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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 302 S MILLS ST |
|---|---|
| County | Dane |
| City/Village | Madison |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
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Property Features
| Year Built | 1855 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1983 |
| Historic Use | house |
| Architectural Style | Italianate |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Sandstone |
| 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 070922432061. Madison Landmark 4/17/72 Originally center of a 60-acre farmstead. Outstanding example of early Italianate design. Constructed of local sandstone. Built by Seth Van Bergen. Van Bergens lived here until 1859 when it was sold to Madison's first homeopathic physician, Dr. James Bowen and Susan Bowen. "The visionary act of platting the Greenbush Addition in 1854 began the real suburban development of Madison. A year later, pioneer, Dane County farmer and real estate investor, Seth Van Bergen (1814-1900) realized his own more bucolic vision we he began the construction of this Madison Landmark house as the centerpiece of the 60-acre farm he owned immediately west of the Greenbush. This cut stone building faces Mills Street, then the major route to south Madison, and it is an outstanding example of early Italianate design. Its hilltop setting and the absence of any neighboring houses or vegetation made it a prominent visual landmark in the area for many years. Van Bergen lived in his new house with his wife, Harriet Bushnell Van Bergen, until 1859 when he sold both the house and farm to Madison's first homeopathic physician, Dr. James Bowen and his wife, Susan. Bowen (1815-1881) achieved success both as a physician and as a businessman and became mayor of Madison in 1871. After Bowen's death, the house was inherited first by his daughter, Susan Bowen Ramsey, wife of First National Bank cashier Wayne Ramsey, and then by the Ramsey's so, James Ramsey, who later became one of the founders of the Ray-O-Vac Battery Company." The Greenbush-Vilas Neighborhood: A Walking Tour. Madison Landmarks Commission and the Brittingham-Vilas Neighborhood Association, 1991. |
| Bibliographic References | WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL 6/28/1995. MADISON TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, NEWSLETTER, SUMMER, 1996. WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL 5/3/1996 "Madison's Grandest Homes," MADISON MAGAZINE, November 2001. The Greenbush-Vilas Neighborhood: A Walking Tour. Madison Landmarks Commission and the Brittingham-Vilas Neighborhood Association, 1991. Sandstone and Buffalo Robes: Madison's historic buildings, third edition, 1975. Madison Houses 1836-1915 by Jill Moore Marx |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Bowen, James B., House |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Mar 01, 1982 |
| 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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Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
Van Bergen/Bowen House
December 21, 1969
Cupola-adorned top portion of the Van Bergen/Bowen house, 302 South Mills Street, built by Seth Bergin, a farmer and real estate investor, in 1846 in the Italinate style. Dr. James Bowen, Madison'...
The Ramsey Residence
View from street of the home of James Ramsey at 302 S. Mills Street. The house was built by Seth Bergin, a farmer and real estate investor, in 1846 in the Italianate style with a cupola. Dr. James ...
Ramsey Residence
View from street of the home of James Ramsey at 302 S. Mills Street. The house was built by Seth Bergin, a farmer and real estate investor, in 1846 in the Italianate style, with a cupola. Dr. James...
