Home Tour 2007 - image 2 of 2

Holway House

Nymphus B. and Jesse Holway House
Location: 1419 Cass Street
Built: 1891-1892
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque Revival style, influenced by Queen Anne style
Architects: Gustav Stoltze and Hugo Schick of La Crosse

This home contributes to the Cass/King Street National Register of Historic Places District.  Built for lumber baron Nymphus Holway for $22,000, the house features woodwork of ash, birch, oak, sycamore, butternut and birdseye maple.  Mr. Holway died in September, 1892, before the house was completed.  His widow, Jesse, moved into the house with their children and his children from a previous marriage.  She lived there until 1920 when she sold the house to the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse.  From then until 1974, the house served variously as the Bishop's house, a seminary, and living quarters for Franciscan Sisters who taught at Aquinas High School.  The house became a private residence again in 1974.  When this house was built, heat during the cold months was provided by its eight fireplaces, all designed to burn coal.  There were 12 bedrooms, 8 of which are currently used as such.  The home had no bathrooms in 1892; now it has nine. 

 

Preservation Alliance of La Crosse, Inc.
119 King Street - La Crosse, WI 54601 - (608)784-1976