Villa Louis
Encyclopedia
The Villa Louis, also known as Dousman Mansion, is a National Historic Landmark
located on St. Feriole island in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
. Today the site is restored to its appearance during the late 19th Century, when it was the estate of the prominent H. Louis Dousman
family. At the center of the estate is the elegant Villa Louis mansion, designed by E. Townsend Mix
and built in 1871. Earlier the estate had been home to Louis's father Hercules L. Dousman
, and before that the land was occupied by Fort Crawford
. Prior to this, in 1814, the Siege of Prairie du Chien was fought at the site by American
and British
troops hoping to control Fort Shelby during the War of 1812
. Still farther back, the site was of importance to American Indian
tribes, especially the Mound Builders, as is evidenced by the large mound upon which Fort Shelby, Fort Crawford, and the homes of Hercules and Louis Dousman have all stood. Currently the site is a historical museum operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society
.
. Because of this, Hercules Dousman's home has come to be called the "House on the Mound". This name was also used as the title of an August Derleth
novel that featured Dousman as a principal character. Hercules Dousman lived in the House on the Mound until his death in 1868. At the time of his death, Dousman was one of the wealthiest men in Wisconsin, and his fortune passed to his wife Jane and his son Louis. Upon coming into his father's estate, Louis decided to demolish the House on the Mound and replace it with a more modern Italianate
-style home that included indoor plumbing and central heating, both considered luxuries at the time. Louis Dousman contracted with Milwaukee
architect E. Townsend Mix
to have the new house built, and construction was finished in 1871. The two-story Cream City brick
house became the residence of Louis's mother, Jane, while Louis himself moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota
not long after construction was finished.
In St. Paul, Louis married Nina Sturgis, and later the couple moved to St. Louis, Missouri
, eventually having five children. However, following the death of Jane Dousman in 1882, Louis made plans to return to Prairie du Chien and transform the family estate into a stock farm to breed Standardbred horse
s. Stables and paddocks were constructed on the estate, along with a half mile racetrack so Dousman could begin holding an annual carriage race on the property. Because the estate had an artesian
well, Louis decided to call his new venture the "Artesian Stock Farm". In 1885, Louis moved back to the Prairie du Chien estate with his family. In the process, the 1871 mansion was substantially remodeled and the house was redecorated in the style of the British Arts and Crafts Movement
.
Louis's plans for the estate came to an abrupt halt following his sudden death in January, 1886. After Louis's death, the stock farm was disbanded, and Nina Dousman renamed the estate "Villa Louis" in memory of her late husband. Later, in 1888, Nina remarried and moved to New York City
, leaving the estate empty. However, her new marriage did not last, and in 1893 she returned with the Dousman children to the Midwest. The Villa Louis was then used as the family's summer home into the early 20th Century. Louis de Vierville Dousman, the only son of Louis and Nina, was the last family member to vacate the estate, leaving for Billings, Montana
in 1913 with his wife Sarah Easton.
Since then, the Villa Louis historic site has expanded to encompass two other nearby National Historic Landmarks: the Brisbois House
and Astor Fur Warehouse
. The warehouse now functions as a museum of the fur trade, while the Brisbois house has remained closed to the public. The site also contains the Rolette House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, and numerous outbuildings constructed by the Dousmans as part of the Villa Louis estate.
In the 1990s, the discovery of numerous photographs of the Villa Louis from the late 19th Century allowed the historical society to undertake a major restoration of the mansion and surrounding buildings. Using the collection of photographs and the estate's original furnishings, many of which were given to the site by the Dousman family heirs, the society was able to authentically restore the home to its appearance from 1893 to 1898. The use of photographs and original furniture to so accurately restore the home brought national attention to the site in 1999, including a feature article in Victorian Decorating & Lifestyle magazine and an exhibit at the New York School of Interior Design. In addition to the museum, the historical society also hosts several events at the Villa Louis, including a reenactment of the Battle of Prairie du Chien and the Villa Louis Carriage Classic, a major carriage driving competition held each September.
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
located on St. Feriole island in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. Its Zip Code is 53821....
. Today the site is restored to its appearance during the late 19th Century, when it was the estate of the prominent H. Louis Dousman
H. Louis Dousman
Hercules Louis Dousman II , better known as Louis Dousman, was the son of Wisconsin millionaire Hercules Louis Dousman I. After inheriting his father's wealth, Dousman became a prominent Midwestern socialite and art collector.Louis Dousman was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, the son of...
family. At the center of the estate is the elegant Villa Louis mansion, designed by E. Townsend Mix
E. Townsend Mix
Edward Townsend Mix was an American architect of the Gilded Age who designed several buildings in the Midwestern United States. His career was centered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and many of his designs made use of the region's distinctive Cream City brick.-Biography:Mix was born in New Haven,...
and built in 1871. Earlier the estate had been home to Louis's father Hercules L. Dousman
Hercules L. Dousman
Hercules Louis Dousman was a trader and real-estate speculator who played a large role in the economic development of Wisconsin. He is often called Wisconsin's first millionaire.-Early life and trading activities:...
, and before that the land was occupied by Fort Crawford
Fort Crawford
Fort Crawford was an outpost of the United States Army located in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, during the 19th Century. The Second Fort Crawford Military Hospital was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1960....
. Prior to this, in 1814, the Siege of Prairie du Chien was fought at the site by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
troops hoping to control Fort Shelby during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Still farther back, the site was of importance to American Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
tribes, especially the Mound Builders, as is evidenced by the large mound upon which Fort Shelby, Fort Crawford, and the homes of Hercules and Louis Dousman have all stood. Currently the site is a historical museum operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West...
.
History
The estate, now known as the Villa Louis, began when Prairie du Chien trader and investor Hercules Dousman purchased land previously occupied by Fort Crawford. Dousman had the remains of the fort cleared away. In 1843, he built a large, brick Greek Revival house atop an Indian mound, which had been the site of the old fort's southeastern blockhouseBlockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
. Because of this, Hercules Dousman's home has come to be called the "House on the Mound". This name was also used as the title of an August Derleth
August Derleth
August William Derleth was an American writer and anthologist. Though best remembered as the first publisher of the writings of H. P...
novel that featured Dousman as a principal character. Hercules Dousman lived in the House on the Mound until his death in 1868. At the time of his death, Dousman was one of the wealthiest men in Wisconsin, and his fortune passed to his wife Jane and his son Louis. Upon coming into his father's estate, Louis decided to demolish the House on the Mound and replace it with a more modern Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
-style home that included indoor plumbing and central heating, both considered luxuries at the time. Louis Dousman contracted with Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
architect E. Townsend Mix
E. Townsend Mix
Edward Townsend Mix was an American architect of the Gilded Age who designed several buildings in the Midwestern United States. His career was centered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and many of his designs made use of the region's distinctive Cream City brick.-Biography:Mix was born in New Haven,...
to have the new house built, and construction was finished in 1871. The two-story Cream City brick
Cream City brick
Cream City brick is a cream or light yellow-colored brick made from a clay found around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the Menomonee River Valley and on the western banks of Lake Michigan...
house became the residence of Louis's mother, Jane, while Louis himself moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
not long after construction was finished.
In St. Paul, Louis married Nina Sturgis, and later the couple moved to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, eventually having five children. However, following the death of Jane Dousman in 1882, Louis made plans to return to Prairie du Chien and transform the family estate into a stock farm to breed Standardbred horse
Standardbred horse
Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability...
s. Stables and paddocks were constructed on the estate, along with a half mile racetrack so Dousman could begin holding an annual carriage race on the property. Because the estate had an artesian
Artesian aquifer
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached. This type of well is called an artesian well...
well, Louis decided to call his new venture the "Artesian Stock Farm". In 1885, Louis moved back to the Prairie du Chien estate with his family. In the process, the 1871 mansion was substantially remodeled and the house was redecorated in the style of the British Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
.
Louis's plans for the estate came to an abrupt halt following his sudden death in January, 1886. After Louis's death, the stock farm was disbanded, and Nina Dousman renamed the estate "Villa Louis" in memory of her late husband. Later, in 1888, Nina remarried and moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, leaving the estate empty. However, her new marriage did not last, and in 1893 she returned with the Dousman children to the Midwest. The Villa Louis was then used as the family's summer home into the early 20th Century. Louis de Vierville Dousman, the only son of Louis and Nina, was the last family member to vacate the estate, leaving for Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
in 1913 with his wife Sarah Easton.
Historic Site
Although the Dousman family had left the Villa Louis estate by 1913, they continued to own the property. Over the following decades, they rented the mansion for use as a boarding school, among other things. In the 1930s, two of Louis Dousman's children, Violet and Virginia, began to restore the estate to its 19th Century appearance. They then transferred the property to the city of Prairie du Chien, so that the mansion could be operated as a house museum. In 1952, the site was acquired by the Wisconsin Historical Society, and became the organization's first historic site.Since then, the Villa Louis historic site has expanded to encompass two other nearby National Historic Landmarks: the Brisbois House
Brisbois House
Brisbois House, also known as Bernard Brisbois House, is a house that was thought to be associated with Michael Brisbois, but is actually a later house.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960.-External links:...
and Astor Fur Warehouse
Astor Fur Warehouse
Astor Fur Warehouse, built in 1828, in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin is the only known surviving fur trade warehouse in the upper Mississippi valley.Significant for its use by the American Fur Company, it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960....
. The warehouse now functions as a museum of the fur trade, while the Brisbois house has remained closed to the public. The site also contains the Rolette House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and numerous outbuildings constructed by the Dousmans as part of the Villa Louis estate.
In the 1990s, the discovery of numerous photographs of the Villa Louis from the late 19th Century allowed the historical society to undertake a major restoration of the mansion and surrounding buildings. Using the collection of photographs and the estate's original furnishings, many of which were given to the site by the Dousman family heirs, the society was able to authentically restore the home to its appearance from 1893 to 1898. The use of photographs and original furniture to so accurately restore the home brought national attention to the site in 1999, including a feature article in Victorian Decorating & Lifestyle magazine and an exhibit at the New York School of Interior Design. In addition to the museum, the historical society also hosts several events at the Villa Louis, including a reenactment of the Battle of Prairie du Chien and the Villa Louis Carriage Classic, a major carriage driving competition held each September.