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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 134 E DIVISION ST |
|---|---|
| County | Fond du Lac |
| City/Village | Fond du Lac |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
| Direction | |
| Section | |
| Quarter Section | |
| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1866 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1988 |
| Historic Use | house |
| Architectural Style | Italianate |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Clapboard |
| Architect | |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
This two and one-half story Italianate house has a later added gable roof. There are wide overhanging eaves supported by paired brackets attached to a frieze. Windows are tall and narrow, especially on the first story, and accented with thin surrounds. There are decorative bays projecting form the east facade. The main entrance has been remodeled in the colonial style with a shallow frontispiece of pilasters, transom, and arched pediment. This house is significant as a good and relatively intact example of the Italianate style. While some alterations have been made to the building, they have not been so significant as to detract from the fine features of the house such as the tall windows, bracketed frieze, and decorative bays, all elements of the Italianate style. Portions of the original porch were removed at an unknown date. This house was built for John Reinig a local hardware store owner. The house was later purchased by George W. Lusk, who was president of the Merryman & Company Lumber Mill and mayor of Fond du Lac in 1875 and 1876 (while living in the house). Lumbering was the most successful industry in Fond du Lac during the mid-nineteenth century. In 1884 it became the home of Frederick and Margaret Rueping; he was president of the Rueping Leather Works, one of the city's most important industries in the late nineteenth century, the time that Rueping owned this house. This house is historically significant for its association with Frederick Rueping, an important industrialist in Fond du Lac in the nineteenth century. Since all of the buildings of the Leather Works have been demolished, this house takes on further significance as one of the few remaining resources associated with this important industry in the community. Further research should also be done on George Lusk, as lumbering was a very important industry in the city when he built this house. Almost all resources associated with this industry are gone, so this house might be significant for its association with Lusk. RELATED BUILDING: Garage |
| Bibliographic References | (A) Fond du Lac City Directories. (B) Sanborn-Perris Maps - Fond du Lac. (C) Fond du Lac Tax Rolls. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | East Division Street - Sheboygan Street Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date | Apr 17, 2010 |
| State Register Listing Date | Feb 19, 2010 |
| Contributing | Yes |
Architecture & History Inventory
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