Property Record
467 W 1ST ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | William Johnston House |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 47843 |
| Location (Address): | 467 W 1ST ST |
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| County: | St. Croix |
| City: | New Richmond |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
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| Year Built: | 1895 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1983 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Aluminum/Vinyl Siding |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | New Richmond West Side Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 5/31/1988 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | Aluminum siding is the exterior fabric on this 2 1/2 story residence. The foundation is rock faced and the plan basically rectangular. Asphalt shingles cover the multi-gabled roof on this Queen Anne style house. The south or front of the house has a pedimented gable with box cornice and dentil-like fishscales. There is a flat entablature head Palladian window in this gable end. Below this are two windows on the second story. A one story porch covers the facade. Behind this is a picture window and the entry door. Three-fourths of the porch roof is flat with a short turned wood railing. On the east side of the porch is a small ell with pedimented gable, the roofline of which is contiguous with the house roof. Inside the gable are fishscales and a small triangle with fan shaped woodwork. Beneath this is turned and sawn woodwork porch trim. This trim used to extend the length of the porch. The porch is now screened in adn this trim is gone. The narrow porch columns rae new. A sunburst woodwork pattern is between the two front gables. On the east side is a pedimented gable with dentil-like fishscales and a window with an entabluature head. The second story has a paired window and the first story a picture window. There is a rear addition. The west side has an ell with a gable roof and window. There is a rear addition. The west side hsa an ell with a gable roof and returns. Three windows are on the east facade of the ell and one on each story on the south side of hte ell. There are two more windows, one on each story, on the west facade of the house. Landscaping consists of small evergreens next to the house and some trees. The lot extends back to the river with the house placed close to the road. This residence is not architecturally significant because it has no outstanding buildings details that would distinguish it from other Queen Anne style homes. It has kept most of its integrity and is a good local example of late 19th century architectural detailing. In size and overall appearance it contributes to the turn of the century character of this neighborhood. It is in fact pivotal to the street-scape of this district. In 1883 the Johnston brothers, William and James, bought this land from W.S. Williams (see SC20-13, 339 West First Street). William got the west half and around 1888 built a house (see SC29-34, 447 West First Street). He sold this residence in 1895 and built at this spot. The newspaepr of 10/10/95 noted "Mr. Johnston will build a new home on the vacant lot east of Mr. Alex Beals residence. An 1897 plat map shows Johnston at this spot. In 1875 William and James Johnston were partners in Johnston Brothers, a flour milling operation in Boardman, Wisconisn. Newspaper accounts in 1875 and 1891 also say the Johnston Brothers were loggers on the Willow River. William was married to Justina Starkweather. The Johnston family was related to the Bell family through Katherine (see Johnston). William and his sister Katherine both lived on West First Street around the turn of the century. (Bell at SC20-5, 350 West First Street and SC20-10, 425 West First Stret. See also farm at SC27-24). In 1890 William was city mayor. He had died by 1909 and James was living in Minneapolis then. iA 1930 photo shows the house as substantially unchanged since then. Some of the turned wood on the porch is gone. This house is not associated with any significant person or event in New Richmond. From the little that is known of Johnston, he seems to "fit in" to the character of others who lived in this district. Most were local politicians and businessmen of Yankee or Irish descent. Note: This house is shown in a street scene on SC35-35 with SC20-10 (325 W. First Street), SC20-11 (413 West First Street) and SC29-34 (447 W. First Street). Photo code is SC35-35. Contact is included on this ISR form. Wm. Johnston was b. in Ontario in 1831 and came to the U.S. when he was 24 years old. |
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| Bibliographic References: | New Richmond News 1/23/1997. New Richmond Walking Tour brochure, 2000. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |