Benjamin Church House (Shorewood, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Benjamin Church House
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| Location | Parkway Drive, Estabrook Park Shorewood, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1843-1844 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000059 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
The Benjamin Church House, also called the Kilbourntown House, is a historic home built in 1843–1844. It was constructed by a skilled carpenter named Benjamin Church. The house is in the Greek Revival style, which was popular back then.
It was first built in Kilbourntown, a small settlement near the Milwaukee River. In 1846, Kilbourntown joined with other towns to form Milwaukee. Today, Milwaukee is the biggest city in Wisconsin. Many people believe the Benjamin Church House is the oldest house still standing in Milwaukee.
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What Does the House Look Like?
The Benjamin Church House is built in the Greek Revival style. This means it looks a bit like an ancient Greek temple. It has four tall, grooved (fluted) Doric columns at the front. The inside has a balanced, "symmetrical" layout.
When you walk in, you enter a living room. Behind it is a dining room, and then a kitchen. There's also a bedroom wing on each side of the main part of the house.
The Church Family Home
For about 40 years, this house was home to Benjamin F. Church and his family. Benjamin was born in Ulster County, New York. He arrived in Milwaukee on November 15, 1835. He was a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first people to settle there.
Benjamin was a carpenter and ran a construction business. He also held several important jobs in the local government. His wife, Pamelia Hall Clement, was from New Hampshire. They raised their children, including Hannah, Ann, Charles, John, and Susan, in this house.
New Owners: The Binzel Family
In 1884, the Church family sold the house to George Binzel. George was a bookkeeper who later became an assistant secretary at the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company. He was one of several brothers who came to Wisconsin from Germany.
In 1900, George lived in the house with his wife Rosa and their children: Louise, Paul, Albert, and Clarence. At that time, the house's address was 501 Fourth Street in Milwaukee. The Binzel family lived there until August 10, 1922.
Saving a Piece of History
In the 1930s, people realized how important this house was to Milwaukee's history. It had special features like bricks made from local "Cream City brick" and hand-cut wooden beams.
To preserve it, the house was carefully measured and drawn in 1936. At that time, its address was 1533 North Fourth Street.
In 1938, the house was saved and moved. This was done through a government program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It was moved to Estabrook Park in Shorewood, Wisconsin, just north of Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Society of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America helped furnish the house with items from the 1800s.
Visiting Today
Today, the Benjamin Church House (or Kilbourntown House) is cared for by the Milwaukee County Historical Society. You can visit it on Sunday afternoons in June, July, and August. Guides are there to give tours and tell you more about this amazing historic home!
