318 E Mifflin St - A. Noyes House - 1854c

WAHI #108377

Appears on 1855 Harrison Map.

Amos Noyes is listed in The Biographical Guide to Forest Hill Cemetery as being listed as dying in 1857, originally buried in the village cemetery (Orton Park).  He is listed in the Forest Hill Cemetery records as a Mexican-American War veteran.  Seems to appear as a rental as early as the late 1800's, according to city directories.

403 N Brearly St - Robert and Sarah Hastie House - 1854

WAHI #78071
Appears on 1855 Harrison Map.

Robert Hastie appears in the 1858 city directory, listed as a painter.  He lived here through the 1860s.  His family later moved out to Washington state.  For the rest of the 1800's, this was the house of Joseph Schubert, who was a prominent photographer of the era.

The exterior of the house remains amazingly well intact.

203 S. Baldwin St - Garland and Clarissa Fleener House - 1853

Not in WAHI

Garland (1825-1894) and Clarissa (1824-1903) Fleener came to Madison from Indiana.  They bought this lot from Leonard Farwell and built this house in 1853.  He must have chosen this location because it was probably one of the cheapest building site available (the lots where assessed at $20 each). There were very few, if any structures this far east in the city at this time.  They had a few children here and moved on to Wasioja, MN, in about 1859 or 1860, where they lived and farmed the rest of their days.  Garland Fleener appears in the 1858 Madison directory at this location, with his occupation listed as a teamster.

A few changes of hands later, the house was owned by Henry (1828-1878) & Christina (1833-1902) Baker.  A Biographical Guide to Forest Hill Cemetery  tells the story Henry's tragic, likely drunken, demise on Lake Monona in 1878.  The house has probably been a rental since the death of his widow, Christina, in 1902.

The house is actually on Lot 2 of Block 213, which means it would have fronted on Clymer St (Doty/Railroad).  But the CNW railroad ended up getting laid through this right-of-way instead of the street, so the house fronts the railroad tracks today.  For most of its history, the ownership of this house has coincided with the newer (~1900) house at 201 S. Baldwin, so that the occupants can have a mechanism for access.  In spite of, or maybe because of, it's undesirable location, this house has stood here relatively unmolested for over 150 years.

5301 Milwaukee St - Alexander Smith House - 1848

WAHI #109400

There are numerous online materials detailing the construction and style of this 1848 native limestone farm house.  See Historic Blooming Grove and Madison Landmark Nomination Form.

Alexander Smith came from Ireland.  His family owned this house until the death of his last wife, in 1920.

114 E Dayton St - ?

Not in WAHI.  Age unknown.  Seems to appear on 1855 Harrison Map in original location.

This tiny house is boxed in behind rows of three flat apartments at the corner of Pinckney and Dayton.  It certainly doesn't look like this was its original location.  Notice the classic Greek Revival returns.  Looks very 1850s.

108 E Dayton - next door

Next door is another shadow dweller, a little newer looking in appearance.  It probably doesn't meet our 1861 criteria here. But it shares a story with its neighbor.  An inspection of the Sanborn Maps helps explain what happened here.  The blue house at 114 E Dayton pretty clearly came from 203 N. Pinckney, if you look at the 1908 vs the 1942 map.  The red house at 108 looks like it might be the same house as the old 108-110 E Dayton, if you compare 1902 to 1908.

1885

1902

1908

1942

521 E Mifflin St - Brenda Konkel House -1855c

WAHI #108380

Appears on the 1855 Harrison Map.

I can't find much meaningful information on this house through the standard online channels.  It looks like it has been a rental for quite a long time.

A search through the tax records could shed light on its exact construction year, and what soul brought it into existence.

Other than that, I'm calling this the Brenda Konkel house.  She seems to be the most noteworthy person who has ever lived here, though she doesn't anymore.

Here's what it looks like in the 1892 Sanborn Map, the first time that block appears on those maps:

1415 Rutledge St - John and Cartherine McCormick - 1855c

WAHI #102556

Listed in the WAHI as the Catherine McCormick house, built 1909.  However, judging from the shape of the structure and the tell-tale 2nd story side window, this is probably a Farwell boom house.

A little more investigation shows that this house is likely the original John and Catherine McCormick House that originally stood around the corner at 707 S. Dickinson.  In the 1907 City Directory, Catherine, and her daughter Catherine are listed at 707.  In 1909, Catherine the daughter is here listed at 1415 Rutledge, and a new two flat was built in its spot on Dickinson.

John McCormick was listed as a mason at this house since the first City Directory in 1858.  He and Catherine came to America from Ireland in 1855.  In the 1900 Census Catherine is listed as a gardener.

727 Jenifer St - Thomas Manning House - 1855c

WAHI # 103048

This house is attributed to Thomas Manning (1820-1896) in the WAHI.  He was an Irish immigrant; listed at approximately this location through the 1871 City Directory.  In the 1850's and 1860's a was a pound master for the city.  Later he became a mason, and was responsible for laying some of the city's earlier stone gutters.

Madison writer and musician Alexius Baas was born and raised in the house. His father Stephen C. Baas ran a rental boat business at the foot of S. Hancock St.  Baas the younger details the history in this 1947 Captial Times Article.

This house does not seem to appear on the 1885 Harrison Map.  It has likely been a rental for a number of decades now, and appears to have suffered from it.


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924 Spaight St - George W. and Catherine Hyer House - 1856

WAHI #112919

George Hyer (1819-1872) was the son-in-law of Elisha Keyes, and a prominent newspaper publisher.

Later, William G. Walker, partner in the King & Walker foundry (later to become the Wisconsin Foundry), lived here before he built his mansion at 1007 Spaight.

Lately, someone has done some good work to this house, removing the old asbestos siding, and restoring the clapboard.

1234 E. Dayton St - D. M. Burwell House - 1855

WAHI #37381 D. M. Burwell House, built 1855.

Remodeled in 1997, winning an award from the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation in 2000.  Nice storm windows!

David M. Burwell (1812-1894) brought his family to Madison from Connecticut.  He was the proprietor of Burwell's Boston Boot and Shoe store on the square. He is also listed as the chief of the Madison Fire Department from 1860-1861.  He and his family eventually moved on to Minnetonka, MN.

2212-2216 St. Paul Ave - Philo and Sophia Dunning House - 1849

No WAHI number.

The Philo and Sophia Dunning House at 2212-2216 St Paul Av was reportedly built around 1849.  This would make it one of the older structures on the east side.  The barn-like addition was probably added in the 1910's?  Philo Dunning and his son-in-law were prominent pharmacists, owning a long running store at 15 S. Pinkney St.  When the railroad (now bike path) was laid through his yard in the 1878, the Dunnings moved into town.  Their next house, 15 S. Butler  (WAHI# 95264), did not fare so well.  Capital Fitness now stands on that site.

See Dunning House history at Historic Blooming Grove.

See Philo Dunning Biography.

See WHI Images for Philo and Sophia Dunning.