The house was built on a 31-acre (130,000 m2) lot in 1869 or 1870. In the post-Civil-War period, wealthy Louisvillians began to build country houses near the city, where they would spend weekends or summers, and eventually live as faster transportation to the city became available. It was originally one of several similar villa-style houses built on large lots on the south side of Frankfort Avenue, overlooking the valley through which Grinstead Drive now runs. Most as close to Downtown as the Peterson–Dumesnil house were demolished to make way for suburban residential development on small lots in the early 20th century. By 1974, only one other old estate remained in Crescent Hill, and it was irrepairibly damaged by the tornado that hit Louisville that year.[1]
Joseph Peterson, a wealthy Louisville tobacco merchant, built the house. He was known for his contributions to Louisville architecture, as his 1889 obituary reads, he "built many of the handsome and best structures which adorn our streets". The house is believed to have been designed by local architect Henry Whitestone.[1]
Peterson's granddaughter, Eliza Dumesnil, inherited the house and lived in it until her death in 1948. The Louisville Board of Education then purchased it and operated it as a private club for teachers, the only one of its kind in the United States, but this practice was abandoned and in 1982 the board declared it surplus, and sold the house to the Peterson–Dumesnil House Foundation.[2]
The house is home to the Crescent Hill Community Council in the Louisville Historical League and is rented out for events such as weddings.[3]
Architectureedit
The Peterson House was built after the Civil War, circa 1869–70, in the asymmetrical Italian villa style. It is built of brick on a limestone foundation, painted white, and is two stories tall. The only major alteration to the structure is a new front porch, built sometime after 1898.[1]
The house's Italianate facade is common in mansions of the period, and the exterior is also marked by a large cupola.
^. Peterson–Dumesnil House Foundation. Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
^Eaton, Yvonne (2003-02-08). "Improving on history". Courier-Journal.
External linksedit
Official page
April 12, 2024
peterson, dumesnil, house, victorian, italianate, house, crescent, hill, neighborhood, louisville, kentucky, united, states, remaining, large, country, estates, built, louisvillians, late, 19th, century, east, city, closest, downtown, louisville, primarily, th. The Peterson Dumesnil House is a Victorian Italianate house in the Crescent Hill neighborhood of Louisville Kentucky United States Of the remaining large country estates built by Louisvillians in the late 19th century to the east of the city it is the closest to Downtown Louisville and primarily for that reason it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 1 Peterson Dumesnil HouseU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of KentuckyShow map of the United StatesLocationLouisville KentuckyCoordinates38 15 3 N 85 41 47 W 38 25083 N 85 69639 W 38 25083 85 69639Built1869 1870ArchitectHenry WhitestoneArchitectural styleVictorian ItalianateNRHP reference No 75000773Added to NRHP1975 Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe house was built on a 31 acre 130 000 m2 lot in 1869 or 1870 In the post Civil War period wealthy Louisvillians began to build country houses near the city where they would spend weekends or summers and eventually live as faster transportation to the city became available It was originally one of several similar villa style houses built on large lots on the south side of Frankfort Avenue overlooking the valley through which Grinstead Drive now runs Most as close to Downtown as the Peterson Dumesnil house were demolished to make way for suburban residential development on small lots in the early 20th century By 1974 only one other old estate remained in Crescent Hill and it was irrepairibly damaged by the tornado that hit Louisville that year 1 Joseph Peterson a wealthy Louisville tobacco merchant built the house He was known for his contributions to Louisville architecture as his 1889 obituary reads he built many of the handsome and best structures which adorn our streets The house is believed to have been designed by local architect Henry Whitestone 1 Peterson s granddaughter Eliza Dumesnil inherited the house and lived in it until her death in 1948 The Louisville Board of Education then purchased it and operated it as a private club for teachers the only one of its kind in the United States but this practice was abandoned and in 1982 the board declared it surplus and sold the house to the Peterson Dumesnil House Foundation 2 The house is home to the Crescent Hill Community Council in the Louisville Historical League and is rented out for events such as weddings 3 Architecture editThe Peterson House was built after the Civil War circa 1869 70 in the asymmetrical Italian villa style It is built of brick on a limestone foundation painted white and is two stories tall The only major alteration to the structure is a new front porch built sometime after 1898 1 The house s Italianate facade is common in mansions of the period and the exterior is also marked by a large cupola See also editList of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan areaReferences edit a b c d Peterson Dumesnil House NRHP Inventory Form Report National Register of Historic Places 1975 10 31 Peterson Dumesnil House property info Peterson Dumesnil House Foundation Archived from the original on 2008 10 16 Retrieved 2009 02 07 Eaton Yvonne 2003 02 08 Improving on history Courier Journal External links editOfficial page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peterson Dumesnil House amp oldid 1182047095, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
