National Register of Historic Places

Central House Hotel

Boscobel, Grant County, Wisconsin
Listed
November 27, 1996
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
96001361

About this property

The Central House Hotel is an Italianate hotel located in Boscobel, Wisconsin. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The hotel was built by Adam Bobel, a Prussian immigrant who had served with the 20th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. After a fire in 1881, the building was largely re-built. In 1898, the hotel was overly crowded due to a lumberman's convention. Two salesmen, John H. Nicholson of Janesville, Wisconsin and Samuel E. Hill of Beloit, Wisconsin, were sharing a room since no single rooms were available. During their stay, the men began to talk about their Christian faith. They would discuss the need for an organization that would provide mutual help and recognition for Christian travelers. In 1899, the two men, along with William J. Knights of Janesville, met again and founded Gideons International. Though the first official meeting took place in Janesville, the organization has always identified the Central House Hotel in Boscobel as the place of its founding.

Location

1005 Wiscinsin Ave.
Boscobel, Grant County, Wisconsin
43.13438, -90.70558

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORYCOMMERCEARCHITECTURE
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 Central House Hotel

This page lists Central House Hotel. 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 Central House Hotel report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Boscobel High School
Industrial
0.1 mi
Boscobel Grand Army of the Republic Hall
Civil War
0.2 mi
Coumbe, John, Farmstead
Industrial
8.2 mi
Tippesaukee Farm Rural Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Modern
8.4 mi
Parker, Dwight T., Public Library
Industrial
10.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Central House Hotel listed on the National Register?

Central House Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 27, 1996.

What type of historic resource is Central House Hotel?

Central House Hotel is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Central House Hotel?

The period of significance for Central House Hotel is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Central House Hotel?

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 Central House Hotel will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Grant County

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

Explore GrantCounty ›

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 Central House Hotel will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report