website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
William King Home
Watertown
Daily Times, 06 12 1976
William
King, lumber baron in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, spent nearly a year
gathering the matched woods, mostly cherry and quarter sawed oak. These woods
went into the building of his family home at what is now 802 South Eighth
Street.
King
completed the three story home in 1901 and his family occupied it through 1940.
The J. F. Price family moved in on New Year's Day 1941.
The
southern plantation style home, with Greek revival front, was owned by Mrs. J.
F. Price in 1976. The King and Price families had been the only owners up to
that time.
The
Kings had a large family and entertained frequently in the third floor
ballroom. When the home was built the grand piano used in the ballroom was
hoisted in before the windows were constructed. The home contains seven
bathrooms.
Some
of the original porches and pillars have been removed. Mr. Price closed some of the fireplaces,
because without dampers they were open to the elements and to squirrels and
bats. He had most of the home carpeted.
Features
of this home include crystal as the upper half of the windows, a large entry
with cherry handrail on the open stairs. The original drawing or music room and
living room had hand painted pictures on the ceilings.
