Mulberry Street Residential District
The Mulberry Street Residential Historic District is one of Lake Mills’ finest and most well-preserved collections of historic homes. Located just northeast of the downtown commercial district, it encompasses two blocks of Mulberry Street and includes 11 residences and one church.
The district showcases outstanding examples of architectural styles popular between 1853 and 1905. Among its most notable buildings are four cream city-colored brick Italianate homes built between 1853 and 1879, an impressive Second Empire residence dating to 1877, four Queen Anne homes constructed between 1893 and 1904, and a 1905 Craftsman-style home featuring Tudor Revival influences.
Several of these residences are among the largest and finest examples of their architectural styles in Lake Mills, including the Enoch J. Fargo House, which is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At least one home was designed by local architect John Hunzicker, while others are also believed to have been professionally designed.
The district occupies portions of four historic city blocks established through the Original Plat of Lake Mills (1842), Fargo’s Addition (1852), and E. B. Fargo’s Addition (1884). Mulberry Street was historically an important thoroughfare, connecting Lake Mills to Watertown, approximately 13 miles northeast, along what is now County Highway A.
What distinguishes this neighborhood from surrounding residential areas is the impressive size, elaborate architectural detailing, and extensive use of cream-colored brick in its homes. Most are two or two-and-one-half stories tall and stand on spacious, landscaped lots bordered by sidewalks, wide parkways, and mature shade trees.
The district's period of historical significance spans 1853 to 1905, representing more than 50 years of residential development and architectural craftsmanship. Of its 12 buildings, only two are considered non-contributing: 316 Mulberry Street, built outside the historic period, and 403 Mulberry Street, which was relocated and altered.
Today, the Mulberry Street Residential Historic District remains a remarkable reflection of Lake Mills' prosperity, architectural heritage, and residential development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
George S. Griswold House – 409 Mulberry Street
Built in 1853 | Italianate Style
Built in 1853, the George S. Griswold House is one of Lake Mills’ early examples of Italianate architecture. This large, two-story cream city-brick residence features a low-pitched hipped roof, wide overhanging eaves with decorative brackets, tall arched windows, and an elegant original front entrance porch. A two-story service wing extends from the rear of the home. Originally situated on a spacious corner property encompassing multiple lots, the house reflects the architectural elegance and prosperity of early Lake Mills.
George S. Griswold was an influential local businessman who, along with Robert Fargo, was a principal in the Agricultural Manufacturing Company of Lake Mills, one of the community’s earliest manufacturing enterprises. The company produced agricultural implements to serve the growing farming industry. After the business closed, Griswold continued working as a local agricultural implement dealer.
Remarkably, the home remained in the Griswold family for nearly 100 years before being sold to August Bartell in 1938 eventually being converted into a duplex.
Robert Fargo House – 425 Mulberry Street
Built in 1854 | Italianate Style
Built in 1854, the Robert Fargo House is a distinctive example of asymmetrical Italianate architecture in Lake Mills. This large, two-story cream city-brick residence originally occupied a spacious corner property encompassing multiple lots. Its irregular design features intersecting gabled roofs, wide overhanging eaves, decorative window trim, and an unusual bay window with intricate detailing and small oval transom windows. A one-story wing and enclosed entrance porch add to the home's distinctive appearance. Although portions of the exterior have been altered over time, the house retains much of its original mid-19th-century architectural character. Secession of owners after Robert Fargo are Jesse Meyer in 1867, Alex Buchanan, realtor and postmaster in 1897 approx., 1904 sold to Croydon Fargo, County Register of Deeds and nephew of Robert Fargo, and while still owned by heirs of the Fargo family in 1945 it became a rental property until Wayne Crone purchased it in 1995.
Robert Fargo House – 512 Mulberry Street
Italianate Style | Known as “Heartease”
This elegant residence, known as “Heartease,” was the second home Robert Fargo built in the Mulberry Street neighborhood in 1869. An exceptionally well-preserved example of Italianate architecture, the large, two-story cream-brick house features a low-pitched hipped roof, broad overhanging eaves, and a distinctive rooftop cupola. Its symmetrical front façade is highlighted by a projecting central gable, an ornamental entrance porch, original double doors, and elaborately carved wooden window hoods. Graceful arched windows, decorative trim, and a two-story rear service wing further contribute to the home's architectural distinction.
Robert Fargo (1828–1908) was the youngest of four influential Fargo brothers—Enoch B., Lyman, Lorenzo D., and Robert—who arrived in Lake Mills during the early 1840s and played major roles in shaping the community's economic and social development throughout the 19th century.
Robert began his business career working with the Agricultural Implement Manufacturing Company, which his older brothers helped establish. He later became a successful dry goods merchant, operating businesses in Lake Mills and surrounding communities, and was also active in real estate development and banking. In 1920 the Fargo family sold the estate to Charles Panzer, a professional photographer who then exchanged the home in 1928 with Dr. W.L. Thompson of Madison. Dr. Thompson maintained a medical office in the home and also served as the local health officer. The home has remained in the Thompson family since.
Hans J. Anderson House – 322 Mulberry Street
Italianate Style
The Hans J. Anderson House built in 1879 is a well-preserved example of Italianate architecture, originally situated on a spacious corner property encompassing multiple lots. This two-story cream-brick residence features intersecting gabled roofs, decorative window hoods, prominent bay windows, and a distinctive wraparound porch supported by classical Tuscan columns. The porch retains its original decorative railing, while the home's original carriage barn, now used as a garage, remains on the property. Together, these features reflect the elegance and craftsmanship of Lake Mills' 19th-century residential architecture.
Hans J. Anderson (1858–1919) was a Lake Mills businessman whose varied pursuits included working as a merchant, real estate dealer, owned a bowling alley, auto dealership and meat market. He was best known, however, as a prolific inventor. Among his creations were a patented butter worker and churn, manufactured by the Fargo Dairy Supply Company, which grew to become Lake Mills' largest industry.
Anderson was also the son-in-law of Lorenzo D. Fargo, a member of the prominent Fargo family. Lorenzo subsequently purchased the house in 1884 and made it his residence. L.D. Fargo was an early settler and farmer who later constructed several commercial store buildings in downtown Lake Mills. In 1893 he became a banker and by 1899 had the means to be the major contributor to the building of the L.D. Fargo Library completed in 1902. After his death Ora Farmer purchased the home, he was a butcher, who then sold in 1932 to Henry Henderson a retired farmer, followed by several other owners over the decades but most recently owned and extensively renovated by Troy Kloss.
Frank B. Fargo House – 422 Mulberry Street
Built in 1877 | Second Empire and Queen Anne Styles
The Frank B. Fargo House is the largest and finest example of Second Empire architecture in Lake Mills. Built in 1877 by Peter C. Henningson, this impressive 6,300-square-foot cream-brick mansion was extensively enlarged and remodeled between 1894 and 1896. Its distinctive mansard roof, ornate bay windows, and striking three-story corner tower with an onion-shaped dome reflect the wealth and prominence of one of Lake Mills' most influential families. An elaborate wraparound porch, since removed, once added to the grandeur of the residence.
Frank B. Fargo (1846–1920) was a prominent businessman, agricultural innovator, and community leader whose contributions helped shape the economic growth and development of Lake Mills. Along with his brother Enoch J. Fargo, he founded the Fargo Dairy Supply Company, which grew to become the city's largest industry and helped establish Lake Mills as an important center for dairy equipment manufacturing.
Frank's influence extended well beyond manufacturing. As an active real estate developer, he contributed to the community's expansion and modernization. He was an early advocate for concrete sidewalks and streets, promoting improvements that helped transform Lake Mills into a more modern city. His interest in agriculture also made him an important breeder of Holstein dairy cattle, supporting the advancement of Wisconsin's growing dairy industry. Frank's second wife Louisa Mears Fargo who he shared the grand mansion with, was the sister to Helen Farnsworth Mears who was one of Wisconsin's premier sculptors. Lousia was a professional illustrator, most notable for her collaboration with Ella Wheeler Wilcox on a number of children's books, such as The Beautiful Land of Nod published in 1892.
During his lifetime, Fargo's magnificent Mulberry Street mansion was a center of social activity, reflecting both his personal success and the family's important role in the community. The Ladies of Good Council, an organization from Milwaukee purchased the property in 1923 but by 1930 Harry Schuler won the property at auction. Harry had ambitious plans for the property including a riding stable and possible use as a resort. In 1934 the Elm Manor Women's Shop opened in part of the home while Schuler attempted to start a private club but was denied a liquor license. The property was again sold in 1940 to Bruno Rackow a retired photographer who converted it into apartments as it is still today as it undergoes various renovations by current owner Tom Vinz. Although the residence has since been converted into apartments, it remains a lasting architectural landmark and a reminder of Frank Fargo's enduring legacy in Lake Mills' industrial, agricultural, and civic development.
Dr. David and Fanny Earl House – 323 Mulberry Street
Built in 1892–1893 | Queen Anne Style
The Dr. David and Fanny Earl House is one of Lake Mills' finest examples of Queen Anne architecture. Built in 1892–1893, this impressive 4,025-square-foot residence occupies a prominent corner property overlooking Mulberry and Washington Streets. The two-and-a-half-story home features distinctive cream city-brick and decorative wood-shingle construction, varied rooflines, an elegant wraparound porch, and a striking three-story circular tower topped by a conical roof. Its ornamental details and asymmetrical design reflect the grandeur and architectural tastes of prosperous families during the late 19th century. Dr. David Earl purchased the property in 1891 and moved the existing home to another location. He built the home using brick from the former Evangelical Church on North Main Street.
Dr. David Earl was a highly respected physician in Lake Mills whose promising life came to a tragic end during the construction of his family's new home. While visiting the building site, he stepped on a nail and subsequently contracted tetanus, commonly known as lockjaw. At a time when effective treatment was unavailable, the infection proved fatal, and Dr. Earl died before he could see his magnificent new residence completed.
His widow, Fanny Kennish Earl, was left to establish a life in the home they had envisioned together. Rather than abandoning the project, Fanny made the grand residence her home, where she raised their daughter, Florence. The house became a lasting symbol of the family's aspirations as well as Fanny's determination to carry on following her husband's untimely death. An extensive addition was added in 1931 to include a library and maid's quarters.
Fanny remained a familiar presence in the Mulberry Street neighborhood for more than five decades, she started the Lake Mills Women’s Club and was an influential member of Lake Mills society, living in the house until 1947. During those years, she witnessed Lake Mills grow and change while the grand homes of Mulberry Street continued to reflect the community's prosperous past.
Following Fanny's departure, it was purchased by W. Herr a barber, then by 1950 Glenn Taylor owned the home. The Kanak family bought and converted the mansion into a nursing home in 1958 only for it to return to a private residential duplex by 1970. Current owners Tom Boyks and Barry Luce enjoy the home with its original woodwork and unique features such as built in bookshelves and curved glass windows created by David and Fanny Earl a remarkable Lake Mills family.
William R. Harvey / Enoch J. Fargo House – 406 Mulberry Street
Built in 1881 | Italianate and Queen Anne Styles
Known today as the Fargo Mansion, this magnificent 7,175-square-foot residence is widely regarded as Lake Mills' largest and most elaborate 19th-century home. Originally built in 1881 for William R. Harvey a general store owners and commission merchant it was soon owned by blacksmith and Civil War Veteran, Elijah N. Harvey, the mansion began as an impressive two-story Italianate residence featuring cream city-brick walls, a low-pitched roof, broad bracketed eaves, and elegant bay windows. Local carpenter and contractor Peter C. Henningson oversaw its original construction on property purchased from Frank B. Fargo.
After purchasing the home in 1893, Enoch J. Fargo (1850–1921) undertook an extraordinary remodeling project in 1896, transforming the Italianate residence into a spectacular example of Queen Anne architecture. Working with Henningson and City of Jefferson mason, John Spangler. Fargo dramatically enlarged the house, adding a striking three-story octagonal corner tower crowned by a decorative cupola, an elaborate wraparound porch, and a grand covered carriage entrance known as a porte cochere.
The mansion's roofline was completely redesigned with towering gables and a spacious new attic story containing a ballroom, maid's quarters, and additional rooms. Enlarged windows, ornamental woodwork, decorative brickwork, and intricate architectural detailing created the picturesque, asymmetrical appearance characteristic of the Queen Anne style. The extensive renovations resulted in one of the most architecturally distinguished residences in southeastern Wisconsin. E.J. Fargo as added his new invention a centralized vacuum system into the home.
Enoch Fargo and his brother Frank B. Fargo were simultaneously enlarging their neighboring Mulberry Street mansions in 1896, perhaps reflecting a friendly sibling rivalry. Their magnificent homes became celebrated landmarks, with a local newspaper declaring that even cities ten times the size of Lake Mills could not boast two more elegant residences. The two shared a unique "bear pit" between the two family mansions where two pet bears were kept until one fateful Halloween when some local pranksters lowered a ladder into the pit allowing the bears to escape, only to be captured and relocated to a zoo in Milwaukee.
Beyond his architectural legacy, Enoch was a prominent businessman who, with his brother Frank, founded the Fargo Dairy Supply Company, which became Lake Mills' largest industry. He continued managing the company after its sale in 1898 and was also instrumental in local real estate development, establishing the municipal water system, and bringing electrical service to the city.
Recognized for its exceptional architectural and historical significance, the mansion was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Beautifully restored, it has operated for decades as the Fargo Mansion Inn, preserving the grandeur of the Victorian era and the legacy of one of Lake Mills' most influential families.
Rev. John Favilee House – 310 Mulberry Street
Queen Anne Style | Late 19th Century
Located across from the Dr. David and Fanny Earl House, the Rev. John Faville House is an excellent example of Queen Anne architecture, designed and built by Lake Mills builder and architect John Hunzicker in the early 1900's. This distinctive two-story, wood-sided residence rests on a substantial cut-stone foundation and features an asymmetrical design with intersecting hipped and gabled roofs, projecting bay windows, and elaborate decorative woodwork.
The home's most prominent feature is its two-story circular corner tower topped by a conical roof, complemented by a large polygonal bay with tall picture windows and decorative transoms. An inviting, nearly full-width front porch is supported by paired Tuscan columns resting on substantial paneled bases. Above the entrance is a small second-story porch framed by an unusual clipped-gable, or jerkinhead, roof. Decorative half-timbering accents the gables, while ornamental trim around the tower and varied rooflines add to the home's picturesque Victorian character. A one-story rear wing completes the residence.
The home was sold to August Raduege in 1920 then to Selah Clow a retired hardware salesman from Shawano in 1934 who converted it into a duplex in 1938. Upon his death the property transferred to his son-in-law, Irvin Retzlaff a clothing store proprietor who owned it until 1987. James and Margaret Wydra the most recent owners completed extensive renovations after purchasing it from the Margie Thomson estate in 2006, bringing the property and home back to the grandness of when it was first constructed. Although the house bears his name, it is believed that Hunzicker originally constructed the residence as a speculative venture rather than specifically for the Faville family.
The house remains a notable example of late 19th-century residential architecture and reflects the skill and craftsmanship of local builder John Hunzicker, whose work contributed to the distinctive historic character of Mulberry Street.
E. C. Saecker House – 205 Oak Street
Queen Anne Style | Late 19th Century
Occupying a prominent corner lot at Oak and Mulberry Streets since 1904, the E. C. Saecker House is a fine example of Queen Anne architecture. This two-story, wood-sided residence features an asymmetrical design, intersecting hipped and gabled roofs, decorative bay windows, and distinctive gables with ornamental shingles and Palladian-style windows. A broad wraparound porch supported by classical Tuscan columns adds to the home's Victorian character.
E. C. Saecker was a hardware dealer in Lake Mills at the time the residence was constructed. Although it too like so many of the Mulberry Street grand homes was converted into apartments mid 20th Century, it was reestablished as a single-family home sometime during the transfer of owners from the Inez Schultz, to Mildred Retzlaff then to the late Thomas Klein and his wife Sonja who continues to own the home today.
Sumner A. Reed House – 417 Mulberry Street
Built in 1905 | Craftsman Style with Tudor Revival Influences
Built in 1905, the Sumner A. Reed House represents a transition from the elaborate Victorian architecture of Mulberry Street to the simpler, more substantial designs of the early 20th century. This distinctive two-and-a-half-story residence features a fieldstone foundation, red-brick first story, stucco upper walls, and a steeply pitched gabled roof with broad overhanging eaves.
Its most striking feature is the massive screened front porch constructed of fieldstone, with a broad Tudor-arched opening, heavy wooden brackets, and decorative timberwork. These features combine the natural materials and craftsmanship of the Craftsman style with the medieval-inspired details of Tudor Revival architecture.
Sumner A. Reed (1849–1934) was born in Vermont and came to Lake Mills during his youth. A graduate of Milton College in 1870, he married in 1884 and began his career in the local dry goods business. Reed later became a prominent figure in the community's financial affairs, serving as president of the Bank of Lake Mills beginning in 1908. He sold the home to William Peterson in 1943, who was the executive secretary for the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce. in 1958 Robert Shorey, school principal and life insurance agent purchased the home. It was converted into a duplex by Steven Schranz leading up to the current owners, Lisa and Cara Knothe who completed restorations to bring it back to a family home.
The Reed House remains an important architectural landmark, reflecting both the changing residential styles of the early 1900s and the success of one of Lake Mills' respected businessmen.
