Restoration House

Restoration House. . , The Restoration House was purchased by the Mantorville Restoration Association (MRA) in 1963 from the Wytaske Estate for $1700.00. It was in serious need of restoration and repair. MRA members volunteered their time and talent to restore it in the manner of a late 1800's home for an upper middle-class family. Many layers of wallpaper were removed, plaster walls repaired and floors refinished., The House is appointed with period appropriate furnishings. The kitchen is equipped as it was when the house was first built. The heat stove in the living room is original to the house. Exhibits upstairs show clothing, toys, and personal items of the period. Visitors can immerse themselves in life as it might have been more than one hundred years ago., The exact construction date of the House is unknown. It is known that the house was built as a single-family residence and initially leased to Dodge County to serve as the courthouse and jail while the Dodge County Courthouse was being built. Later it served as the offices of the Register of Deeds and Treasurer. So, it is estimated that this building was constructed in 1856., The foundation was built around a small jail cell. This double occupancy cell remains in the basement of the house. One of the last residents to live here was Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. Mr. Nelson was an attorney who had his office in the alcove off the front room, now home to the pump organ. He was known to keep more unsavory clients in the basement jail cell prior to walking up the hill to court., Guided tours are available May - October or by appointment.