Property Record
1235 S MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | CHAUNCEY HALL HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 11107 |
| Location (Address): | 1235 S MAIN ST |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
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| Year Built: | 1845 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19752000 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Hall, Chauncey, House |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 1/2/1976 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Southside Historic District |
| National Register Listing Date: | 10/18/1977 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. ALSO SEE 'CHAUNCEY HALL BUILDING'. BARGE BOARDS IN GABLES. PHOTO OBSCURED BY TREES. Hall was a tailor. The house was later owned by Rev. Roswell Park, the founding president of Racine College. In 1854 this became the home of the Reverend Roswell Park and his wife, Elizabeth. He was one of the incorporators and founding president of Racine College. In 1902 this house was bought by John and Cora Knight. He owned the abstract business that is no the Knight-Barry Tile Company. Also part of the Southside Historic District. South Side Historic District Walking Tour Guide, 1993: "Local tradition says that Chauncey Hall built this house soon after he arrived in Racine; that the bricks of which it is constructed were accepted by him in payment of a debt-- presumably for his services as a tailor, the profession he followed when first he settled in Racine; and that the house as originally constructed contained no closets because of his bachelor inexperience at housekeeping--his daily work as a maker and mender of clothes notwithstanding. Chauncey came to Racine in 1845 and he was a bachelor until he married Miss Mary Loomis of New York State in 1851, so the house was undoubtedly built by then. The precise date of the house may be in doubt, but there is no doubt that it is the oldest surviving Gothic Revival dwelling in Racine. Its style became influential in America in the 1840s, largely because of the picturesque designs published by Andrew Jackson Downing in his very popular books, Cottage Residences (1842) and The Architecture of County Houses (1850). Steeply Pitched roofs and crossed gables are indicative forms of the Gothic Revival--as are the scroll-cut bargeboards that decorate the gables of the Hall House and the Gothic labels that forms drip caps above its windows. The house is constructed of cream brick but Chauncey, who had been born in New York State, had them stained the more familiar red that is seen in the East. In 1854 this became the home of Reverend Roswell Park and his wife, Elizabeth. he was one of the incorporators and the founding president of Racine College. Another local tradition says that the first college classes were held here. If that is true, he must have rented the house two years before he bought it, because those classes were held in 1852. An account dows exist in which Dr. Park--a former army officer--jokingly complained that the American flag which daily flew over his cupola was being shelled by Civil War artillerymen who were then training at Camp Utley, which was located near the lake south of his house. He owned the abstract business that is now the Knight-Barry Title Company. Their family and relatives have owned and cared for it ever since." |
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| Bibliographic References: | ZIMMERMANN, RUSSELL "THE HERITAGE GUIDEBOOK" (HERITAGE BANKS 1976). Racine Landmarks brochure, 2003. Racine Southside Historic District Walking Tour Guide, 1990. Renewing Our Roots: A Guide To Racine, Wisconsin, Central City, Southside, Preservation-Racine, 1977. Racine Landmarks Preservation Commission, South Side Historic District Walking Tour Guide, 1993. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |