Street number prior to 1925: 439 State
Pioneers from New York, James and Sarah Tompkins farmed in Greenville before purchasing lots in this block in 1865. Tompkins built this home in 1868 using "grout block" made of an experimental lime and gravel mixture. It survives today as a rare example of this construction.
In 1884 real estate and insurance tycoon B. T. Gilmore bought the house. The residents in 1925 were Frank D. Warmington and his wife Kate. Another former owner was Oscar C. Boldt who purchased the house in 1947. Frank Council, founder and first President of the Old Third Ward Neighborhood Association owned this home for several years until his death in July, 1997.
This home is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places and appears in both the 1978 and 1989 inventory of historic structures. In order to meet the National Register of Historic Places criteria, the home was restored to the architectural detail of the 1860's. A 1930's era porch which can be seen in both the 1978 and 1989 inventory of historic structures was removed and the porch rebuilt to look more like the original.
This home appeared on the cover of the March 1997 issue of Fox Cities magazine along with an article on the restoration. This issue also contains an article on the history of the Old Third Ward.
The side portion of this home has the address 604-608 W. Fifth St.
Reproduction of a photograph from the Fox Valley Memory collection.
Sitting on front porch bench Mr. and Mrs. James Tompkins.
Date: 1868
Used with permission from the Appleton Public Library
