Smith House

 Photographed April 11, 2015

Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin

43.161752, -89.261168

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Smith House

Construction work on Wisconsin's first state capitol attracted pioneer carpenter, Adam Smith to Madison in  1839. Sensing the commercial potential of a location near Madison, Smith changed careers and built the Brook Cottage Tavern on a stage coach route just south of Sun Prairie. The Smiths were also successful farmers and played an active role in local politics and culture. Smith helped lay out the first township roads, served on the first town board, was postmaster, and served as an elected official, including a term in the State Assembly. The houses was built in 1873 by Adam Smith in Italianate style.

Placed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1998

The marker is located at the Adam and Mary Smith House on eastbound Leopold Way, at its intersection with Smith Crossing, at 2359 Leopold Way, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 53590.

NOTE: The house is now the centerpiece of a monstrous "California-style" community of "cookie-cutter" single-family homes, duplexes and apartments known as "Smith's Crossing". I wonder what Adam and Mary Smith would do if they could see how progress has encroached upon their once open spaces.

National Register of Historic Places: Wisconsin: Dane County

Historic Name: Smith, Adam and Mary, House
Other Name: Al and Sue Simoncic House

Year Built: 1879
Architectural Style: Italianate
Wall Material: Brick

National/State Register Listing Name: Adam and Mary Smith House

National Register Listing Date: 1998-04-30
State Register Listing Date: 1998-01-22
Additional information: At one time the property was known as the Stanley McCoy Farm. The house was moved in 2005 as remediation of adverse effects of the redesign of the interchange at Interstate 94 and US Highway 151. It was then converted for use as the office building for Smith's Crossing subdivision.

 The south side of the house.

 The east side of the house.

One of the entrances to the "Smith's Crossing" residential community.