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Summary
Coole Park Manor
351 Old Fort Road, Town of La Pointe, Ashland County
Architect: Wilder and Wight
Date of Construction: 1913
In the mid-1800s, Madeline Island started becoming a vacation destination for wealthy Midwesterners. Though some attempts were made to develop the island, nothing was very successful until the 1890s when an increasing number of tourists built summer homes on the island.
In the early 20th century, Dr. A. G. and Cora Hull came to Madeline Island and built a luxurious summer home, completed in 1913, which they named Coole Park Manor. Kansas City architects Edmund Wilder and Thomas Wight designed the home. Wilder and Wight primarily worked on commercial buildings and it was quite unusual for them to design a residence. The manor included a 15-room main house, two guest houses, and several service buildings. The rustic materials, large porches, and rambling nature of the house all help to mask its actual size and give it a more informal appearance.
Created to be a retreat, Coole Park Manor embodies the leisure lifestyle that wealthy Midwesterners such as the Hulls consciously created for their vacation homes. About 1920, the Hulls’ daughter Elizabeth designed and built the estate's formal gardens. The gardens are unusual for Madeline Island, which typically is marked with forests and natural undergrowth.
In 1947, the Hulls sold Coole Park Manor. The Vennums of Minneapolis turned the house into a resort and changed the name to Chateau Madeline.
The property is privately owned. Please respect the privacy of the owners.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1913-1920 |
| Architectural Style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| Architect | Wilder & Wight |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Single Dwelling |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 4 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 2 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 2 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 3 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 1 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 21, 2005 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jun 1, 2005 |
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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