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Summary
Roscius and Ingebor Freeman House
220 South 4th Street, River Falls, Pierce County
Date of Construction: 1912
Architect/Builder: Arthur Symes
The Roscius and Ingebor “Belle” Freeman House is a fine and exceptionally well-preserved example of the Craftsman style. Constructed in 1912, along with a similarly-styled garage, the Freeman House features the style’s characteristic overhanging eaves with decorative, shaped beams; a full-width front porch with massive brick piers that support shorter squared columns; multiple gables accented by decorative half-timbering; decorative, leaded art-glass windows that feature abstract geometric and natural motifs; and an unaltered interior floorplan with extensive woodwork including original flooring, trim, and built-in elements.
Roscius Freeman was the owner and chief pharmacist of Freeman Drug (a local pharmacy Freeman had inherited from his father) when he married Ingebor “Belle” Bergum in 1912. The couple hired local home builder-designer Arthur Symes to construct a substantial house for them in the popular Craftsman style; however, the Freemans’ residence in the home was short-lived due to an extended illness that led to Belle’s death in 1918. Subsequent owners have maintained the house’s distinctive Craftsman aesthetic with no substantial alterations over the following decades.
This is privately owned. Please respect the privacy of the owners.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1912 |
| Architectural Style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Architect | Symes, Arthur |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Single Dwelling |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 2 |
|---|---|
| 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 | Nov 15, 2024 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Mar 13, 2025 |
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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220 North Third Street
07000501
Located in River Falls, Pierce County
Roscius and Ingebor Freeman House Listed in the State Register of Historic Places
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Roscius and Ingebor Freeman House in River Falls (Pierce County) on the State Register of Historic Places.
Freeman House Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Tuesday, April 08, 2025
The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Freeman House in the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 2025.
