Sylvanus Wade House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sylvanus Wade House
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Wade House in 2012
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive, Greenbush, Wisconsin |
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| Nearest city | Plymouth, Wisconsin |
| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architect | Charles Robinson |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000041 |
| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1971 |
The Sylvanus Wade House is an old inn in Greenbush, Wisconsin. It used to be a place where people traveling by stagecoach could stay. Travelers in the mid-1800s found a place to sleep and eat here. Later, a railroad was built nearby, and stagecoaches were no longer needed. Today, the Wade House is part of the Wade House Historic Site, a fun place to learn about history!
Contents
Starting the Wade House Story
In 1844, Sylvanus Wade and his family moved to the Greenbush area. He bought a lot of land, hoping to build a new town. Their first home was a simple log cabin. As the family grew and more visitors came, they made the log home bigger.
Building a Grand Inn
Between 1848 and 1851, a large, three-story wooden house was built. It was designed in the Greek Revival style, which was very popular then. People quickly noticed its big size and fancy look. In 1849, Mr. Wade started advertising his "Half Way House."
A Popular Stop for Travelers
The inn was located exactly halfway between the bigger cities of Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It was on the main Plank Road connecting these cities. This made it a very popular stop for travelers in the 1850s and 1860s. However, stagecoach travel eventually became old-fashioned. A new railroad was built between Sheboygan and Fond du Lac. This new train line went through Glenbeulah, which was north of the Wade House. Because of this, the house stopped being a full-time inn. It's interesting to know that a meeting about the railroad was held at the house in 1854!
Life After the Stagecoach Era
Even after stagecoaches were gone, the Wade family still used the house. They welcomed personal guests for many years. The house also hosted different events. These included business meetings, social gatherings, and even wedding anniversaries. By 1917, people were calling it the historic "Wade House."
New Owners and New Ideas
Hollis Wade owned the house until he passed away in 1921. Then, his son William took over. In 1939, people tried to make the Wade House a business again. They advertised it for private events and dinners.
In 1941, the house was sold outside the Wade family. Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Dorst from Freeport, Illinois bought it. They planned to fix it up to look like it did in the 1850s. Martin Dorst was from nearby Plymouth. Mary Dorst had been a friend of the Wades since she was a child. William Wade passed away in 1943.
The house was often mentioned in the local newspaper, The Sheboygan Press. This shows it was still a popular place in the 1940s. Even in June 1950, rooms were still being rented out. The Methodist church in Greenbush even held services at the Wade House for two years, from 1944 to 1946. In 1949, Mrs. Martin Dorst's son, Clare Dorst, tried to open a restaurant there.
Bringing the House Back to Life
The idea of selling the Wade House to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin first came up in April 1948. Mrs. Martin Dorst offered it to them. In December 1949, she announced she would sell the house to anyone. This was because it would cost a lot of money to make the restaurant meet modern health rules. In February 1950, the state suggested buying the house. They wanted to use it as an office and visitor center for the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
A Special Restoration Project
The house was finally sold in July 1950. The Kohler Foundation bought it, along with all its furniture, for $17,000. Their plan was to fix it up and then give it to the historical society.
From 1950 to 1953, the Kohler Foundation worked to restore the Wade House. They wanted it to look like it did during the American Civil War era. Ruth Miriam DeYoung-Kohler, whose husband was Herbert Kohler, led this big project. Mrs. Kohler wanted the restoration to honor her husband's sister, Marie Christine Kohler. Marie had been interested in the Wade House before she passed away in 1943. Sadly, Ruth Kohler died on March 7, 1953, and did not see the house given to the state three months later.
In 1953, the restored building was officially given to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. A famous poet and writer about Abraham Lincoln, Carl Sandburg, was there for the special ceremony.
The Wade House Today
Today, the Wade House is a very important historical place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is part of the Wade House Historic Site, which is a history museum run by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
More to See at the Site
The site also includes two other historic buildings. These are the Charles Robinson House and the Robinson-Herrling Sawmill. The historical society also has the Wesley Jung Carriage Museum there. This museum has a huge collection of horse-drawn vehicles from the 1800s. It's like stepping back in time to see how people traveled!
The Wade House used to be on the main Wisconsin Highway 23. But in the mid-1980s, the highway was moved to go around Greenbush. The Wade House was once a Wisconsin state park. Now, the Wisconsin Historical Society directly manages it.
