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.
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