WALK INTO HISTORY: Third Ward Historic Home Tour Returns
tickets are now up for grabs for fourth annual Historic Home Tour, slated for Aug. 9
The iconic Eau Claire mansion of a banker to the lumber barons is the focal point of the fourth annual Third Ward Historic Home Tour, slated for Sunday, Aug. 9, from 1-4pm. This year's tour, organized by volunteer members of the Third Ward Neighborhood Association, features four homes and an outside garden.
Francis W. Woodward, a prominent local businessman, and his wife, Annie, built their estate at the corner of State Street and Gilbert Avenue in 1871. The Early Gothic Revival single-family, 4,602-square-foot home, sits on a 1.48-acre lot.
The local landmark – designated on Feb. 27, 1985 – features distinct stone siding, steeply pitched gables ornamented with decorative bargeboards, a two-story bay window, and a massive chimney on the north façade. Inside, there are pristine hardwood floors and four majestic fireplaces.
Woodward, a New York native who arrived in Eau Claire in 1869, was the founder and president of the First National Bank of Eau Claire. He also established the Eau Claire Chilled Plow Company and was secretary for the Badger State Lumber Company.
While stone was added to the original structure in the early 1900s by Ralph W. Hutchens, its most recent extensive restoration and preservation was completed by the Terrance M. Smith family in 2016, over a century later.
The neighborhood association extends a special thanks to all owners opening their homes for this year's tour. Tickets can be ordered online starting today, June 30 ($30/person).
That ticket purchase includes a booklet with a map and photos, history and background information about each home. The self-guided walking tour has timed entries to manage the flow of attendees.
Tickets to this year's Third Ward Historic Home Tour, slated for Aug. 9 from 1-4pm, go on sale online through Eventbrite. For additional info and event updates, visit the Third Ward's Facebook page or website.
