Regent in Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Buell House
1894
— Conover & Porter —
Erected 1974 by the Madison Landmarks Commission. (Marker Number 22.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin, Madison Landmarks Commission series list.
Location. 43° 4.265′ N, 89° 25.103′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. It is in Regent. Marker is at the intersection of Ely Place and North Prospect Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Ely Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 Ely Place, Madison WI 53726, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Elliott House (within shouting distance of this marker); Gilmore House (within shouting distance of this marker); Morehouse House (within shouting distance of this marker); Ely House (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Smith-Ogg House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bradley-Sigma Phi House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Terrace Homes Apartments (approx. 0.2 miles away); University of Wisconsin Dairy Barn (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.
Regarding Buell House. According to the Madison Landmarks Commission, "When prominent Madison attorney and real estate developer, Charles E. Buell and his wife, Martha, built this imposing house for their family in 1894, it was the first one built on the crown of University Heights. The house was quickly dubbed 'Buell's Folly' by local wags and the earliest pictures of the Heights, taken from Bascom Hill, show why. The house sat in solitary but highly conspicuous grandeur on a naked hillside outside of town in a location which did not seem to bode well for the future. It was Buell, however, who had the last laugh. When he died in 1938, his fine home was completely surrounded by the homes of Madison's elite, many of which rested on lots sold by Buell himself.
"Buell's house was designed by the prominent local firm of Conover and Porter, and is a fine example of the late Queen Anne style deeply influenced by shingle style examples. Conover and Porter and best remembered today for their castle-like 'Old Red Gym' and Science Hall on the UW campus."
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of markers for buildings designed by Conover.
Additional keywords. Architecture; Queen Anne style
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2011, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,335 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 28, 2011, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin.