John J. Suhr House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John J. Suhr House
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 121 Langdon St., Madison, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | John Nader |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000660 |
| Added to NRHP | June 17, 1982 |
The John J. Suhr House is a really old and special building on Langdon Street in Madison, Wisconsin. It has a cool history and was once home to an important person in Madison. This historic house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a significant part of American history.
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The Story of the Suhr House
This beautiful house was built in 1886. It was later added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1982. This special list includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important to the history of the United States.
Who Designed This Historic Home?
The John J. Suhr House was designed by a famous local architect named Captain John Nader. He built the house in a style called French Second Empire architecture. This style was popular in France during the time of Napoleon III.
Captain Nader designed many other important buildings in Madison. These include the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He also designed the Suhr Bank Building and even Madison's very first sewer system!
What Does the House Look Like?
The Suhr House has some unique features that make it stand out. It has a special roof called a mansard roof, which is a type of sloped roof with multiple sides. You can also see cool stone trim around the windows. Plus, there's fancy woodwork on the bay windows, which are windows that stick out from the main wall of the house. Some extra parts were added to the house in 1902.
The First Owner: John J. Suhr
The first person to own this house was John J. Suhr. His life story is a great example of the "American Dream." He was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1836. When he was 21 years old, in 1857, he moved to Madison, Wisconsin.
John J. Suhr started his career working as a bookkeeper at the State Bank. In 1871, he decided to start his own business and founded the German Bank. Later, in 1885, he changed the bank's name to the German-American Bank. This change showed how different groups of people were coming together in the community.
A Visit from the President
John J. Suhr was a very respected person in Madison. He even had the honor of hosting President Grover Cleveland at his home! John J. Suhr passed away in 1901. His family continued to live in the Suhr House for two more generations. His son, John J. Suhr, Jr., lived there until he died in 1957.
The Suhr House Today
Today, the John J. Suhr House is used as housing for students. The area around Langdon Street has become a lively neighborhood for college students. Many of the large, old homes on this street have been turned into places for sororities, fraternities, and other student housing.
