We’re thrilled to announce that the Brisbane House won the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 2023 Board of Curators Restoration Award. Amy Wyatt, a Preservation Officer, will present a certificate at the September 10th event at Brisbane. Her letter red, in part, “The Board of Curators appreciates this opportunity to recognize outstanding historical work that helps connect people to the past.”
State Senator Chris Larson also wrote to add his congratulations saying, “By receiving this award you are handed the task of continuing to be a leader in your community and I am confident you will continue to do your part in helping Wisconsin move forward.”
Lots to live up to and we continue to love to care for this house in order to host guests from all over the country who appreciate its history, marvel at its structure, and take advantage of its quiet, natural setting, in which to unwind! Below is from the recent press release:
William Henry Brisbane House, Arena, Wisconsin (restoration under $1 million)
Samantha and Bruce Crownover and their business partner purchased the Brisbane House in April 2021. They fully stabilized, restored, and rejuvenated the main house and summer kitchen—and were awarded historic tax credits. With 30 years’ experience managing and restoring historic properties in Madison, Samantha Crownover created a team of expert advisors, enthusiastic local craftspeople, and friends. The former owners helped out with advice, history, support, and encouragement. Over 150 people were involved and their work included: removing a concrete sidewalk that abutted the entire perimeter; repointing mortar joints (two feet up and four feet underground) and chimneys; repairing fireboxes in the fireplaces; buttoning up the terne roof; rebuilding the eaves, soffits, and fascia; adding half-round gutters and downspouts; relocating a large colony of bats (the largest the pest control company had ever seen) and flying squirrel families; re-plastering all crumbling walls; refinishing the fir floors; repainting all other floors, walls, and wood trim; refinishing all doors; re-plating historic hinges; re-grading the land around the house; augmenting the heating system and adding central air conditioning, as well as installing HVAC on the third floor; installing a new septic system; installing a new well; upgrading and adding electrical and plumbing systems; renovating the bathroom; performing fine carpentry in the kitchen and various other rooms; building a screen porch; re-roofing the summer kitchen with cedar shingles as well as installing appropriate new Marvin windows; and creating a new bathroom. In one weekend, Samantha Crownover moved in furniture, furnishings, and art; the Brisbane House has been open to overnight guests since mid-August 2021.
In addition to being an excellent restoration of a historic building needing restoration work, special attention was paid to the history of the man who built the house in 1868. William Henry Brisbane was a man who formerly owned slaves but eventually became an ardent abolitionist. The Crownovers own a collection of original art by nationally-known artists of color and have decorated the house with that collection. They’ve also created a library of anti-racist literature, as well as books by Black authors.
The Brisbane House is a worthy project in a rural area (the Driftless), sensitively restored through the help of tax credits. It has a recognized connection to abolition, which adds a unique story to the property.
About the Restoration Award
The award goes to the best restoration work of a Wisconsin historic property that involves comprehensive work to restore a historic building, structure, object, or site.
Learn More
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Learn about the Historic Preservation and Restoration Awards
Learn how to nominate projects for this award.
Full Press Release:
Historic Brisbane House Wins Second Award, this time from the State
Wisconsin River Valley residents may know of a particular stone house as the “Thudium Farm” or “the house that splits lightning” on 18 acres, in Arena, Wisconsin, 30 miles west of Madison. It was built by William Henry Brisbane, an abolitionist from South Carolina, in 1868, when he was in his 60s. Both its singular form—tall and skinny, carved out of the stone from the nearby bluff— and the legacy of the man who built it are worth highlighting.
Because of its unusual architectural style for Wisconsin, it has been listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Its current owners purchased the home in April 2021, with a business partner, and extensively restored it. Their major efforts were highlighted again recently, this time by the State Historical Society’s 2023 Board of Curators Restoration Award. Their first commendation was the Preservation Award from the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, in May 2022.
The Wisconsin Historical Society’s awards recognize individuals and organizations across the state for exceptional work consistent with the Society’s mission to connect people to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Board of Curators is the Wisconsin Historical Society’s governing body and is composed of both elected and appointed members from across Wisconsin.
“On behalf of the Society and our Board of Curators, I am honored to congratulate the 2023 award winners for exemplary work preserving and sharing history in regions all over the state,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “This program celebrates significant contributions in the field of history that make a difference not just for those who can appreciate it today, but also for future generations.” (From the WHS press release.)
State Senator Chris Larson added his congratulations saying, “By receiving this award you are handed the task of continuing to be a leader in your community and I am confident you will continue to do your part in helping Wisconsin move forward.”
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
The Brisbane House project was championed by Madison arts leader Samantha Crownover, with the support of her husband, artist Bruce Crownover, and a business partner (as Restore Brisbane LLC). Her vision was to stabilize, restore, and rejuvenate this three-story gem and adjacent “summer kitchen.” She has had 30 years’ experience restoring and managing historic properties in Madison, and she created a team of expert advisors and enthusiastic local crafts people. The former owners helped out with background history, unfettered access to the property pre-sale, and encouragement.
In four-and-a-half months, Samantha and team accomplished the full restoration of the main house in order to celebrate the house, its builder, and to host guests. An adjacent building, the summer kitchen was turned into a bedroom with a loft and now connects to the house by a hallway/new full bathroom featuring exposed stone walls. This was accomplished in another three months.
Over 150 people were involved in the project, which included repointing mortar joints (two feet up and four feet underground) and chimneys; buttoning up the terne roof; rebuilding the eaves, soffits, and facia; adding half round gutters and downspouts; relocating a large colony of bats (the largest the pest control company had ever seen) and two flying squirrel families; replastering all walls; refinishing the fir floors (that Herb Fritz, a storied Spring Green architect’s son, installed); repainting all other floors, walls, wood trim; refinishing all doors; replating historic hinges (sent out to NY); re-grading the land around the house; augmenting the heating system and adding central air, as well as installing HVAC on the third floor; installing a new septic system; installing a new well; upgrading and adding electrical and plumbing; renovating the bathroom; performing fine carpentry in the kitchen and various other rooms; building a screen porch; re-roofing the summer kitchen with cedar shingles as well as installing appropriate new Marvin windows and a new bathroom.
The original builder, William Henry Brisbane, came from a family in Beaufort County, South Carolina, who enslaved 33 people. He moved north in 1835 and became a man of many professions, including pharmacist, doctor, and minister. He was most noted for his ardent abolitionism. He eventually manumitted and helped to establish the people his family had enslaved, nearly bankrupting his family. He detailed this and his life in his multi-volume diaries, held by the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
Before this stone house was built, its land was home to many Native Americans, including the Fox and Sac Indians. The Crownovers note the ironic fact that Brisbane was a vocal opponent of oppression as well as possibly the first white settler on this land. Since the home’s sandstone blocks were carved out of the surrounding bluffs, this one-of-a-kind house has been well-loved by many families, notably the Thudiums, Triers, and Learns/Chaffees.
As a tribute to Brisbane’s work, inside the house, Samantha created a small library of anti-racist literature, as well as books by Black authors. She also showcases contemporary art created exclusively by internationally-known artists of color, with whom Bruce, a nationally renowned master printmaker, has collaborated.
Samantha added, “This place is too important to keep to ourselves. We need to share it!” Brisbane House opened to guests in August 2021 and sleeps ten in five bedrooms. Its history is noted within the house, and the Crownovers hope guests will depart having been inspired by Brisbane’s courage. One guest stated, “What a fantastic restoration, it is really breathtaking! The artwork is outstanding—it really reflects the historical significance of the home and its original owner.” As Samantha puts it, “In the spirit of its builder, we want Brisbane House to be a place of peace, inclusion, creativity, and joy. We celebrate those who speak out against injustice. We are honored to be the next stewards of this important legacy.”
Go to Brisbanehouse.net for more information.
