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 the Village of Walworth
In 2026 the village of Walworth celebrates its 189th anniversary. Early settlers like James Van Slyke, Cyrus Church, and Carlos Douglass came from New England and New York to the Big Foot Prairie in 1837.
The first tavern was at the house of Christopher Douglass, but in 1917 a “bone dry” ordinance was passed, remaining in effect until the village referendum of 1939.
Walworth remained little more than a hamlet until an electric railway was built from Harvard in 1899, followed in 1901 by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St, Paul railway line from Chicago to Janesville.
In future years, Walworth became known for its annual Corn & Brat Festival, Pearce’s farm stand, and the Kikkoman Foods plant that opened in 1973.
The Friendly Village on the Square is represented by the Geese in Flight stone fountain designed by local farmer Howard Rohner in 1968.
Destroyed in a traffic accident, it was restored and now rests in the southwest corner of Heyer Park.
Walworth@250 #89
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I am proud to live in Walworth! In 1840 my great great great Grandfather George Walworth came from Rome New York! 💕
I worked in the Showette and the theater in Walworth years aga.
I went to the Walworth theater and the adjacent greasy spoon. The photo doesn't show Waal's which was a great little department store next door to it.
The most surprising thing about this information is the date of the first tavern. That late?
I love our town, my granddaughter is 5th generation to live here!
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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 Bavaria Steam Yacht.
Launched in 1895 as a commercial vessel on Geneva Lake by Wesley Johnson, the Bavaria had a successful career until strong anti-German sentiment developed throughout the country during World War I.
In 1917, a passenger confronted the Captain, asking why they were traveling on boat with such an Un-American name. Persuaded that “something needed to be done” the Captain took hammer and chisel and removed the name “Bavaria” from the bow immediately.
The next day, and until she was retired, she sailed as the “Columbia.” By the way, she was retired to the bottom of the lake at the end of her economic life where she remains today.
Walworth@250 #87
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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 Lucius Newberry
The second of Geneva’s large passenger excursion boats, the Lucius Newberry offered trips around the lake for 50 cents and sailed from 1875 to 1891.
From this announcement: “The elegant “Lucius Newberry” is now running her daily morning afternoon trips from Geneva Village to Fontana…stopping at the various delightful parks about the lake and affording an excellent opportunity to enjoy the matchless scenery and give ample time for a picnic and ramble in the woods from any of the parks, before the return trip.
The Lucius Newberry is a large side wheel steamer, 115 feet long, 31 feet mid-ship, three decks, a 125 horsepower engine, a gorgeous cabin, filled with master paintings of scenes from the lake and shore and capable of carrying 1,000 persons and is one of the handsomest and safest vessels west of the Atlantic.”
The Newberry had separate “wash closets” for men and women, an upright piano, room for a full band and a 41x21 foot dance platform with a Georgian Pine floor.
It competed for passengers with the earlier side wheel double decked Lady of the Lake, which sailed from 1873 to 1893.
Walworth@250 #86
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December 11th 1891 the Luscious Newberry caught fire and was set adrift while ablaze from the municipal pier in L.G. She drifted until burning to the waterline off of what's now Geneva Bay Estates. Divers found it and some artifacts (boiler, rudder, bottles) on July 1st 1981. The rudder was recently taken down entering into L.G. across from Wells Street.
Another good photo. 👍
WOw!