Merritt Black House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Merritt Black House
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 104 River Rd. Kaukauna, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003752 |
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 1984 |
The Merritt Black House is a special old house built in 1898. It stands right by the Fox River in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's officially recognized as a historic building worth protecting.
Contents
Exploring the Merritt Black House
What Makes the House Special?
The Merritt Black House was built in 1898. It shows off a cool building style called Queen Anne. This style was popular around that time.
The outside walls of the house are made from rough, textured stone. Merritt Black himself got this stone from a local quarry he owned. Using this type of stone is a bit unusual for Queen Anne homes.
However, many other parts of the house are very typical of the Queen Anne style. These include:
- Different textures on the walls
- Cool bay windows that stick out
- A tall, three-story tower on one corner
- A design that isn't perfectly even (asymmetrical)
- A roof with many different slopes and shapes
The house might look a little plain now compared to other Queen Anne homes. This is because it once had big porches that wrapped around several sides. These porches have since been removed.
Inside the house, you'll find beautiful oak doors and stairs. The floors are made of maple wood. Down in the basement, there are even special rooms. These rooms were used to store vegetables and fruits.
Who Designed and Built This Home?
The Merritt Black House was designed by the Smith brothers. They were architects from Appleton, Wisconsin. Many skilled workers helped build this unique home.
Gus Keck was the main carpenter. Joseph Schwenderman was the mason, who worked with the stone. Walter Cuel was the painter. Together, they brought the Smith brothers' design to life.
Who Was Merritt Black?
Merritt Black's father, Andrew, was born in Ohio. He moved to Wisconsin in 1846. Andrew bought hundreds of acres of land in north Kaukauna. He started farming and also bought and sold farmland.
J. Merritt Black was Andrew's youngest son who survived. He helped his father with farming. Merritt also ran a stone quarry, which is where the house's stone came from.
In 1898, Merritt built the house we know today. Later in his life, he drilled wells and continued farming. He also worked as a realtor, helping people buy and sell homes.
After J. Merritt passed away, his son, Merritt A., lived in the house. Merritt A. also worked in real estate and insurance. The house became well-known in the area. People often called it the Black Castle because of its unique look and the family's history.
