click zoom to display a high-res image
Summary
Ten Chimneys
Depot Road, Town of Genesee, Waukesha County
Architects: Charles Dornbusch; Eschweiler & Eschweiler
Dates of construction: 1914-1948
Acting legends Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt built Ten Chimneys as their summer home. Lunt purchased the property in Genessee Depot in 1913 and began work on the main house in 1914. After the couple married in 1922, they transformed the property into a country estate, expanding the house and adding outbuildings. In the 1930s, Broadway set designer Claggett Wilson elaborately decorated the house with wallpaper cutouts and extensive floor to ceiling mural work.
The Lunts either designed or decorated all of the buildings on the property to evoke their Scandinavian and English ancenstry. The board and batten pool house recalls Swedish town houses, while traditional Scandinavian log farm buildings inspired the studio and stable. The interiors are theatrical in their décor. In addition to Wilson's elaborate murals in the main house, Alfred Lunt decorated the cottage with Swedish folk murals and decorations.
Fontanne and Lunt were America's most famous theatrical couple; they performed together in over 40 Broadway plays, and several movies and television programs. Many of the leading actors and playwrights of the mid-twentieth century, such as Noel Coward, Helen Hayes, Lawrence Olivier, and Vivian Leigh, were friends of the Lunts and stayed at Ten Chimneys. There they wrote, rehearsed, and relaxed in a bucolic setting that provided a refuge from the tension and strain of their theatrical work.
When Ten Chimneys was threatened by demolition and dissolution of its contents, the Ten Chimneys Foundation was formed to purchase, restore, and open Ten Chimneys to the public. After a painstaking restoration Ten Chimneys is now open for tours.
This property was listed as an National Historic Landmark in 2003. NRIS #03001042.
Property Details
| Criteria | Person,Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture,Performing Arts |
| Period of Significance | 1900-1924,1925-1949 |
| Architectural Style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| Architect | Dornbusch, Charles |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Garden,Single Dwelling |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 7 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 2 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jul 28, 1996 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Feb 23, 1998 |
| Historic Status | National Historic Landmark Status Granted |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jul 31, 2003 |
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.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or have other questions about the registers, 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.
S42 W31610 Depot Road and W314 S4151 State Highway 83
03001042
Located in Town of Genesee, Waukesha County
Lunt and Fontanne in Drawing Room
Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne discuss the newspaper in their drawing room at Ten Chimneys.
Lunt, Fontanne, and Noel Coward
1937
Alfred Lunt, Noel Coward, and Lynn Fontanne walking together on the Ten Chimneys property.
Lunt and Fontanne in the Dining Room
1949
Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne formally dressed in the dining room of their home, Ten Chimneys.
Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in the Garden
1935
Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne hold a basket of vegetables picked from their garden at Ten Chimneys.
Lynn Fontanne Working in the Garden
1946
Lynn Fontanne using a hand hoe in the Ten Chimneys garden.
