website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Thauer Home
Watertown
Daily Times, 06 12 1976
The
home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard
Thauer, 214 South Washington, was built on property included in the first
land grant given to an individual in the present city limits of Watertown. James Rogan
received the early deed for $1. It was recorded at the Milwaukee Register of
Deeds office in 1836. Parcels of Rogan's property passed through many hands.
The
original Rogan land grant covered acres of wooded land on the west side of the
Rock River and was at that time occupied by the encampments and homes of
Winnebago Indians. The camps of the
Potawatomis were on the east side of the river.
Thauer’s
abstract begins with Rogan in 1839 and shows 17 listings of owners of the
property before its purchase by Edward Racek in
1878. Racek had been a Watertown
resident since 1853. He erected the back
home, appraised at $3,600 in 1878, although there is some evidence that a small
building was on the property as early as 1864.
The
present Greek revival type home was remodeled by Lewis Parks, owner of the
house for some years, in 1915.
Thauer
purchased the home in 1956 and is its present owner. Subsequent renovations have been made by him.
This home was among those listed in 1902 by Blumenfeld in his Picturesque Watertown Homes.
Thauer
relates that the large fireplace in his home originally came from the Fred
Lehman home which stood on the present site of the A&P store. The home itself is in a fine state of
preservation and attractively landscaped.
The
full length ornate mirror in the spacious front hall is from another
100-year-old Watertown home, the Jesse Stone home,
300 South Washington.
1958
THE RACEK/PARKS HOME
(traditional name)
1974
Cross
reference:
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin