The South Main Street Residential Historic District was one of the earliest residential areas to develop in Lake Mills. Captain Joseph Keyes, who is widely credited as the city’s founder, arrived in the area from Vermont to settle in 1837. In 1842 his business partner Charles Patterson platted the community, including the commercial downtown, commons park, and northern portion of the residential area along South Main Street. Keyes purchased farmland south of the Patterson plat, where he constructed the first home in the District, a prominent, wood-frame, Greek Revival farmhouse (340 South Main Street). Many early property owners, including Keyes, earned their livelihoods through agriculture as farmers, livestock breeders, and mill owners.

The completion of the Chicago & North Western Railroad line in 1882 drove residential growth in Lake Mills, a trend that continued through the early twentieth century. Due to its proximity to the downtown commercial district and railroad depot, the District became a favored location for prominent local residents to build large, architecturally detailed houses. The homes displayed embellishments such as cream brick cladding, multi-gabled rooflines, bay windows, and large porches. They also featured some of Wisconsin’s most popular architectural styles including Italianate, Queen Anne, and Neoclassical Revival. The District’s one non-residential property, the Cottage Inn Hotel (265 South Main Street), was built as a part of the growing tourism industry in Lake Mills at the turn of the twentieth century.

The houses in this district are private residences, please respect the privacy of the occupants.