Property Record
276 LINDEN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Octagon House (Isaac Brown House) |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 16159 |
| Location (Address): | 276 LINDEN ST |
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| County: | Fond du Lac |
| City: | Fond du Lac |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
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| Year Built: | 1856 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1988 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Octagon |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Grout |
| Architect: | Isaac Brown |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Octagon House |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 11/3/1972 |
| 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. BROWN WAS THE FIRST MAYOR OF FOND DU LAC. CENTRAL STAIRCASE, 4 ROOMS UPSTAIRS AND 7 ON THE GROUND FLOOR. PARLOR FIREPLACE LEADS TO BASEMENT TUNNEL AND THEN TO THE RIVER. BROWN WAS THE BUILDER AND THE HOUSE IS AN ORSON FOWLER DESIGN. PROPERTY WAS THE RECIPIENT OF A 1975 A&D GRANT FROM THE DHP. J IN THE PHOTO CODES IS SHORT FOR JAS. THIS ONE AND ONE-HALF STORY OCTAGON HOUSE IS CONSTRUCTED WITH GROUT WALLS. GROUT WAS AN EARLY FORM OF CONCRETE. THE WALLS HAVE A STUCCO COVERING. THE HOUSE HAS A CONICAL ROOF FROM WHICH LATER-ADDED GABLE-ROOFED DORMERS PROJECT. ONE STORY BASY PROJECT FROM EACH SIDE OF THE LATER-ADDED WRAP-AROUND VERANDA. THE VERANDA IS ENCLOSED AND FEATURES IONIC COLUMNS. THIS BUILDING IS ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING EXAMPLES OF AN OCTAGON HOUSE IN WISCONSIN. ITS GROUT WALL CONSTRUCTION ALSO MAKES IT SIGNIFICANT, AS THE USE OF GROUT WAS AN INNOVATIVE MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY BUILDING TECHNIQUE, LONG BEFORE THE POPULAR USE OF CONCRETE BECAME PERVASIVE. THE HOUSE IS WELL-PRESERVED ON BOTH THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR AND IS A LOCAL LANDMARK. ISAAC BROWN WAS AN EARLY RESIDENT OF FOND DU LAC AND AN EARLY BUILDER. IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MANY YEARS HE OCCUPIED THIS HOUSE. BY 1872, RICHARD MORRIS, A DAIRYMAN (IN THE CITY DIRECTORIES), OCCUPIED THE PROPERTY AND LIVED THERE UNTIL 1887. AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, THE CLANCY FAMILY OCCUPIED THE HOUSE. THIS HOUSE IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OF ITS ASSOCIATION WITH EARLY RESIDENT ISAAC BROWN, WHO WAS A BUILDER AND FIRST MAYOR OF THE CITY. THE HOUSE IS ALSO PART OF THE NRHP LINDEN STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) FOND DU LAC TALKING HOUSES AND HISTORIC PLACES BROCHURE, FOND DU LAC CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. (B) FOND DU LAC CITY DIRECTORIES. (C) SANBORN-PERRIS MAPS - FOND DU LAC. (D) TAX ROLLS - FOND DU LAC. Wisconsin State Journal 5/24/1975. Milwaukee Journal 11/12/1971. Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 7/20/1971. Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 7/30/1971. Fond du Lac Reporter 10/5/1971. Fond du Lac Reporter 10/14/1971. Fond du Lac Reporter 10/26/1971. Fond du Lac Reporter 11/4/1971. Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 11/12/1971. Wisconsin Heritage by Bertha Kitchell Whyte, 1954. Milwaukee Journal 12/12/1971. Milwaukee Journal 2/1/1972. Milwaukee Journal 7/25/1943. Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 2/23/1973. Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 2/22/1973. Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 2/9/1973. Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 3/13/1973. Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter 3/1/1973. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |