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: