Property Record
155 BAYLEY AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | W. N. SMITH HOUSE |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 45801 |
| Location (Address): | 155 BAYLEY AVE |
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| County: | Grant |
| City: | Platteville |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
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| Year Built: | 1915 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2005 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Craftsman |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | GRANT C. MILLER, FULLENWIDER, DOWLING, ARCHITECTS (CHICAGO) |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Bayley Avenue Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 7/19/2007 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 4/27/2007 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | THIS TWO-STORY BRICK AND STUCCO HOUSE HAS A GABLE ROOF BROKEN AT THE FRONT BY A LONG SHED ROOF PLACED OVER THE SECOND STORY WINDOWS. RAFTER ENDS, A SHED ROOFED RECTANGULAR SIDE ENTRANCE BAY, A SHED ROOFED RECTANGULAR BAY WINDOW, WINDOWS OF FACER PANES OVER CLEAR PLATE GLASS, AND A PEDIMENTED DOOR HOOD SUPPORTED BY TUSCAN COLUMNS AND A LARGE STAINED GLASS WINDOW TO THE NORTH FURTHER CHARACTERIZE THIS EARLY 20TH CENTURY "MODERN" HOUSE. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUSES CONSTRUCTED AFTER THE TURN OF THE CENTURY IN PLATTEVILLE, THE STRUCTURE IS ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AS THE BEST OF PLATTEVILLE'S CRAFTSMAN STYLE HOUSES; THAT IS, THOSE THAT CANNOT BE CLASSIFIED AS OF A HISTORIC STYLE. CONSTRUCTED BY A PROMINENT, WEALTHY CITIZEN OF PLATTEVILLE, W. N. SMITH, IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FOR THE MOST PART IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THIS HOUSE WAS THE RESIDENCE OF W. N. SMITH, PURPORTED TO HAVE BEEN PLATTEVILLE'S FIRST MILLIONAIRE. SMITH WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE VINEGAR HILL MINING COMPANY. THE ARCHITECTS WERE GRANT C. MILLER, FULLENWIDER, AND DOWLING OF CHICAGO, AND THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS WERE ROSE BROS. (B) SUBSEQUENT OWNERS INCLUDE ADA KIES, WHO LIVED THERE FROM 1957 TO 1978 AND D. L. TROESTER, FROM 1978 TO PRESENT DAY. (D,C) TROESTER'S ADDRESS IS RT. 3, PLATTEVILLE, WI. 53818. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. RICHARD BARDEN, INTERVIEW, 5-3-83. B. CORRESPONDENCE: W. N. SMITH IN LETTERS TO THE ARCHITECTS DATED 1914-1915, OWNED BY MR. D. TROSTER, PLATTEVILLE, WI. C. ADA KIES, INTERVIEW, 5-23-83. D. D. L. TROESTER, INTERVIEW, 5-28-83. Platteville Journal 1/27/1998. E. CITY OF PLATTEVILLE TAX RECORDS. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |