| Additional Information: | Sheathed entirely with clapboard, this two-story, front-gabled house is dominated by a one-story, open porch that covers the entire west elevation and wraps around to extend along the full south elevation of the main block of the house. A full pediment with columnar supports frames the porch entry, with additional columns supporting the remainder of the porch that features a spindled railing. A variety of windows are located throughout the house, with the second-floor windows of the primary elevation being the most notable with the upper sash featuring a diamond-like pattern in wood. Some windows are replacements and an addition extends from the rear.
Earlier (2001) survey information cited that the original home on the property was built in 1880 by William Campbell. Indeed, Irish-born Campbell and his wife Sarah, a New York native, improved the subject lot with a home as of that year. By no later than 1870, the Campbells resided in De Pere, along with their seven children who ranged in age from nineteen to just one year. Although not fully confirmed (as the subject William Campbell), William, a sailor, appears to have lost his life in 1895 while working on the Steamer Belle Mae and drowned near La Crosse. As of 1899, James Phimester and his family are identified as moving into “Mrs. Sarah Campbell’s house on South Broadway,” which presumes that Sarah and her family had moved out. In December 1900, Sarah sold the house “on the hill” to John Ruel, who was in the lumber business. The local paper noted a purchased price of $600 and indicated that Mr. Ruel would make “extensive improvements on the house” after which he and his family would move in. The following February, Ruel’s plans for improvements were cited again, noting specifically that a foundation would be built under the house and that a hot water heating system would be installed. That same year, Ruel also purchased the lot adjacent to the east and, as of October, the house was being wired for electricity. If Ruel and his family actually resided in the home after the cited improvements, it was only for short while for, as of 1905, the home was noted as sold to E.A. Lee and available for rent. The house changed hands at least twice before its sale in 1919 to Charles and Amanda Seefeldt. At that time, the local paper again noted plans for “extensive improvements to the place.” The Seefeldts (along with Amanda’s mother for a time) resided in the house into the 1940s. |
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| Bibliographic References: | 2001: Tax rolls.
The following citations are associated with the 2017 report information included below:
Please be aware that Fox River Drive is a more recent name for the subject roadway. Originally the roadway was named S. Broadway and, for a short period, it was renamed as Riverside Drive. It was not until circa 1960 that the name was changed to Fox River Drive.
Tax Rolls, City of De Pere, Brown County, 1880, 1885, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1910; Newspaper brief (re: William Campbell overboard), Green Bay Press-Gazette, 25 May 1895; Newsbrief (re: house sold), Brown County Democrat, 14 December 1900, 1; Newsbrief (re: Phimester in Campbell house), Green Bay Press-Gazette, 25 April 1899, 2; Newsbrief (re: Ruel improvements), De Pere News, 20 February 1901, 4; Newsbrief (re: Ruel lot purchase), Brown County Democrat, 17 May 1901, 1; “Local Briefs,” (re: electricity), De Pere News, 2 October 1901, 4; Newsbrief (re: Ruel sold house), Brown County Democrat, 27 October 1905; Newsbrief (re: Martin sells house to Seefeldt), De Pere Journal Democrat, 7 August 1919, 1; U.S. Federal Census, Population, 1870, 1900, 1920; “Mrs. C. Zich Dies at Daughter’s Residence,” Green Bay Press-Gazette, 14 February 1942, 2; “Charles Seefeldt Dies in Milwaukee,” Green Bay Press-Gazette, 12 December 1955, 48. |
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