239 W JAMES ST | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

Property Record

239 W JAMES ST

Architecture and History Inventory
239 W JAMES ST | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:Mary and John Swarthout House
Other Name:
Contributing:
Reference Number:3475
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):239 W JAMES ST
County:Columbia
City:Columbus
Township/Village:
Unincorporated Community:
Town:
Range:
Direction:
Section:
Quarter Section:
Quarter/Quarter Section:
PROPERTY FEATURES
Year Built:1851
Additions:
Survey Date:19962012
Historic Use:house
Architectural Style:Greek Revival
Structural System:
Wall Material:Clapboard
Architect:
Other Buildings On Site:
Demolished?:No
Demolished Date:
NATIONAL AND STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
National/State Register Listing Name:Not listed
National Register Listing Date:
State Register Listing Date:
NOTES
Additional Information:A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation.

PEDIMENTED FRONT GABLE OVER 2 STORY PORTICO. LATTICE ORNAMENT AND WOOD SHINGLES IN GABLE ON ELL. The upright front-gabled portion of this fine Greek Revival house was built in 1851 for John Swarthout, pioneer Columbus druggist and local postmaster for many years. Later, Swarthout added the ell and its porch to the house. Although it is now a rental property, the house is still owned by the Swarthout family.

"John Swarthout was the first pharmacist in Columbus, arriving in 1844. He opened a store at 119 E. James St. which also housed the offices of Dr. Axtel and Gov. James T. Lewis. He built this house for his bride, Mary, in 1851 and added the side wing later to accommodate her sister. This is one of only two remaining Greek Revival houses in Columbus.

This stately residence is an excellent example of the temple form Greek Revival. The proportional relationship between the size of the columns and the mass of the building is exceptionally fine.

The main facade is covered with horizontal wood siding set flush to simulate stone. It is edged with wide corner pilasters. The vernacular Doric columns are actually octagonal, with carefully-crafted capitals. They support a broad entabulature and triangular pediment. The side wing has some elements of the Queen Anne style, with its shingled and ornamented gable. Some of the outbuildings are still intact and connect the wing section to the old carriage house." Columbus Historic Architecture Tours, undated.
Bibliographic References:BEAVER DAM DAILY CITIZEN 12/19/1994. BEAVER DAM DAILY CITIZEN 12/16/1994. COLUMBUS JOURNAL 12/19/1994. Butterfield, C. W. History of Columbia County. WI, Chicago: 1880, p. 978. City of Columbus Historic Landmarks and Preservation Commission site files. Columbus Democrat: April 3, 1874, p. 1; August 24, 1878, p. 1; and August 31, 1878, p. 1. Columbus Republican: March 1, 1902, p. 1. Stare, Frederick A. The Story of Columbus. Installment No. 20 (p. 24), Take a Walk on Main Street: Historic Walking Tours in Wisconsin's Main Street Communities, Wisconsin Main Street Program, 1998. “Architecture and History Survey: STH 16/60” WHS project number 14-0933/CO. June 2012. Prepared by Mead & Hunt Inc. Columbus Historic Architecture Tours, undated.
RECORD LOCATION
Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

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