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Summary
McCarthy, Timothy and Katherine, House
848 Jenifer Street, Madison, Dane County
Architect: Lew Porter
Date of construction: 1897
The McCarthy House is a classically influenced Queen Anne style residence. The clapboard and shingle sheathed house sits on a raised sandstone foundation. The steeply pitched roof with asymmetrically placed cross gables, the projecting polygonal bays and the tall decorative chimneys are all characteristic of the highly decorative Queen Anne style. Classical features include the Ionic columns, denticulated cornice and turned balusters of the front porch, as well as the Palladian motif of the second floor balcony.
The interior of the house is well preserved. Of special note is the entrance foyer. Its elaborate staircase with its arched openings filled with Japanesque spindle and ball ornamentation is the showpiece of the house. The staircase is lit by a large window on the landing; its upper half is an ornamental pane of bent wood and clear glass.
This large, two-story house was built for prominent Madison building contractor Timothy McCarthy, who used the property for both his home and office. The McCarthy firm constructed many major buildings in the city, including large portions of the State Capitol and many University of Wisconsin buildings.
Architect Lew Porter was a partner of the firm Conover and Porter, one of Madison's major architectural firms of the late nineteenth century. In addition to a large number of residences, the firm also designed schools (a specialty) and commercial buildings.
The McCarthy House is privately owned, please respect the privacy of its owners.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1897 |
| Architectural Style | Queen Anne |
| Architect | Porter, Lew |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Single Dwelling |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 1 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Apr 12, 2002 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jul 17, 2002 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
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307 North Ludington Street
09000581
Located in Columbus, Columbia County
