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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 12116 N WAUWATOSA RD |
|---|---|
| County | Ozaukee |
| City/Village | Mequon |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1855 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1990 |
| Historic Use | house |
| Architectural Style | Greek Revival |
| Structural System | Timber Frame |
| Wall Material | Clapboard |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
A 'site file' (William F. Jahn Farmstead) 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, Division of Historic Preservation. DESCRIPTION This one and one-half story side gable house has a low-pitched gable roof, returned eaves, clapboards, and a one-story rear wing. Windows are six-over-six light double-hung sashes decorated with shutters. On the front facade there are three small windows on the upper floor. The front entrance is decorated with sidelights and a tall cornice openings and a modern fireplace. There is a large gable-roofed barn with board siding, large sliding doors, a fieldstone foundation, and some small window openings. All the buildings are in excellent condition. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE Mequon has a number of vernacular houses. The form and massing of the house, the returned eaves, and small upper floor windows, and the symmetrically placed six-over-six double-hung sashes are all details of the style. The smoke house is also a common resource in Mequon and many are constructed of fieldstone. This one shows a high level of craftsmanship and materials and despite the alterations to the shed, it is a good example of this type of construction and building in the city. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND This property was owned by William F. Jahn between 1855 and 1895 and by William Jahn between 1898 and 1931. William F. Jahn was born in Germany in 1821. In 1844 he came with his family to Mequon and settled the farm this property is part of. In 1855 he received 60 acres of land from his father and built it to 115 acres. He held a number of public offices including Justice of the Peace, chairman of the Town Board, and notary public. His son William continued to work the farm after William F. died. [a,b,h, p.754] HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE This farmstead has some historical interest because it was the home of an early German settler William F. Jahn. While not enough is known about William F. to determine if his career meets the criteria for historical significance, but initial research indicates that although Jahn was a prominent citizen and held a number of public offices, this property is not significant because of its association with him. Further investigation may reveal additional significance related to the career of William F. Jahn. |
| Bibliographic References | [a] Plat Maps for the city of Mequon, 1867-1980, on file at the Mequon Historical Society, Mequon, Wisconsin, or the Archives at the State Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin. [b] Taxs Rolls for the city of Mequon, 1857-1930, on file at the library, Mequon, Wisconsin. [c] Field observation based on architectural and historical information. [d] Information from the owner of the property. [e] Information from the building's datestone or inscription. [f] Freistadt Historical Society, Freistadt and the Lutheram Immigration, Mequom: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1989. [g] L. Rehm, Mequon History, on file at the Mequon Historical Society, Mequon, Wisconsin. [h] C.W. Butterfield, History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Chicago: Western Publishing Company, 1880. [i] Information from the Mequon Landmarks Commission, Mequon, Wisconsin. Mequon-Thiensville Courant 7/30/1998. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Jahn, William F., Farmstead |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Aug 10, 2000 |
| State Register Listing Date | Apr 14, 2000 |
| Contributing |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
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Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!
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.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
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