Property Record
546 W PRAIRIE ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | JOHN J. SUTTON HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 3513 |
| Location (Address): | 546 W PRAIRIE ST |
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| County: | Columbia |
| City: | Columbus |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1879 |
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| Additions: | 1900 |
| Survey Date: | 1996 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
| Architect: | Milford Loomis |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Prairie Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 1/7/1999 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 7/26/1998 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | SQUARE TOWER AND WRAP AROUND PORCH ADDED AFTER 1903. FRONT GABLE HAS STICK WORK AND WOOD SHINGLES, FLAT POINTED ARCH WINDOWS ON 1ST FLR, TOWER HAS ONION ROOF W/BRACKETS, GARLAND ORNAMENT OVER ROUND ARCHED WINDOW. THE TOWER WAS ADDED, SO THE STORY GOES, WHEN SUTTON'S SECOND WIFE WANTED TO "OUT-DO" THE HOME HE HAD BUILT FOR HIS SON AT 551 W. HARRISON. SUTTON WAS INVOLVED IN LIVESTOCK BREEDING AND LAW. HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE BAR IN WISCONSIN THOUGH HE NEVER WENT TO LAW SCHOOL. IN ONE CASE HE WAS DRIVING A HERD OF LIVESTOCK TO MILWAUKEE AND THE BRIDGE IN WAUWATOSA BROKE UNDER THE CATTLE. HE BROUGHT SUIT AGAINST WAUWATOSA AND LOST BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY AND "BLUE" LAWS DID NOT PERMIT BUSINESS ON SUNDAY. HE TOOK THE CASE TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND WON $845.22 AS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT "TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT." THE SECOND AND LONG TERM OWNER OF THE HOME WAS ROBERT LEITSCH WHO PUBLISHED THE REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER FROM 1908-1940. One of the best Italianate style buildings in Columbus, this clapboard-clad house was designed by an as yet unidentified Milwaukee architect (probably Edward Townsend Mix) and it was built in 1877 for Columbus stock dealer John J. Sutton by carpentry contractor Milford Loomis. In 1900, Sutton had the ornate Classical Revival style-influenced three-story tower added to the front of the house and the front porch was enlarged as well. |
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| Bibliographic References: | COLUMBUS HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE TOURS, COLUMBUS HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND PRESERVATION COMMISSION, 1994. City of Columbus Historic Landmarks and Preservation Commission site files. City of Columbus Real Estate Tax Rolls. Columbus Republican: July 19, 1879, p. 1; August 30, 1879, p. 1; September 6, 1879, p. 1; March 6, 1880, p. 1; June 9, 1900, p. 1. Stare, Frederic A. The story of Columbus. Installment Nos. 160-178 (pp. 239-268). Columbus Historic Architecture Tours, undated. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |