Property Record
703 Western Ave.
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Charles F. & Josephine Viebahn House |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 75067 |
| Location (Address): | 703 Western Ave. |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | Watertown |
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| Year Built: | 1866 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1986 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Italianate |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Clyman Street Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 8/3/2015 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 2/27/2015 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | This house was the home of C.F. Viebahn, an important turn of the century educator in Watertown, during the years he was superintendent of the Watertown Schools. C.F. Viebahn was born in Germany in 1842. In 1852, he came to Wisconsin where he was educated. He attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison for three years and studied law, but decided to become a teacher instead. In 1880, he became superintendent of the Watertown schools and principal of the high school program. He helped guide the Watertown school system into the progressive era by providing a strong education foundation to the program. Viebahn was superintendent of schools until 1904. When he left the schools they were basically established as they were for much of the twentieth century: three elementary schools and a strong high school. Viebahn was also active at the state level in educational issues. He was president of the Wisconsin Teacher's Association and a member of the State Education Bard of Examiners. After he retired from the Watertown schools, he served three terms in the state legislature, 1908-1914. He died in 1915. This house is significant because it is associated with the life of important educator, C.F. Viebahn. Aside from Theodore Bernhardt, Viebahn was the most significant educator in Watertown's early school system. He was responsible for guiding the schools into the twentieth century, maintaining and building the high school program, and contributing to the field of education outside his community. Viebahn represented the type of educator who would become standard in the twentieth century. He was college educated and was active in important state-level education work. His terms as a state legislator also contributed to his important public service work. All the historic resources Viebahn might have been associated with are no longer extant except the home he occupied his years in Watertown. Exhibiting a truncated hip roof with cross gables on the front and side elevations, this painted brick house is further characterized by a bay window and arched upper story window on the west elevation and stained glass window on the facade. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) "Professor Viebahn, Outstanding Educator, Headed City's School System for 24 Years," Watertown Daily Times Centennial Issue, June 26, 1954, n.p. (B) City Directories for Watertown, 186-1930, on file at the Watertown Pubilc Library. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |