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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Richards Hill
WHS_023_830B
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
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
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 . . .
History of Watertown, Wisconsin