Property Record
2219 WASHINGTON AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | George Murray House |
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| Other Name: | Our Savior Lutheran Church Parish House |
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| Reference Number: | 11487 |
| Location (Address): | 2219 WASHINGTON AVE |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
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| Year Built: | 1874 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1976 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | Walter Blythe |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Murray, George, House |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 6/6/1979 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historic information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. Contractor was Joseph Moon. BRACKETED EAVES W/MOULDED FRIEZE PANELS AND DIAMOND SHAPED FRIEZE WINDOWS. SEGMENTAL ARCH WINDOWS W/STONE SILLS AND LINTELS W/KEYSTONE. CORINTHIAN ENTRANCE PORCH. 2ND FLOOR LARGE CENTER WINDOW W/STILTED SEGMENTAL HOOD. USED TO HAVE CUPOLA. Photo code #3 is: Z: 944. Murray was a lumberman and cattle breeder. Originally this was the homestead of Daniel Slauson, who was one of Racine's earliest settlers. He farmed this land, beginning in 1837, cut timber here and established the city's first lumber-yard. His daughter, Mary, married his business partner, George Murray, and they are believed to have built this house. The spectacular Italianate mansion, one of the largest in Wisconsin, was erected by Joseph Moon of the firm Corse, Moon, & Davis. The CCB walls rest on an unusual foundation with 4-foot-high slabs of limestone facing. 2017- "This lovely Italianate house was designed by the team of architects and contractors who built Racine's Taylor Orphan Asylum. Known as the Murray Mansion, it became one of the largest Italianate houses in Wisconsin, and - at $30,000 - the most expensive residence in Racine. The Wisconsin Agricultural Society called it, "the pride of the area." -"Tour of Historic Places: Manree Park Neighborhood" pamphlet, Real Racine, preservationracine@gmail.com, 262-634-5748, (2017). 2017- "The Walkers platted their farmland soon after the Reeds to produce the "Hillcrest" subdivision, named after their own farmhouse, which was indeed on the tour. The Murrays' land, "Slausondale", opposite their mansion further east on Washinton Avenue, was also platted for residential use. That area was not part of the tour, but the Murray mansion itself was featured, now again in fabulous condition and an ornament to the neighborhood, as it was in 1874." -"Preservation Racine News", Pippin Michelli, Winter 2017, Volume 10. |
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| Bibliographic References: | ZIMMERMANN, RUSSELL "THE HERITAGE GUIDEBOOK" (HERITAGE BANKS 1976). Racine Journal Times 5/10/1997. Racine Landmarks brochure, 2003. Preservation Racine News, Spring 2019, Volume 14. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |