Tank Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tank Cottage
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Tank Cottage
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| Location | 2640 South Webster Ave. Green Bay, Wisconsin |
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| Built | Between 1776-1803 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000028 |
| Added to NRHP | April 28, 1970 |
Tank Cottage is a really old building located in Heritage Hill State Historical Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Many people believe it might be the oldest building in the entire state of Wisconsin!
Contents
The History of Tank Cottage
Who Built Tank Cottage?
A French-Canadian fur trader named Joseph Roi built this cottage. He built it next to the Fox River. The exact year is a bit of a mystery, but it was built sometime between 1776 and 1803.
Joseph Roi used a special building method called pièce-sur-pièce à coulisse. This means he stacked large wooden timbers horizontally. He then slid them into grooves in upright posts. This was a common way to build houses in French-Canadian areas back then.
Early Owners and the War of 1812
In 1805, Joseph Roi sold the cottage to Jacques Porlier. Porlier was a friend and supporter of the British. During the War of 1812, this cottage was used as a local meeting place for the British forces.
After the war ended, Porlier decided to support the United States. In 1820, he became the chief judge for the Brown County court. This area was part of the Michigan Territory at the time.
The Tank Family and Moving the Cottage
In 1850, a Norwegian missionary named Nils Otto Tank bought the cottage. He also bought a large piece of land along the Fox River. A missionary is someone who travels to spread their religious beliefs. Nils Otto Tank was part of the Moravian Church.
His wife, Caroline van der Meulin, made some changes to the cottage. She covered the original pièce-sur-pièce à coulisse timber walls with clapboard. Clapboard is a type of wooden siding that overlaps. Caroline lived in the cottage until she passed away in 1891.
By 1908, the city of Green Bay was growing and becoming more industrial. The cottage was in danger of being torn down! To save it, the cottage was moved from its first spot on 8th Street to Tank Park.
Tank Cottage as a Museum
The building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This list helps protect important historical sites. In 1976, the cottage was moved one more time. It went to its current home in Heritage Hill State Historical Park. Today, Tank Cottage is a museum. It helps people learn about early life in Wisconsin.
See also
