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Richards Hill

 

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The Richards Hill District is unique because it is mainly comprised of Tudor Revival style homes built in the 1920s and 1930s but dominated by two very significant houses built in the 1850s – the Octagon House and the Gothic Revival style Jones-Kreitzman house, located at 1325 Western Ave.  Much of the land in this neighborhood was owned by John Richards until the 1890s, when it was divided into residential lots and sold.

 

John Richards arrived in Watertown, on foot, in the spring of 1837. .... The Octagon House, the beautiful home built on Richards Hill in 1854, was owned and lived in by Mr. and Mrs. John Richards and their descendants until 1938 when the family presented this generous gift to the Watertown Historical Society.

 

In addition to the popular Tudor Revival style, other architectural styles to be found in the Richards Hill neighborhood include Craftsman Bungalow, Federal style, and a number of houses built from kits most likely supplied by Montgomery Ward and the Sears-Roebuck Company.

 

Although not included in the architectural inventory, a prominent feature of the Richards Hill neighborhood is Washington Park, which was originally known as Richards Picnic Grounds.  The park was a prime gathering spot as early as the 1860s.  William Thomas, Richards’ grandson, developed his ancestor’s land into a city park, and by the early 1900s it became a center for sporting events, such as baseball and football games.

 

1854 or later

RICHARDS GROVE SCHOOL, built by John Richards in the late 1840s

                Chapter on school  

 

1894

10 10       RICHARDS HILL ADDITION IS PLATTED

The heirs of the John Richards estate have recently had surveyed and divided into lots the beautiful piece of property to the south of the Northwestern University and extending east along the river bank.  This has been named the “Richards Hill addition.”  The lots have been placed upon the market, and by next spring it is expected to have streets opened through the addition as laid out.  There is no finer property' in the city than this and it is sure to be built up before many years pass by.  The lots have all been recorded.            The Watertown Republican, 10 Oct 1894

 

-- --         ADDITION, S. CONCORD AVE SIGNAGE

         c.1900

 

10 12       RICHARDS HILL ADDITION IS PLATTED

Lots on the Richards Hill are offered for sale at from $100 to $500.  There is no finer residence property in the city than this.     WR

 

11 14       LOTS FOR SALE

Richards Hill addition is a new section of the city that has just been platted in the southeastern portion of the 1st ward.  It consists of about 75 building lots that are offered for sale at very reasonable figures.     WR

 

1895

10 30       WATER TOWER

A lot in the Richards Hill addition, on the north side of Western Avenue, opposite the old Livsey homestead, has been purchased by the waterworks company as a site for the water tower.   WR

 

1916

02 15       SKI FINALS SUNDAY

Another ski tournament will be held on Richards hill, in the eastern portion of the city, next Sunday afternoon.  The poor condition of the slide has caused the Ski club to postpone the finals until next Sunday.     The Watertown News

 

1917

02 14       WINNERS AT THE SKI TOURNEY

Alvin Wegemann won the Business Men’s association loving cup at the ski tournament on Sunday with a total of 202 points in three events.  Albert Solliday took first honors in the toboggan events for distance covering 100 feet after crossing the river.  Wolfram was second and Siegler third.  In the race on skis from Main Street bridge to the slide on Richards Hill.  Walter Otto won in 18 minutes with Joe Brandenburg a close second.  Points in the individual ski events were awarded as follows . . . .     The Watertown News

 

1918

02 06       SKI CLUB TOURNAMENT ON THE HILL

Watertown plans to have a big ski tournament here.  It will be held on the slide of the Watertown Ski club located on Richards Hill. 

 

02 06       MINIATURE SLIDE DISPLAYED

The Watertown Ski club has on display in the window of H. J. Stube’s store in Main street, a replica of the slide on Richards hill.  It is painted white and with the cotton and glass crystal gives an artistic effect to the whole.  Couples with toboggans are seen coming down and skiers are shown in the act of jumping.     The Watertown News

 

c.1920

VIEW TO THE EAST FROM OCTAGON HOUSE

      

Oconomowoc Ave bridge

Richards Grove School, built by John Richards in the late 1840s

Watertown Plank Road came into town along Oconomowoc and Concord avenues

Boston House Hotel

Little Bohemia area of Watertown

 

1920s

SKI SLIDE/JUMP, distant view

     

Sledding and skiing were popular and the best place for these sports in Watertown was located on Richards Hill, near the Octagon House, then still a private home.  William Thomas, grandson of John Richards and himself a quirky sort of fellow, erected a large ski slide on the south side of the house, along what is today Charles Street.  From this slide, one could, if the wind was at your back, slide down the chute and sail clear across the frozen Rock River and end up on the east side of the river. 

 

This was a popular spot on winter afternoons until one day in 1924 when two brothers. Hubert and Leonard Born, decided to slide down the hill at nightfall.  Normally, there was a look-out placed at the base of the hill along Concord Avenue to watch for passing cars and wagons, but since this was at night, there was no one to watch for the traffic.  As the boys came down the hill, they were struck by a horse-drawn cutter and after lingering for a day, they both died.  Since then, it has been illegal to slide down Richards Hill.  [Derived from Watertown: A History, by Bill Jannke]

 

pre 1924

SKI SLIDE/JUMP, Octagon porches were removed in 1924

      

 

    Image Portfolio  

 

 

Cross Reference:

Watertown's First Cemetery:

     The old cemetery on Richards hill, fronting on Western Avenue and the first one ever established in Watertown, was the subject of considerable controversy . . .

 

 

 

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