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Address:
Watertown
Historical Society
919 Charles Street
Watertown, Wisconsin 53094 [ map
]
Phone (920) 261-2796
To many area residents the
title "Watertown Historical Society" and "The Octagon
House" are one and the same. In fact, they are at best interrelated,
with one depending on the other.
Special
Events
Other
buildings on the
Octagon House grounds
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The Octagon House [ main article ], five
floors of solid brick construction completed in 1854, was designed and
built by John Richards, a pioneer Watertown settler. The House is one of
the largest single family residences of the Pre-Civil War Period in
Wisconsin
Richards arrived in
Watertown, on foot, in the spring of 1837. Once here he became the first
lawyer in Jefferson County, as well as the owner of several mills. In
1849 he married his sweetheart, the former Eliza Forbes. He promised to
build her the finest home in the Wisconsin Territory if she would marry
him.
Its construction includes
central heating, running water and ventilating systems. In addition to
those "modern conveniences," the house features a central
spiral staircase which rises from the first floor to the tower room.
The Richards family and their
descendants resided in the home until 1937, when grandson William Thomas
passed away. At that time the remaining family members were faced with
what to do with the family home, which had become one of Watertown's'
most recognizable landmarks.
The Richards family offered
to sell it to the city for $ 1, but opposition from the city council and
several citizens prevented that from happening. The fledgling Watertown
Historical Society then came forward and arranged to purchase the home
from the Richards family on condition that it always be used as a public
museum.
Since 1938 the Octagon
House has been open to the public.
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House open to Visitors Daily from May through
October
Hours and Admission
Admission fees
are:
$7.00 for adults
$6.00 for senior citizens
and AAA members
$4.00 for children
6 to 17 years of age
School groups, 20 or more, $3.50 each
Hours of operation are 10:00 to
4:00 daily (11:00 to 3:00 after Labor Day to October 31--then closed for
the season; Opens May 1--hours are 11:00 to 3:00 from May 1st to Memorial
Day)
Tours are fully guided
every hour on the hour in an air- conditioned museum.
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