Black Point Estate and Gardens

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 Octagon House, Elkhorn.

Wisconsin has more octagonal houses (sometimes called “round” houses) than any state except Massachusetts or New York. (Mark Twain wrote in an octagon house, by the way.)

Octagon houses were popularized by promoter Orson Squire Fowler in the 1850’s—writing a book in 1849 with seven editions. Fowler spent time with Joseph Goodrich who built the nearby Milton House. Fowler claimed there was 20% more space inside the perimeter, the houses were cheaper to build, easier to heat and cool and offered more natural light.

The house in Elkhorn was built (1856-57) for Edward Elderkin, a young lawyer from New York who arrived in 1839 and wanted a thoroughly modern home. He practiced law in Elkhorn for 40 years. The house has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.

Walworth@250: #94

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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 Sonja Akright.

Sonja Akright, co-director of Administration at the Geneva Lake Museum, and member of the Lake Geneva Historic Preservation Commission, has a passion for historical knowledge of the area.

She grew up in Lake Geneva and had experience working on the Lake Geneva Cruise Line which inspired her to advocate for local history.

After years of research, Sonja curated an exhibit on the Sanitariums of Lake Geneva and followed up with a book and speaking engagements on the subject. “Her work not only preserves the past but also brings it to life, enriching the understanding and appreciation of the community’s unique legacy.”

Walworth@250 #93

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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 Maple Mound Group in Whitewater.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, the site (open year-round at 288 S Indian Parkway, Whitewater) includes 14 mounds on 26 acres—including a mink, 350 feet long that points to the summer/winter solstice.

The area was saved by persuading the DMV to move a planned Hwy 12 expansion in 1964 and it became a local park in 1974. The mounds were also saved before then by farmers Ralph and Walter Tratt who used the land as pasture under maple trees.

Most mounds are from the Woodland period (500 BC to 1200 AD—Mounds are either Geometric (both linear and conical) or Effigy (shapes of animals and spirits.). The earliest mound builders (500 BC to 100AD) built simple conical burial mounds. At one time,

Wisconsin had over 2,500 effigy mounds…built between 700 AD to 1100 AD. The largest remaining mounds in Walworth County are at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan—over 40 still exist! Other significant mounds were located near the Library in Lake Geneva and at the location of the Northwestern Naval and Military Academy on the south shore of Geneva Lake.

Wisconsin has over 4,000 Indian mounds intact, more than any other state.

Walworth@250 #92

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