The Old Spring Tavern was built in 1854 by Charles Morgan as a stopping place on the stagecoach road heading for the lead-mining regions of southwest Wisconsin.
Morgan used clay from a nearby slope to make reddish bricks. The walls at the base are twenty-two inches thick. It features Greek Revival details like the cornice returns, the unadorned window sills and lintels, and the sidelights and transom around the main entry. A chimney rose from each end.
While the city of Madison grew up all around it, the house kept its spirit. For years it served travelers as a hotel, then became a private home for the Gorham family until 1925. That is when Professor James G. Dickson bought it and added the Chippendale porch on the front of the house and a stone wall along Nakoma Road which Mrs. Dickson claimed was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Today, this spot is the oldest structure in the Nakoma Historic District. It is a joy to see these Greek Revival elements preserved in our colorful city. You can visit the site today to see the historic architecture that has stood strong for over a hundred and seventy years.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by No Other
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