Property Record
401 W WISCONSIN AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | J.W. Claspil |
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| Reference Number: | 52219 |
| Location (Address): | 401 W WISCONSIN AVE |
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| County: | Outagamie |
| City: | Kaukauna |
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| Year Built: | 1892 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1983 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
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| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | Situated on a hill overlooking the Fox River, the two and a half story house has a commanding view of the south side of Kaukauna. Its irregular massing and roof line and its large tower are characteristic of the Queen Anne style. Projecting from the central core of the building (which is topped by a tine hip roof) are gables facing the east and west sides. The ridges of these gable roofs have small rounded finials. A finial also crowns the front tower with conical roof. All windows are double hung. The ground level is of painted brick veneer while the upper floors are covered with modern siding. The house has fourteen rooms. "J.W. Claspil, the original owner of this home, was a business associated of Col. H.A. Frambach, Kaukauna's First Mayor, and a relative by marriage because Col. Frambach's brother John was also an adopted brother of Claspil's wife. In 1880 Claspil bought Col. Frambach's dry goods store, in which he had previously been a clerk. In the 1890's he went into real estate, insurance, and a "fancy groceries and crockery" store, and became largely identified with the interests of Kaukauna in its period of major development. For example, the Claspil grocery was the second site of the Kaukauna Telephone Company with 58 phones." Walking Tour Through Old Kaukauna: Two Self-Guided Historic Tours Kaukauna, Wisconsin, City of Kaukauna, 1983. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Kaukauna Assessment Rolls 1892-1917, 1919-1982. (B) Commemorative Biographical Record of Fox River Valley, p. 710. (C) Kaukauna 175th Jubilee Album, p. 63. (D) Residential Appraisal Card. Walking Tour Through Old Kaukauna: Two Self-Guided Historic Tours Kaukauna, Wisconsin, City of Kaukauna, 1983. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |