National Register of Historic Places

Blair, Sen. William, House

Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Listed
October 28, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83004327

About this property

The Sen. William Blair House is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It was built for State Senator William Blair (1820-1880), who was a prominent businessman and politician. The house's historical significance derives from its association with Blair, as well as its contribution as an example of Italianate architecture in Waukesha. The exterior of the house is still an example of its style, though an addition was added in 1997, as well as a window replacement and other minor changes. The interior was significantly modified. The house has had several uses over the years. The property was deeded to the city in 1957 by Henry Blair. He was the Mayor of Waukesha in 1922. The city first leased the property to the Great Blue Heron Girl Scouts and then to Waukesha Memorial Hospital until 2013. In 2016 the Blair House was purchased by Bob and Lisa Salb from the city, after a Request for Proposal process that started in 2014. It was rezoned as residential and they are restoring the property as their home. The house and landscape are undergoing extensive restoration. The stained glass transom and sidelites were returned to the house and reinstalled with the porch door, found in the basement. The porch walls were reopened to the view from the Blair Hill, which overlooks downtown Waukesha. Suspended ceiling tiles have been removed, revealing tall ceilings with elaborate crown moulding. Under the commercial blue carpeting, quarter-sawn oak hardwood floors in the dining room and terracotta tiles in the sunroom were discovered. A hidden bathroom was found, with subway tiles under drywall on the walls and hex tiles on the floor. Outside many gardens have been added to the grounds, including a butterfly garden, hosta shade garden, and an orchard, connected by paths. After the restoration is complete and a conditional use permit is issued, the Salbs will open the property as the Spring City Bed and Breakfast at the Historic Blair House.

Location

434 Madison St.
Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wisconsin
43.01395, -88.23677

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Blair, Sen. William, House

This page lists Blair, Sen. William, House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Blair, Sen. William, House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Madison Street Historic District
Listed
0 mi
Yanke, Louis, Saloon
Industrial
0.1 mi
Cook, Alexander, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Fabacker, Joseph, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Downtown Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Blair, Sen. William, House listed on the National Register?

Blair, Sen. William, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Blair, Sen. William, House?

Blair, Sen. William, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Blair, Sen. William, House?

The period of significance for Blair, Sen. William, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Blair, Sen. William, House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Blair, Sen. William, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Waukesha County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Waukesha County.

Explore WaukeshaCounty ›

More historic places in Wisconsin

Browse all historic places in Wisconsin.

View Wisconsinhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Wisconsin history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Wisconsinhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Blair, Sen. William, House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report