Villa Louis facts for kids
|
Villa Louis
|
|
Front facade of Villa Louis.
|
|
 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Villa Road and Bolvin Street Prairie du Chien, WI |
|---|---|
| Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| Built | (1843) 1871 |
| Architect | E. Townsend Mix |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000123 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
The Villa Louis is a special historic place in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. It is located on St. Feriole Island. This amazing house and its grounds are now a museum. The Wisconsin Historical Society runs the museum. It looks just like it did in the late 1800s. Back then, it was the home of the wealthy Dousman family. They were descendants of a famous fur trader and businessman.
Contents
The Villa Louis Story
The land where Villa Louis stands has a long history. Native American tribes lived here first. We know this because of a large mound on the property. Later, important buildings were built on top of this mound. These included Fort Shelby and Fort Crawford.
In 1814, a battle called the Siege of Prairie du Chien happened nearby. American and British soldiers fought for control of Fort Shelby. This was during the War of 1812. After this, Fort Crawford was built on the land.
Later, a man named Hercules L. Dousman bought the land. He was a very busy person. He was a fur trader, a lumberman, and a smart businessman. In the 1840s, he started building his estate here. The spot was perfect because it was close to the Mississippi River.
Hercules Dousman's son, Louis, later built the beautiful Villa Louis mansion. It was designed by E. Townsend Mix. The house was finished in 1871. It was built in the Victorian Italianate style.
Building the First Home
The Villa Louis estate began when Hercules Dousman bought the land. It used to be where Fort Crawford stood. Hercules cleared away the old fort. In 1843, he built a large brick house. It was in the Greek Revival style. This house was built on top of an ancient Native American mound. People called his home the "House on the Mound."
Hercules Dousman lived in this house until he passed away in 1868. He was one of the richest men in Wisconsin. His money and property went to his wife, Jane, and his son, Louis.
A New Mansion for the Family
When Louis Dousman inherited the estate, he decided to build a new house. He tore down the "House on the Mound." He wanted a more modern home. The new mansion had indoor plumbing and central heating. These were very fancy things back then!
Louis hired an architect named E. Townsend Mix in 1870. The new mansion was finished in 1871. It was built using some parts of the old house. This two-story house was made of "Cream City brick." Louis's mother, Jane, lived in the new mansion. Louis moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota soon after it was built.
Life at the Estate
In St. Paul, Louis married Nina Sturgis. They later moved to St. Louis, Missouri. They had five children. But after his mother Jane passed away in 1882, Louis decided to come back. He wanted to turn the family estate into a horse farm. He planned to breed Standardbred horses.
New stables and paddocks were built. A half-mile racetrack was also added. Louis wanted to hold a yearly carriage race there. The estate had a special well called an artesian well. So, Louis named his new farm the "Artesian Stock Farm."
In 1885, Louis and his family moved back to Prairie du Chien. The 1871 mansion was updated. It was redecorated in the style of the British Arts and Crafts Movement. A designer from London helped with this.
Louis's plans for the farm stopped suddenly. He passed away in January 1886. He was only 37 years old. He left behind his wife and five children. After Louis's death, the horse farm was closed. The horses were sold. Nina Dousman renamed the estate "Villa Louis." This was to honor her late husband.
Later, in 1888, Nina got married again. She moved to New York City. The estate was empty for a while. Her new marriage did not last. In 1893, she came back to the Midwest with her five Dousman children. Villa Louis became the family's summer home. They used it until the early 1900s. Louis de Vierville Dousman, Louis and Nina's only son, was the last family member to live there. He moved to Billings, Montana in 1913.
Villa Louis as a Museum
The Dousman family stopped living at Villa Louis by 1913. But they still owned the property. For many years, they rented the mansion out. It was even used as a boarding school.
In the 1930s, two of Louis Dousman's daughters, Violet and Virginia, started to fix up the estate. They wanted it to look like it did in the 1800s. Then, they gave the property to the city of Prairie du Chien. They wanted the mansion to be a historic house museum. In 1952, the Wisconsin Historical Society took over the site. It became their first historic site.
Today, the Villa Louis historic site includes other nearby historic places. These are the Brisbois House and the Astor Fur Warehouse. The warehouse is now a museum about the fur trade. The Brisbois house is not open to the public. The site also has the Rolette House and many other buildings. The Dousman family built these as part of the Villa Louis estate.
Bringing the Past to Life
In the 1990s, many old photographs of Villa Louis were found. These pictures helped the historical society. They could now restore the mansion and other buildings. They used the photos and the family's original furniture. Many family members gave their old furniture to the site. This helped them make the home look exactly like it did from 1893 to 1898.
This amazing restoration got national attention in 1999. It was even featured in a magazine called Victorian Decorating & Lifestyle. There was also an exhibit about it in New York City.
The historical society holds many events at Villa Louis. These include a reenactment of the Battle of Prairie du Chien. They also have the Villa Louis Carriage Classic. This is a big carriage driving competition held every September.
More to Explore
