History of the Larson House

1898 – Built as an upscale investment property

The Larson House is a Queen Anne style Victorian home on the corner of Bashford and Exchange Streets in McFarland, WI. E.N. Edwards had the property constructed in 1898 as an upscale investment property, selling it to retired farmer Tollef Olson Foshein late in 1900. Tollef’s wife, Ingebor, died in 1903. The next year Tollef moved to Stoughton to live with a daughter and died in 1910.

As part of his estate, the house was sold to John Obed Larson in 1911, and it was lived in by the Larson family for nearly 80 years.

John was a very successful businessman and well-respected in the community.  His economic rise began when he bought lake shore property from the Knickerbocker Ice Company in 1900. He built the popular Larson’s Beach Resort, constructed cottages, built piers and even purchased six row boats that were pointed on both ends.  People could rent his cottages or purchase them on 60-foot wide lots to use as summer homes.

When John’s wife Julia died in 1933, daughter Bertha came to live in and run the household.  After Bertha’s sister Tonetta retired she came back to McFarland and lived with Bertha.  Some McFarland residents such as Glenn and Meg Nielsen, and Wes and Jane Licht remember Christmas caroling for the elderly sisters who invited them in and served popcorn.  Back then, the Victorian home was immaculate, and little changed from when their father had owned it.

1992-2012 – Empty for 20 years

After the Tonetta and Bertha passed away, the property passed to a disinterested relative who did not live in the area. The house stood empty for 20 years and became a dreadful eyesore and was eventually seized because of delinquent property taxes.

2012 – Acquired and rehabilitated by the McFarland Historical Society

McFarland Historical Society successfully acquired the property in 2012 by paying off the delinquent property taxes.

After the Society purchased the property, the community rallied around the project to restore it to its former glory. Local contractors, donors and volunteers gave time, money and materials to repair and restore this McFarland landmark.  Donors contributed to the “Buy A Board” campaign – enough to re-side the entire house with cedar siding milled on the edges to closely resemble the original boards.

Others in the community came forward to purchase naming rights to the various rooms.  They honored family members with strong connections to McFarland and their histories are on the walls in the rooms.

A restoration plan was approved, the old knob and tube wiring was replaced with a safe electrical system, the badly damaged siding on the back and Bashford Street sides was replaced and painted, and the trim and gables were scraped and painted.  A new side porch was built using the original porch columns, spandrels, and balusters.

Tree service, landscaping, plumbing work, concrete for the sidewalks and a new furnace were donated by local businesses.  Countless volunteers from the community helped with cleanup and restoration projects.

By 2013, work on the interior of the house began in earnest. The rooms received new plaster, paint and the hardword floors on the first level were sanded and varnished.  After a cold spring, work on the front porch began.  New siding was put on the front and south sides of the house.  The original porch columns and balusters for the railings were installed on the front porch.

Eventually, all the rooms were completed and furnished with donated artifacts.  One of John Larson’s granddaughters provided her memories of Grandpa John’s home and how each room was furnished, thus providing the general decorating scheme.  Virtually every furnishing in the house was donated by generous people who cherish the house.

The house has been decorated in a style appropriate to around 1920 when electricity first came to McFarland, and the original chandeliers glow brightly once again.

Thanks to our skilled contractors and hard-working volunteers, and to those serving on the various Larson House committees.

2014 – Opened to the public as the Larson House Museum

The Larson House Museum Grand Opening was in May of 2014 and it has been open to the public each summer and each December since.

Learn More

For a complete history of the house, the histories of the families and institutions honored in each room, and the remarkable restoration process, a new book has been published by the society titled, Larson House Museum, History and Restoration.  This book is available for sale at both our museums and can also be purchased online through our website.