Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Sunday, August 19, 2007
Ask the Trib: Cargill House was finished in 1883
Q: What is the history of the old Cargill House that was once located at West Avenue and Cass Street in
La Crosse? I understand that after the Cargill family vacated the house that it was used for public functions such as card parties, club meetings, weddings, etc.
A: According to city tax records and newspaper accounts, construction on the Cargill residence was started in late 1881 and finished in early 1883. The residence, which was located at 235 West Ave. S., was home to William and Ellen Cargill. Although the Cargill name is most often associated with the Cargill grain business, William Cargill was active in many other businesses and was one of the great philanthropists in La Crosse.
A major remodeling project was begun on the house in 1896 that would completely change the architectural style of the house. This remodeling project took more than 10 years to complete.
William Cargill died on Oct. 17, 1909, and Ellen died on March 25, 1910. After her death, the house remained empty for several years, but the Cargill family employed a caretaker for the residence. In 1927, the Cargill estate gave the home to First Presbyterian Church as a gift. The church held a formal dedication of the home as its new parish house on June 21, 1927. The house was used for weddings, receptions, club meetings and conventions until about 1952. Then it was used almost exclusively as a Sunday school for the church.
By 1974, years of neglect had left the Cargill house in a state of disrepair. The First Presbyterian congregation, unable to afford the $100,000 needed to bring the structure back to a usable standard, decide to have the building razed and make the site into green space and gardens. The Cargill house was razed in February 1975. The iron fence, which was likely constructed during the remodeling, and the coach house, which was built after the original one burned down around the turn of the century, still remain on the property.
In cooperation with the La Crosse Public Library, the Tribune invites readers to call or e-mail questions of local interest. We’ll try to find the answers and publish them. The phone number for Ask the Trib is (608) 791-8450. Send questions by e-mail to news@lacrossetribune.com.
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