Summary
BRISBOIS HOUSE
324 Water Street, St. Feriole Island, Praire du Chien, Crawford County
Architect: Unknown
Date of Construction: circa 1837
Joseph Rolette built this house around 1837, as a separation settlement agreement for his wife Jane Fisher. Michel and Dometille Brisbois raised Jane Fisher until she married Joseph Rolette in 1818, but by the 1830s Jane and Joseph's marriage had failed, resulting in the decision to live separately. Jane and B.W. Brisbois, her cousin and trustee for the separation, lived in this house until Jane's second marriage to fur trade baron, Hercules L. Dousman in 1844.
The Brisbois house is constructed of locally quarried limestone and situated on St. Feriole Island, overlooking the Mississippi River. The house is a rare pre-statehood example of the Federal Style, then considered to be the height of fashionable taste. Two and a half story, rectangular shaped homes were typical of Federal Style houses, which usually featured central halls and dominant staircases. Some unique aspects of this house include the white pine interior woodwork and the lime mortar and plaster made of lime extracted from burned clamshells harvested from the Mississippi River.
The Wisconsin Historical Society acquired the house around 1955; it is now part of the Villa Louis historic site. Visit the Villa Louis website for more information.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering,Event |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture,Exploration/Settlement |
| Period of Significance | 1825-1849 |
| Architectural Style | Federal |
| Architect | Unknown |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Single Dwelling |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | National Historic Landmark Status Granted |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Oct 9, 1960 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 1, 1989 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
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NE CNR OF WATER AND FISHER STS
3958
Located in Prairie du Chien, Crawford County
Water St., St. Feriole Island
66000800
Located in Prairie du Chien, Crawford County
NE corner of N. Water and Fisher Sts.
72000046
Located in Prairie du Chien, Crawford County
Oldest towns in State have two oldest houses
Jan 07, 1925
Prairie du Chien press
