Property Record
4037 HIGHWAY. 42
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 48369 |
| Location (Address): | 4037 HIGHWAY. 42 |
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| County: | Door |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Gibraltar |
| Unincorporated Community: | Fish Creek |
| Town: | 31 |
| Range: | 27 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 29 |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1992 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Front Gabled |
| Structural System: | Balloon Frame |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | #650: 41/23-25. Historical Background This farm was owned by Edgar Thorps when they ran the Thorp Hotel in Fish Creek. Much of the produce that the Hotel used was raised at this farm. Property purchased by Edgar Thorp from E.B. and Jennie Graham in 1933. Thorp family sold it to Andres and Elsie Redman in 1964. Redmanns sold to Ethan and Frances Miller in the 1970s. The land was originally part of Asa Thorp's large tract of land purchased from the United States government in 1858. Historical Significance This farm is the only intact farm property in the 1992-3 survey area. It is in excellent condition, and has lost few, if any, original buildings. Its association with one of the two large resorts begun in Fish Creek in the late nineteenth century represents the support network the resorts needed in order to serve their clientele. Architectural Description The main house is a side gable two story residence with a one story ell with a secondary entrance on the north elevation, and a wood shingle-clad gable roofed entrance bay. The asphalt shingled roof on the main block projects slightly over moderately sized cornice boards. The clapboard clad walls are pierced by random fenestration of a variety of one-over-one double hung wood sash windows. The house rests on a stone foundation. The house walls are stove wood construction, and were originally covered in the clapboard evident now. Outbuildings at the farm include: a large one story barn with an attic [41-24]. Its asphalt-clad roof projects in a point for windows on the first floor are four-paned fixed wood sash. The storage garage [41-23] is gable front with dropsiding-clad walls and an asphalt-clad gable roof. A more recent shed addition has been added to the south elevation. The dilapidated storage [41-25] building also has drop siding and a deteriorated roof. Architectural Significance This farm is the only intact farm property in the 1992-3 survey area. It is in excellent condition, and has lost few, if any, original buildings. It retains the majority of the buildings typical of its property type. Its association with one of the two large resorts begun in Fish Creek in the late nineteenth century represents the physical support network the resorts needed in order to serve their clientele. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. Edward and Lois Schreiber, editors, Fish Creek Voices, An Oral History of a Door County Village, (Sister Bay, WI: Wm Caxton Ltd, 1990. B. Door County Almanak No. 5: Tourism, Resorts, Transportation, (Sister Bay, WI: The Dragonsbreath Press), 1990. C. Abstract of Title in possession of Fran Miller, property owner. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |