Historical – Visit Middleton

Middleton’s Historic Depot, Visitor Center

Cat Lisko — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:33:00 +0000

Built in 1895, this depot was an active passenger station until 1960 and a freight depot until 1975. Today, it is listed on the National Registry and serves as the Middleton Visitor Center and home of the tourism department, Visit Middleton.

The Middleton Visitor Center is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Closed weekends and during city holidays.

Whittlesey House

devmiddleton — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 02:45:00 +0000

The Whittlesey House was the original residence for Mr. Thomas Tucker Whittlesey, and was built from 1853-1855, taking nearly two years to complete construction. The Whittlesey House, was considered a mansion in its time with 19 rooms, and was constructed from Milwaukee Bricks, giving the house its signature yellow color.

T.T. Whittlesey was a prominent Wisconsin State Senator, member of the U.S. Congress, Chairman of the Town of Middleton, probate judge and attorney, and also a farmer. He founded and platted the Pheasant Branch community then north of Middleton. Whittlesey is locally recognized for his dedication to his country, his land, and various agricultural pursuits. Present day University Avenue was originally named Whittlesey Street, in honor of Mr. T.T. Whittlesey.

1847 at the Stamm House

Cat Lisko — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 02:42:00 +0000

The Stamm House was built in 1847 and has served the Middleton community as a service station on the “Old Sauk Trail,” which ran from Milwaukee to Minneapolis. By 1852 it was converted into a hotel and tavern and named “The Pheasant Branch Hotel.” Guests roomed upstairs and corralled their horses in the back.

It has been restored to its original stone walls, ceiling and wine cellar, all with modern restaurant systems and now 1847 at the Stamm House offers lunch, dinner, Friday Fish Fry, Saturday and Sunday Brunch, as well as a full bar. Read more here.

Weinberg Building

Cat Lisko — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 03:51:00 +0000

The Weinberg Building, named after the original owner Charles Weinberg, was built in the spring of 1868. Throughout the years, this building has served Middleton with many ‘first’ stores, including Middleton’s first Post Office, first telephone office, first library, and first beauty shop. The building has also housed numerous commercial businesses such as a mortuary, an ice cream shop, a bakery, a general store, and a restaurant. Today houses popular restaurant Villa Dolce.

H.G. Wolf House

devmiddleton — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:21:00 +0000

The Wolf House was built in1868 as a private residence for Henry G. Wolf, and was one of the few downtown Middleton buildings that survived the Middleton Fire of 1900. The fire destroyed most of the neighboring buildings, but the family was able to save the house by ripping out the home’s carpeting, and laying it on the roof and wetting it down using buckets of water from a yard hand pump.

The house is a designated Century Home, with the property under Wolf family ownership for over 100 years.

Not open to the public.

Pheasant Branch School

devmiddleton — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:16:00 +0000

A one-room elementary school was moved to this property in 1861, from Branch Street near the current Catholic Cemetery. In 1863, a new structure was built at a total cost of $269.00. Students continued to use this building until 1896, when the building was sold and moved off of the property.

Following the sale, a new schoolhouse was constructed for a total cost of $828.00, and later in 1912 was divided into a two-room school house. Four grades met in one room until a third classroom was added in the basement in 1943. With this expansion, it became a State Graded School with a nine month academic year, and continued as the Pheasant Branch School until 1950. From 1951 to 1954, the school was used as a storage warehouse for the School District.

The Old Pheasant Branch School was sold to Middleton’s Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1954, which has since been renovated and maintained to serve as a meeting hall for the VFW.

Not open to the public.

Palmer House

devmiddleton — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:14:00 +0000

The area’s first home, which was built in 1847. The structure you see today was built in 1858.

Not open to the public.

American Hotel

devmiddleton — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:05:00 +0000

The American Hotel, built between 1867 and 1870, attracted diners from Madison to its infamous restaurant. This landmark was famous for its 25 cent Sunday dinners, which brought students, merchants, and many more to its tables. After closing as a hotel, it remained in the Stricker family as a private residence and doctor’s office. At times, this building served the community as an apartment or commercial building and as another eating place, but throughout time has rightfully remained a Middleton landmark.

Opera House

devmiddleton — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:04:00 +0000

The original building on this site, known as the ‘Opera House’, was constructed in 1855 and contained a hotel, saloon, and opera house on the second floor for various community events. Years later, the original ‘Opera House’ was completely destroyed by the Middleton Fire of 1900.

Soon after the fire, in 1901, an architecturally similar building to the original ‘Opera House’ was constructed and called the ‘Elks Hotel’. Throughout the lower level of the Elks Hotel there was a saloon, dining room, and various stores, while the upper level had hotel rooms and a large hall. The hall served as a community center that provided space for public gatherings, dances, basket socials, old-time medicine shows, high school plays, and many other community activities.

Today, the upper level of the Opera House has been converted into apartments, while the lower level is occupied by various businesses.

Little White Church on the Hill

devmiddleton — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:02:00 +0000

Built by German Methodists and Baptists in 1870 at a cost of $1,800, this building is the oldest church building still standing in the City of Middleton. The building was the original home of Union Church, where the “Union” Sunday school was in continuous service from 1877 to 1926. The structure later became the Community Church from 1936 to 1956. It was then used by the Cardinal Roost Youth Center.

In 1964, the building was bought by Post No. 275 of the American Legion, and utilized as a meeting hall. Most recently, the building has become a two-family residence.

Not open to the public.

Blacksmith Shop

devmiddleton — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:59:00 +0000

This building dates to the 1850s and housed a blacksmith shop that served guests from the Stamm House.

Not open to the public.

Middleton Historical Museum (A.K.A. Rowley House)

Amy Oldenburg — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:53:00 +0000

The Rowley House Museum is housed in a historic landmark building that was built in 1868, and contains information, collections and artifacts donated by early settlers. See the exhibits, artifacts and photographs and learn about the men and women who built Middleton. Visit the Rowley House Museum’s website for the most current hours of operation or to book a tour.

2023 Hours: mid-April to mid-October
Tuesdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.