I spent quite a bit of time at 1642 Park Ave. growing up because that was the house of my friend, Chris Dean, who lived there with his family. We had heard that 1642 Park was quite an old house, and had been built by a lake captain.
According to the Wisconsin Historical Society: Historic Name: Williams, Captain Henry O., House. Reference Number: 11244. Year Built: 1870. Architectural Style: Queen Anne. The light fixtures in the front room and sitting room are believed to date from the 1920s, when the house was wired for electricity.
Henry O. Williams was born in approximately 1848 and died in approximately 1920. Therefore, if he were a captain, his career would have lasted him up to around age 50 or 60, which would have been 1898 to 1908 or so. He seems to have been a wealthy man around 1905 when he owned 50% in Merchants Hotel.
Register of Electors showing H O Williams, Racine Daily Journal 1901 03 09
Henry O Williams found his scotch collie poisoned, Racine Daily Journal, 1907 07 31
1908 insurance map showing 1642 Park Ave.
Miss Margaret Williams in Personal Mention Column, Racine Journal News, 1917 01 10
1920 Census for 1642 Park Ave. Here it says that Henry O. Williams was born in Wisconsin, but other places say he was born in Wales.
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Card of Thanks for death of husband and father, Henry O. Williams, Racine Journal News, 1920 03 19
Visitors from Chicago in Personal Mention Column, Racine Journal News, 1920 06 01
Elizabeth H. Scott funeral at 1642 Park Ave., Racine Journal News, 1920 08 19
Mrs. Henry O. Williams and daughter have returned from a four months’ trip to England. Racine Journal News, 1921 08 13
Household goods for sale, Racine Journal News, 1922 04 10 (I wonder if they just got around to selling Elizabeth Scott’s furniture two year later? They may have been storing it in the barn for two years.)
Miss Margaret Williams’ obituary, Racine Journal Times, 1964 05 25 (Miss Margaret was born in Liverpool, England, so that supports the idea that her father, H O Williams, was a captain from England.)
Jim Hall ran the campaign for LaFollette for Congress, Racine Sunday Bulletin, 1970 09 06
Mrs. James Hall and the Racine Montessori School, Racine Journal Times, 1973 06 17
Hall divorce, Racine Journal Times, 1974 08 09
Moving sale, Racine Journal Times, 1975 11 28
1642 Park Avenue in 1997
1642 Park Avenue in 1997
1642 Park Avenue in 1997
1642 Park Avenue in 1997
1642 Park Avenue, Racine, Wis.