Major John Roundtree House

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

1. Major John Roundtree House Marker

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From the National Register Nomination:
Built in 1854, the Rountree Mansion is both architecturally and historically significant in the local community of Platteville. The richly appointed Greek Revival residence represents a unique, southern-influenced architectural design for mid-19th century Platteville and is one of the community's best-preserved homes from its early developmental period. Historically, the home is associated with Major John H. Rountree — pioneer lead miner, politician, entrepreneur and recognized founder of the southwestern mining community of Platteville. Rountree's efforts as a businessman, developer and political leader helped shape much of the early development of nineteenth century Platteville and the expanding Grant County region.

The main house is a substantial, two-story brick residence with a gabled roof and rubble

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

2. Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places Marker

(mounted above the National Register marker)
This property is listed in the
Wisconsin
State Register of
Historic Places
The State Historical Society of Wisconsin

sandstone foundation. Greek Revival in form, the imposing structure features a triangular pediment on the north facing, front facade, which sits over a simply detailed elevation containing three second floor windows and two 1st floor openings with a large transomed and sidelit doorway to one side. All windows are 6/6 pane wood sash with heavy stone lintels and slender lug sills. An elegant two-story, balustraded porch runs across the entire east elevation, supported by carved rectangular posts on wooden plinths. The upper-level columns are octagonal in form. The gallery porch shades tall, asymmetrically placed, 9/9 wooden windows capped with trabeated stone lintels. The southernmost openings are slender transomed doors leading onto the porch; also capped with sandstone lintels. Sizable brick chimneys project from the roofline, clearly pointing out the location of interior fireplaces. The cornice line of the entire structure is marked by distinctive brackets with curvilinear pendants mounted on a wide, plain wooden frieze.

John H. Rountree was one of the founders of Platteville. He was a veteran of the Black Hawk War who served in the Wisconsin State Senate and the Wisconsin State Assembly. The house remained

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

3. Major John H. Roundtree Marker

(mounted below the National Register marker)
Home of
Maj. John H. Roundtree
A founder of Platteville
1827.

in Rountree's family for several decades before one of his descendants left the house to the state. For a number of years, it was used as the residence for the Chancellor of what is now the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

(by Marsha Weisiger et al.) This dramatic Greek Revival house was the home of Platteville’s founder, John H. Rountree. A native of Kentucky, Rountree came to Wisconsin’s lead-mining region as a prospector, staking a claim along the Little Platte River in 1827 and building a lead-smelting furnace the following year. Before long, a settlement grew up around the mine, leading Rountree to establish the village of Platteville in 1834. In numerous ways Rountree built Platteville into a community. He opened its first store and its first newspaper, helped organize one of the state’s first Methodist Episcopal churches, and erected the first village school. He also served the area as a judge, a territorial representative, a constitutional convention delegate, and a state senator.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

4. House Restoration Marker

(mounted below the National Register marker)
Restored through the efforts of
Dr. and Mrs. C. O. Newlun
for the State of Wisconsin.
Dr. Newlun, President 1943-1958

The John H. Rountree House, built in 1854. According to "The History of Wisconsin" (Vol. I, 1973), "The rise of the settlement at Platte Mounds was indissolubly associated with the name of John H. Rountree, the Kentucky-born miner and smelter who laid out the town, represented its people in numerous elective capacities, and with his family helped make the village the center of learning and culture in southwestern Wisconsin." The house was later used as the Wisconsin State College (renamed the University of Wisconsin-Platteville) president's residence.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

5. Major John Roundtree House Marker(s)

These four related historical markers are mounted at the northeast corner of the Roundtree house, between the east verandah and the north first-floor window.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

6. Major John Roundtree House (north elevation)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

7. Major John Roundtree House (east elevation)