Property Record
420 4TH AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | John P. Pinkum House |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 41796 |
| Location (Address): | 420 4TH AVE |
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| County: | Eau Claire |
| City: | Eau Claire |
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| Year Built: | 1859 |
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| Additions: | 1889 |
| Survey Date: | 1981 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Clapboard |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Randall Park Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 5/20/1983 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: | Multiple Resources of Eau Claire |
| Additional Information: | Facing Randall Park and dominating its corner location, the Pinkum House is an architecturally significant example of late nineteenth century eclectic architecture. Although the rambling, picturesque residence is principally Queen Anne in character, it also features elements of the earlier Second Empire style, most notably the mansard roof. A concave mansard roof covers the two and a half story main block of the frame building. Rising from the ground story and above the roof line is a square tower which highlights the composition. The three and a half story tower which contains the dwelling's front entrance is crowned by a pyramidal roof that is punctuated by gabled dormers. Also projecting from the main block is a three story corner tower (at the northeast corner) and a two story bay window capped by a cantilevered gable (at the northeast corner). Shingles appear on the gabled portions of these elements as well as on a narrow band separating the clapboard siding of the first and second floors. Attached at the south side is a one and a half story rectangular addition. Covered again by a mansard roof which in this instance is interrupted by gable roofed dormers, the section has been altered through the removal of an entrance porch and the addition of a modern picture window. A veranda, an original feature, is visible on the main portion of the building. The metal cresting which originally decorated the roofs has been removed. An early (1904) photo of the residence is available at the Chippewa Valley Museum. John Pinkum (1833-1899) was trained as a carpenter, joiner, and millwright. He moved from his home state of Maine to Eau Claire in 1855. Entering the lumber business, he put up a small mill for Reed & Randall and continued to work for a number of other firms until 1862 when he erected a mill which he operated in partnership with Ingram & Kennedy (later the Empire Lumber Company). He later became a director and stockholder of the company and was general manager of the millwright department, in charge of building and managing the mills. He died in 1899. A home was first constructed on this location in 1859. The present residence, an almost complete rebuilding of the original building, was erected in 1889. 2016- "Built in 1859, this home was almost completely redone in 1889. The mansard roof puts this house in the Second Empire style with a strong Queen Anne influence. It contained a third floor ballroom, a common feature in houses of this scale. John Pinkum came to Eau Claire in 1855 as a carpenter, joiner and millwright. In 1862 he erected a mill, which he operated in partnership with Ingram & Kennedy and which later became the Empire Lumber Company. He managed his mills until his death in 1899." -"Eau Claire Landmarks: Designated Historic Properties in Eau Claire, Wisconsin", Eau Claire Landmarks Commission, P.O. Box 5148, 2016. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Tax Assessment Rolls - Area Research Center - Univ. of Wisc.-Eau Claire. (B) Photo collection - Chippewa Valley Museum. (C) Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley, 1891-92, p. 493. (D) Self-Guided Tour of the Sawdust City, 1977. Eau Claire Landmarks booklet published by the Eau Claire Landmarks Commission in 2002. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |