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 Harry Gordon Selfridge.
Harry Gordon Selfridge was an innovator and businessman largely responsible for making the shopping experience what it is today.
He was born to a humble family in Ripon, Wisconsin. By 1879, Selfridge had moved to Chicago and was working as a stock boy at Marshall Fields & Company.
Even then, he had revolutionary ideas such as placing the perfume counters by the front of the store to create a welcoming and pleasant environment as well as placing items for sale on display shelves and counters rather than on high shelves where they were less visible.
In just six years, Selfridge went from being a stock boy to a major stockholder in the company.
As he began to amass his fortune, Selfridge and his wife, Rosalie Buckingham Selfridge, built their summer estate on the shores of Lake Geneva. Known as Harrose (Harry and Rose) Hall, their home was next door to Rosalie’s sister’s house, Ceylon Court. Selfridge and his family soon moved to London, but they would come back to summer in Lake Geneva.
In 1909, Harry Selfridge opened his own department store, Selfridge’s in London. The store saw massive success, thanks to his ingenious business techniques.
Unfortunately, after the death of his wife and mother, Harry Selfridge began a downward spiral and squandered his multi-million dollar fortune. However, Harry Selfridge completely revolutionized shopping as we know it today, inventing concepts and phrases like window-shopping, “the customer is always right”, and “business as usual.”
Selfridge’s still stands on Oxford Street in London and continues to be a leading department store.
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I’ve shopped at the London store. Knowing his background made it more exciting.
Harry used Chicago architect, Daniel Burnham for his store in London. Burnham also designed Marshall Field’s in Chicago. The two stores are very similar!
Our next storytellers event is 6-8PM, March 5th at the @Geneva Tap House.
If you have a story to tell we'd love to hear it.
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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 Lake Geneva Train Depot.
This was designed by Charles Sumner Frost for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in 1871 and originally ran a from Elgin, Illinois to Lake Geneva.
Conveniently located in the heart of Lake Geneva’s downtown on Sage Street. The railroad and depot was one of the main factors in Geneva Lake’s population boom, built just months before the Chicago Fire.
Many of the rich Chicagoans, now out of a home needed a place to stay. They flocked to the lake and the train made travel easy and quick. The route was extended to Williams Bay in 1888—making passenger travel easier and ice shipments from Geneva and Lake Como easier.
The track was abandoned in the 1980’s and the last passenger train made its stop in Lake Geneva in 1972.
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Sad when they tore down the depot. It was worth saving.
A lot of nice comments here, wonderful history.🥰
Sure wish it was still running
Every year there’s talk about opening up that line again
The depot was at Williams and North, west of Sage St.
End of the line at Williams Bay.
The line out of McHenry went to Lake Geneva
What about the line from Fox Lake IL ? That one used to go up there.
I have taken this train into Lake Geneva once or twice. Use to go into Delevan.
I remember it always being there
Gone, but forgotten.
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