Perhaps you’ve never wondered about the story behind Villa Louis. This isn’t just any villa. It is a portal into a rich tapestry of history and culture. Today we stand before Villa Louis. It is a testament to ambition and reinvention.
Villa Louis started with Hercules Dousman. He was a fur trader and savvy entrepreneur. Hercules purchased land that held layers of history. Native American tribes once lived here. Forts Shelby and Crawford stood here during the War of 1812.
In 1843, Hercules built a brick Greek Revival house. It was called the “House on the Mound”. This name came from its location atop an Indian mound. Hercules became one of Wisconsin’s wealthiest men.
After Hercules died, his son Louis transformed the estate. Louis replaced the house with a Victorian Italianate mansion. He hired Milwaukee architect E. Townsend Mix. The new Villa Louis was completed in 1871. It had modern luxuries like indoor plumbing and central heating.
Louis moved to St. Paul then St. Louis. After his mother’s death in 1882, Louis returned. He planned to create a stock farm for breeding horses. He named it “Artesian Stock Farm” because of an artesian well.
The mansion was remodeled in the British Arts and Crafts style. A Chicago designer from the William Morris Company did the work. Sadly, Louis’s plans ended abruptly with his death in 1886. He was only 37 years old.
Louis’s widow, Nina, renamed the estate “Villa Louis”. She honored her late husband. Nina remarried and moved away. She later returned and used Villa Louis as a summer home.
The Dousman family eventually left Villa Louis. They rented the mansion for various uses. In the 1930s, Louis’s daughters, Violet and Virginia, began restoring it. They wanted to preserve its 19th-century appearance.
The family gave the property to Prairie du Chien. It became a historic house museum. In 1952, the Wisconsin Historical Society acquired the site. It was their first historic site.
Villa Louis expanded to include the Brisbois House and Astor Fur Warehouse. These nearby landmarks added to the historical significance. The site also includes the Rolette House and other Dousman outbuildings.
In the 1990s, photographs helped restore Villa Louis. The mansion and grounds returned to their 1893-1898 appearance. Original furnishings enhanced the authentic restoration.
Today, Villa Louis hosts events like battle reenactments. The Villa Louis Carriage Classic is an annual competition. Villa Louis stands as a testament to the Dousman family’s legacy. It also showcases Wisconsin’s vibrant past.