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Summary
Halverson Log Cabin
University of Wisconsin Campus, Whitewater, Walworth County
Architect: Gullik Halverson
Date of Construction: 1846
In 1845, Norwegian immigrants Gullik Halverson and his wife, Dorothea, settled about six miles south of Whitewater in the town of Richmond. Within a year, they built a small, one-room cabin in which they raised their five children. It was approximately 16-feet wide x 20-feet long, with a small, lofted sleeping area and a large stone fireplace. The walls were hand-hewn timbers, about 9- to 10-inches square, chinked with mortar and set upon a shallow sandstone foundation.
In 1861, the Halverson family moved into Whitewater, abandoning the cabin. By the early 20th century, local historians recognized the Halverson cabin as an excellent example of an early pioneer home.
In 1907, the Whitewater Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) acquired the cabin and moved it to a wooded knoll on its campus. Whitewater Normal School, under school president Albert Salisbury, was a premier education facility for teachers and had a reputation during this time as a progressive-minded school. Acquiring and relocating the cabin was an early attempt by the school at historic preservation. Careful attention was paid to authentically replicate the building's original construction details and design as it was turned into a "Museum of Pioneer Life."
For many years, the cabin served as a learning center, as well as a place for social events and faculty gatherings, until it closed in the 1960s. The Halverson Log Cabin remains on the UW-Whitewater campus today.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Education |
| Period of Significance | 1900-1924,1925-1949 |
| Architectural Style | No Style Listed |
| Architect | Halverson,Gullik |
| 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 | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 8, 1985 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 1, 1989 |
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
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
University of Wisconsin
84000609
Located in Whitewater, Walworth County
The Old Log Cabin
1914
Text on front reads: "The Old Log Cabin, Whitewater, Wis." The log cabin was built in 1846 by Norwegian immigrants Gullik Halverson and his wife, Dorothea. It is built of hand-hewn timbers and has ...
Halverson Log Cabin, State Normal School
1907
A view of the facade of a log cabin on the grounds of the State Normal School. A black dog sits in front of the building. Caption reads: "Log Cabin on Normal School Grounds, Whitewater, Wis."
UW WHITEWATER CAMPUS 200 FT E OF N CASE ST OPP W FLORENCE ST
10358
Located in Whitewater, Walworth County
