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Summary
Willard and Fern Tompkins House
110 Henuah Circle, Monona, Dane County
Date of Construction: 1937
Architect: Beatty & Strang
Located on a tree-lined cul de sac near the southeast shore of Lake Monona, the Willard and Fern Tompkins House is a stark contrast to its leafy surroundings. With its flat roofs, cubic forms, horizontal bands of windows, and near-total lack of ornamentation, the house is an outstanding example of the International Style of architecture. The International Style originated in Europe in the 1920s with designers like Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, who famously wrote, “A house is a machine for living in.” The style did not prove as popular for houses in Depression-era America for several reasons, however, including popular taste as well as mortgage loan requirements established by the Federal Housing Authority.
The Tompkins house was designed in 1937 by the architects Hamilton Beatty & Allen Strang, two of the earliest and most significant designers of the International Style in Wisconsin. Beatty & Strang specialized in the design of low-cost “modern” houses in the decade before World War II. Primarily concentrated in and around Madison, Beatty & Strang’s houses represented a new and progressive approach to residential design that is recognized today as part of the beginning of modern architecture in America. The Tompkins house has had only three owners since it was built and remains just as striking in appearance as when it was completed eighty-five years ago, thanks in large part to the current owner, who has utilized Wisconsin’s historic homeowners’ tax credit to help preserve and restore this unique house for future generations.
It is a private home and is not open to the public. Please respect the privacy of the property owner.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1937 |
| Architectural Style | International Style |
| Architect | Beatty & Strang |
| 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 | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Aug 18, 2023 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Nov 14, 2023 |
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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Willard and Fern Tompkins House Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Friday, December 15, 2023
The Wisconsin Historical Society announced the listing of the Willard and Fern Tompkins House in the National Register of Historic Places on September 11, 2023.
Willard and Fern Tompkins House Listed on the State Register of Historic Places
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Willard and Fern Tompkins House in Monona, Dane County, on the State Register of Historic Places.
Roughly bounded by Panther Trail, Pheasant Hill Road, Owen Road, Bridge Road, Graham Drive, and Lake Monona
100012743
Located in Monona, Dane County
