls on either end as well as later tobacco leaf medallion decorations; constructed by Martin Bekkedal (Norwegian immigrant who became one of the largest wholesalers in his region).
Bekkedal Warehouse was at the core of Western Wisconsin tobacco farming for many decades and stands out for both its association with this important industry and for its outstanding architectural design. Nominated under Criterion A for both functions,
Bekkedal Tobacco Warehouse stands as a reminder of Vernon County’s longstanding tobacco farming heritage. Although currently used only occasionally for this purpose, the facility still plays an essential part in processing and storing local farmers’ tobacco crops.
