History right under our nose

Hi,

It's time I got this blog started. I've been trying to get going with it for the last couple of months, but have kept getting sidetracked with life. But anyhow, here I am now, ready to put up my first post.

I've been trying to put up a good first topic pertaining to the local history of Madison and have been unable to make up my mind. Then it came to me as I was passing through the Bay Creek Neighborhood on the south side of Monona Bay.

I know a very brief history of this neighborhood, I remember reading how it was originally called "South Madison" with the stretch along Lakeside Street in the area around Franklin Elementary School being it's downtown.

So anyhow, as I was passing through along Lakeside, I realized how I've never really taken the time to tour this neighborhood and get a closer look at it off it's beaten path. So I turned left, down a couple of blocks then right.

And there, off on my left, I saw it. A mansard "Adams Family" style house (the kind that people think of when they think of haunted houses) complete with cupola. It seemed to be set right in the middle of the block, set back from the street on all sides. Driving around the block, I got somewhat a better view of the backside of the place.

I found myself wondering whose house it must have been originally-surely that of some prominent "South Madison" resident or business person as ordinary working-class citizens would not have lived in so elaborate a house.I thought to myself. I'll have to do some research to find out. Maybe someone here might have some info? I'll have to drive or bicycle back over there to get the address.

Anyhow, this whole experience reminded me of how oftentimes the best historical treasures are those that we discover by accident such as this one. I wasn't planning on finding this historic home, but all of a sudden there it was.

So often we get hung up with all the major historical attractions that everyone knows about such as "Mansion Hill" in the area near the Edgewater Hotel or those found around Capitol Square.

But it is the lesser known or forgotten secrets, those that we find as we get around into the neighborhoods of our city and start prying into the "nooks and crannies" that will be the main focus of this blog. Some of my adventures may take me wading off through some thick, heavy brush to find some long-forgotten secret that was.

Or it may be something such as this house that perhaps may take some extensive research or a lucky break to find out about it-case in example: let's say that I've discovered something that I can't find any kind of record on. Then one day, as I'm out trying to explore the place further, I start talking to some guy next door that's out in his yard doing some work and he refers me to the little old lady who has lived in the house at the end of the block all of her life and SHE is the one with the story that I'm trying to find. You just never know where you might find a source.

So anyhow to quote a former high school teacher of mine, that's going to be the "meat and potatoes" of my blog. I do hope that as we journey through our city together here that it will prove to be an enjoyable and enriching experience for all.