Jessie and John F. Kern House
The Jessie and John F. Kern House is a German Renaissance Revival style mansion completed in 1900. The home was built for Wisconsin Industrialist John Kern. The home is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the Gilman’s Subdivision of Part of Lockwood’s Addition in the North Point North Historic District.[1] The home was completed in 1900 and was listed in the Wisconsin state register July 16, 1999 and added to the National Register March 24, 2000.[2]
| Jessie and John F. Kern House | |
|---|---|
 John Kern Mansion | |
| Location | 2569 N Wahl Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211 |
| Nearest city | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 43.063611°N 87.874167°W |
| Area | 5,686 square feet |
| Built | 1900 |
| Built for | Wisconsin industrialist John Kern |
| Original use | Home |
| Architect | Crane & Barkhausen |
| Architectural style(s) | German Renaissance Revival |
| Governing body | Wisconsin Historical Society |
| Owner | Jeffery and Karin Hembrock |
History
John Kern purchased the land on Park Avenue in 1899 and in August of 1899, it was reported in the local news that Kern would build the home at cost between $20,000 and $25,000 (approximately $659,197.59 to $751,557.69 in 2021 dollars). The building was to be constructed with stone and brick and Crane & Barkhausen were to be the architects. The Krueger family bought the home in the 1930s. In the 1950s the home was converted into a duplex. In subsequent years the home was remodeled and repurposed and now it survives as a historic masion.[3]
Architectural elements
The building is an example of German Renaissance Revival style. The building is considered a villa. The wealthy Germans in the Milwaukee area built many homes in the style. The home has a brick facade and arcaded corbeling which are typical of this German revival style. The ornamental iron work was done by Cyril Colnik. The home is considered to be one of the first to have zoned air conditioning system.[2] The home has 16 rooms: five bedrooms, four and a half baths. The front of the building features an octagonal bartizan. The front porch has large stone arches. The interior of the home has stained glass windows in every room, woodwork throughout and a multiple fireplaces. The floors are adorned with beautiful inlaid wood. The home's parlor is replete with Honduran mahogany.[3]
References
- "HISTORIC DESIGNATION STUDY REPORT" (PDF). city.milwaukee.gov. Wisconsin Historic Society. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- "Property record 2569 N Wahl Ave Architecture and History Inventory". wisconsinhistory. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- Tanzilo, Bobby. "Urban spelunking: John Kern's Wahl Avenue mansion, now for sale". onmilwaukee. On Milwaukee. Retrieved 22 September 2021.