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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 327 WRIGLEY DR |
|---|---|
| County | Walworth |
| City/Village | Lake Geneva |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1885 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1985 |
| Historic Use | house |
| Architectural Style | Queen Anne |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Clapboard |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
A 'site file' 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. Lake Geneva’s most intact Queen Anne house represents two important facets of the area’s history: it was both a private summer resort and a refuge for wealthy people with nervous disorders. Emily Carswell Baker, a wealthy widow, built Redwood Cottage on family-owned land and summered here until her death in 1894. Her son sold it to Celinda Walkup, who turned it into an annex of the Lakeside Sanitarium, next door. By the 1880s, Lake Geneva had become a haven for those needing a "rest cure." Lakeside Cottage, as the house was then called, offered patients the ambiance of a private home. After 1925, the building became a hotel. A one-story rear wing was added sometime before 1901, and it has been enlarged and altered repeatedly. The two-and-one-half-story house features a wrap-around veranda (now glazed), a conical turret, an inset balcony at the attic level, seven patterns of shingles along the walls, and richly textured ornament. The striking interior is organized with two parlors and a row of hotel rooms toward the street and a dining room facing the lake. In between is a staircase, decorated with spindles, bulls-eyes, and openwork flowers. At the landing, a tripartite window features large rectangular panes of yellow glass surrounded by small multicolored panes with floral designs. Exquisite woodwork graces the building. An enormous built-in cherry sideboard, ten-feet wide and equally tall, embellished by elaborate carvings, dominates an entire wall of the dining room. Oak or cherry fireplaces with elaborate mantles and overmantles mark each of the main rooms. The largest of these is in the front parlor, which features a carved lion's head with a wooden ring in its mouth. The third floor was originally unfinished, but in 1901 it was divided into eight small sleeping rooms for sanitarium patients. Today it is an inn. |
| Bibliographic References | Lake Geneva Regional News 6/19/1997. A Walking Tour of Olde Lake Geneva Towne by the Lake Geneva Plaque and Walking Tour Commission, Spring 1993. Buildings of Wisconsin manuscript. A Walking Tour of Lake Geneva, WI, Lake Geneva Historic Preservation Commission, 2015. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Redwood Cottage |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Sep 07, 1984 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing | Yes |
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.
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.
