Menomonie’s Historic Wilson Place Mansion Again Welcomes Visitors
19th-century landmark had been closed to public for years
A historic downtown Menomonie mansion that was home to three generations of lumber barons is once again open to the public.
An agreement between the current owner of the Wilson Place Mansion, Tim Dotseth, and the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts means the Wilson Place will be open for tours on select days and times.
The reopening is viewed as a fundraising opportunity for both the Mabel Tainter and Wilson Place. “We want to raise money to help restore Wilson Place,” Mabel Tainter Executive Director Lucas Chase said.
The privately owned mansion has been closed to the public for about five years, so for those who have not visited the Wilson Place before, this is an exciting opportunity. “Menomonie has a great history, and we want to share that history,” Chase said. He believes the reopening of Wilson Place offers an informative and transformative experience for locals and visitors.
Wilson Place Mansion overlooks Broadway Street next to UW-Stout’s North Campus. On the outside, it may just look like a yellow building with vintage-style dark paneling that sits behind a metal gate. But Wilson Place serves as a true relic of historical Menomonie.
A 1999 Dunn County News article noted “Wilson Place is a journey through generations. … Dating back to the Civil War era, this structure is filled with history. … Wilson Place and its contents preserve a unique local and state heritage.”
The Wilson Place belonged to three generations of lumber barons: The Wilsons, the Stouts, and the LaPointes. It was eventually purchased by the current owners, the Dotseth family. Melissa Kneeland, executive director of the Dunn County Historical Society, said William Wilson was the first mayor of Menomonie and his family designed the home to look like a federal-style building. Wilson died in 1892, and the building was named after him.
Wilson Place was originally built on 22 acres in 1859. It has been remodeled and expanded since then. “There were 11 marble fireplaces, stained glass, and gaming rooms,” Kneeland said.
In 1897, the Stout family took possession of the mansion. They were well known for their power in the booming lumber industry at the time. James Huff Stout – the namesake of UW-Stout – was son-in-law of the previous owner, having married Wilson’s daughter, Angelina. The couple remodeled the house together. “There were 22 servants, 17 marble fireplaces, silk furniture. … For opulence, there was even a room lined with leather,” Kneeland said.
By the 1920s, the mansion belonged to the LaPointe family. George Wilson LaPointe Jr., grandson of William Wilson, made a living in the lumber industry, too. The LaPointe family reduced the overall size of the mansion by two-thirds to better suit their style. “The mansion changed from federal style to Victorian style,” Kneeland said. Eventually, it was nearly torn apart by the LaPointe family to be more modern and contemporary. Inside, Victorian-style furnishing and décor inside were preserved.
The Dotseth family bought Wilson Place in 1974 and the building has been privately operated as a museum since 1976. In recent years, the space has been closed to tours. “They are proud restorationists,” Kneeland said. Kneeland said the Dotseth family originally sought to turn Wilson Place into a retirement home.
“They saw their mission to preserve that local history,” she said. “All that history would otherwise be scattered to the wind.”
The Wilson Place now serves as an example of the combination of historical eras. “You can see the transformation of the generations through the furniture and artifacts. It kind of tells the story,” Kneeland said.
The Mabel Tainter will help the space ease back into tours. “We will do tours about four times a year and in conjunction with other events,” Chase said.
Upcoming tours at Wilson Place are slated for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14-15, and Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Tours will last about 1 hour, and tickets are $25 each. Find tickets by visiting mabeltainter.org and clicking on “Buy Tickets.”
