Take a Cruise to the Victorian Summer Retreat of a Chicago Beer Baron
Black Point Estate was built for Chicago Beer Baron, Conrad Seipp, in 1888 as a retreat, and in that spirit the home remains a place to relax, refresh, and explore. Just like the Victorian VIPs who established the estate, you’ll arrive in style and enjoy stunning Geneva Lake views on your cruise to this magnificent summer home, considered one of the finest examples of period architecture and furniture in the Midwest, and one of the oldest homes in Lake Geneva.
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Black Point Estate and Gardens
Step into Gilded Age elegance at the 1888 Summer home of Chicago beer baron, Conrad Seipp. Guests enjoy a narrated boat ride to the property via the Lake Geneva Cruise Line, a guided tour of the mansion, & time to relax and sip Seipp beer on the veranda.
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.
Up next is John Bullock
John Bullock was a successful photographer and painter known for his art capturing the beauty of the Lake Geneva area.
Originally from England, Bullock got his start as a potter’s apprentice. In 1858, he immigrated to America and began doing portraits and daguerreotypes in Philadelphia.
Eventually, he moved to Chicago, but he wasn’t there long before the Great Fire of October, 1871. In 1872 he moved to Lake Geneva where he did sketches, paintings, and photographs of the local area. His art became very popular and by 1875 he opened up his own studio.
John Bullock returned to Chicago in 1907, but when he died in 1912, he was returned to Lake Geneva and buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Walworth@250 #63
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2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.
Up next is Snug Harbor.
In 1871, George Sturges and his family lost their home in Chicago in the Great Fire and decided to come north to Lake Geneva. George was the President of the Northwestern National Bank and founder of the Illinois Trust & Savings.
They originally bought the A. W. Farr house in downtown Lake Geneva (which they would later donate to be used as the Lake Geneva Public Library), where the family lived until their new lakeshore home was completed.
Ten years later, they moved from their snug cottage on Main Street to a snug 20-room, 3-story Queen Anne style mansion on the lakeshore. The home was intended to be used as a family retreat, and it was said that one summer George Sturges bought 500 train tickets for his friends and family to use whenever they wanted to come visit from Chicago.
The house had an expansive veranda for entertaining, several bedrooms to accommodate guests (with their own fireplaces), and 11 different bathrooms.
The circular five story tower base created a lovely alcove in the living room and master bedroom. All the rooms were over-sized, had vast storage areas, 15-foot ceilings, and featured finely carved wood moldings.
John Borden, investor in the Yellow Cab company, purchased the estate from the Sturges in 1919.
In 1947, Snug Harbor was purchased by the Evangelical Covenant Church for use as a Bible camp. A fire in 1957 destroyed the Big House, but the camp and retreat center still operate today.
Walworth@250 #62
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Such a pity that fires destroyed so many of these great old homes.
Love the history you are providing to all. Thank you.
Love learning about who founded and nurtured our lovely Lake Geneva.
Really enjoying the historic info on places we have only know from the outside
THANK YOU for ALL of these historical stories!!
Covenant Harbor
What a veranda, love the spittoon on the rug..
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2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.
Up next is The Harvard Club.
The Harvard Club is a community of nineteen different houses placed in four parallel rows along the shore of Lake Geneva. It was established in 1875 by a group of families from Harvard, Illinois.
The land was given to the group by Edward Ayers who donated a few acres of his property since his father had been the founder of Harvard, Illinois. Although some original buildings were burned in a fire, the homes and land continue to be in use today.
Additionally, the Harvard Club sits on a significant Native American archeological site, with tools and wigwams dating back to the time when Geneva Lake was occupied by Indigenous People.
Walwort@250 #61
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Early 60s we drove to Harvard to buy Oleo for Christmas baking since Wisconsin banned the sale of non-dairy products.