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Summary
Constructed in 1881, the Dr. Joseph and Olivia Soper House is an Italianate style residence with an exterior clad in locally produced Frear artificial stone. Patented by George Frear in 1868, this early form of concrete was promoted as an affordable alternative to natural stone with the advantages of being both strong and versatile with a wide range of color tones and a nearly infinite variety of molds into which it could be cast. Based in Chicago, the Frear Stone Manufacturing Company manufactured and sold concrete blocks and architectural embellishments such as decorative window and door crowns, keystones, and cornices. The company also profited from its sales of production rights to enterprising individuals who wished to manufacture and sell Frear stone at their own sites across the country. The Frear stone used in the construction of the Soper House was manufactured in Door County by Giles Kirtland, a former superintendent at the Frear Stone Manufacturing Company, who had purchased the rights to manufacture and sell the product in Sturgeon Bay. The house features a Frear stone block veneer, a Frear stone drip course above the foundation, Frear stone window sills, and decorative Frear stone window hoods. Despite limited but successful applications of the material in the construction industry, by the mid-1880s, “artificial stone” had largely been replaced by more modern forms of concrete making Frear stone a short-lived but important chapter in the development of modern concrete construction.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1881 |
| Architectural Style | Italianate |
| Architect | Brown, Thomas (concrete mason),Machen, Amos and Johnson, T.S. (builders) |
| 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 | Feb 23, 2024 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | May 1, 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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Dr. Joseph and Olivia Soper House Listed on the State Register of Historic Places
Monday, March 18, 2024
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Dr. Joseph and Olivia Soper House in Sturgeon Bay (Door County) on the State Register of Historic Places.
Dr. Joseph and Olivia Soper House Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Friday, May 17, 2024
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Dr. Joseph and Olivia Soper House in the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 2024.
