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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 622 E GORHAM ST |
|---|---|
| County | Dane |
| City/Village | Madison |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1915 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1984 |
| Historic Use | boat house |
| Architectural Style | Front Gabled |
| Structural System | Balloon Frame |
| Wall Material | Drop Siding |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. MAP CODE IS 0709-133-1201-6. This frame boathouse was the home of George Bernard's boat building business, begun on the site in 1853. Madison Landmark: 10/18/1976. "In the days before individual boat ownership became widespread, renting pleasure boats for lake excursions was a significant summer business in Madison. Numerous commercial enterprises developed here in the nineteenth century to cater to the demand, the first being the one started on this site in 1855 by German native Charles Bernard as a fishing station. Gradually, Bernard's business expanded to include both boat and fishing gear rentals. By the 1890s Bernard was building his own boats as well, including several large, steam-powered excursion boats that operated on Lake Mendota. Bernard ferried picnickers to his private park (gone) near Mendota State Hospital. After his death in 1907, son William ran the business. William and his son Carl became known across the United States as avid ice boat builders and racers. In 1911 the Bernards replaced the original buildings with a larger frame structure. Four years later it was destroyed by fire and was replaced with the present frame building. Carl Bernard sold out to Harry Hoover in 1943; Hoover continued to operate the boat livery and gave excursion rides until 1968 when he sold the property to the City. Today the Bernard-Hoover boathouse is the only survivor of the early days of Madison's love affair with pleasure boating." Old Market Place Neighborhood walking tour guide. Madison Landmarks Commission and Old Market Place Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
| Bibliographic References | MADISON TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, INC. NEWSLETTER, OCTOBER, 1994. MADISON TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, INC. NEWSLETTER, SUMMER, 1996. WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL 5/3/1996. Wisconsin State Journal 5/24/2003 Section C. Old Market Place Neighborhood walking tour guide. Madison Landmarks Commission and Old Market Place Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Bernard-Hoover Boathouse |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Jul 30, 1981 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
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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.
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The "Columbia" Steamboat at Bernard's Boat Landing
1893
View down pier towards the "Columbia" steamboat at the boat landing. The shoreline is the the background. There are three or four people on the steamboat and another three or four hanging out on th...
