Summary
Solomon Juneau House
201 South Milwaukee Street (Route 175), Theresa, Dodge County
Architect: unknown
Date of Construction: 1847
Solomon Juneau (1793-1856) was a fur trader, office holder, and businessman, who was closely identified with every step in the development of pioneer Milwaukee. During the period 1818 through 1835, the only trade of Milwaukee was that carried on was by Juneau with the native tribes. In the mid-1830s he claimed, purchased and platted the East Side of the future city with partner Martin L. Morgan. Juneau subsequently had a thriving business selling both goods and lots and served as a government servant in various offices, including as the first Mayor of Milwaukee after the city was incorporated in 1846.
Juneau also served as the founder of the town of Theresa, in Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he opened a satellite trading post in the early 1830s. He purchased large acreage in the area in the 1840s, and built a dam to operate his saw and grist mill, which spurred settlement. Juneau built this house in 1847 and platted the Village of Theresa the following year. He also operated a store in the town after relocating his family there from Milwaukee in 1852. The house in Theresa is the only one of Juneau’s four houses in Wisconsin that remains.
The Juneau House is among the best preserved examples of a modest Greek Revival style wood frame house dating from the 1840s in Dodge County and exhibits many hallmarks of this style. These include rectilinear massing with side gable roof and cornice returns on the gable walls; regular fenestration with six-over-six wood-sash windows; a wide, two-part frieze band and an unadorned projecting wood cornice that wrap around the house; and original frieze band windows.
The Juneau House was moved about 200 feet westward to its present location in 1932 in order to save it from demolition and a small one-story south wing was razed prior to that date. However, the house has very good overall integrity, retaining its original massing, roofline, porch, one wall of original wood clapboard sheathing, and many of its original windows. The interior largely retains its original plan and features original wood floor planking, plaster walls and ceilings, a cast iron stove used by the Juneau family, and hand-carved wood spindles around the attic stair opening.
The Solomon Juneau House is currently the home of the Theresa Historical Society.
Property Details
| Criteria | Person,Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Ethnic Heritage/Native American,Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1847-1856 |
| Architectural Style | Greek Revival |
| 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 | 1 |
| 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 | Feb 14, 2020 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Aug 29, 2024 |
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
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For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Solomon Juneau Homestead
1967
Text on reverse reads: "Solomon Juneau Homestead, Theresa, Wisconsin 53091. Solomon Juneau, a French trader, helped found Milwaukee and became its first Mayor. In 1847 he founded Theresa. He built ...
Solomon Juneau Homestead and Village Hall
1967
Text on reverse reads: "Theresa, Wisconsin 53091. The Old Stone Wall, Old Village Hall, and Solomon Juneau Homestead are landmarks in the picturesque, little village of Theresa." The clapboard Solo...
Solomon and Josette Juneau House Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Friday, September 20, 2024
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Solomon and Josette Juneau House in the National Register of Historic Places on August 29, 2024.
