$90,000 OPENING BID!!

PROPERTY LOCATION: 323 St Lawrence, Beloit WI 53511

PREVIEW DATE: Sunday, September 23, 2012 1:00-2:00 PM

Constructed in 1888, the home is a three story Queen Anne style with a rounded corner projected bay and multi-sided tower with conical roof. The home boasts five porches with a wrap-around radius front porch. The property retains a restored two-stall carriage house with upper room.

This property was purchased in 2003 and has been carefully restored. The exterior siding, trim and porches were completely removed and replaced with replicated cedar siding and trim work. All the porches were blueprinted to replicate the original designs from old photographs. All the original shakes were removed and replaced with cedar shakes. The interior has been carefully detailed and restored with all new replicated molding from the original designs. The floors are fine grained oak on the first floor and maple on the second floor. The original floors were refinished and some additional rooms had new maple flooring installed.  The third floor is completely finished with a laundry room and bathroom with oak floors. New windows were installed in the home with the exception of the original curved windows. Each floor has its own furnace and air conditioning units allowing for three-zone environmental control. The basement has newly sealed walls and concrete floor with an interior and exterior entrance.

The kitchen has granite countertops. The house has three full baths with an additional unfinished bathroom in the basement. The home has a total of 17 rooms including the foyer. Two fireplaces grace the first and second story living rooms.

Designated a historical site, the property was built by Lawrence Cunningham, who was the co-owner of the Cunningham Brothers Construction Company. Mr. Cunningham constructed many of the historic building recognized in Beloit including, but not limited to, the Cunningham School, the Woolworth Building, the original Field House Beloit College, Maurer Hall Beloit College, Chapin Hall Beloit College, Centennial Hall Beloit College, the Morse and Neese family residences, Fairbanks Morse building along Park Avenue, the Strong building, the Masonic Temple, The YMCA, the YWCA and the list goes on.

Mr. Cunningham was Beloit’s first native-born Mayor from 1906 to 1914. For 22 years he acted as Alderman from the “Old Third Ward”. He also served as president of the City Council. He served as State Senator for the district for 12 years. He was known as the father of Wisconsin’s system of concrete highways. A leader in establishing Big Hill Memorial Park, Lawrence’s life was dedicated to active public service. He died in 1924 at the age of 72.

Mrs. Cunningham lived at the residence that her husband built for 50 years, living there since she was a bride.

The Cunningham family settled in Beloit in 1849.

6% Buyers Premium added to final sale price

The successful bidder at auction will be required to submit a non-refundable deposit of TEN percent (10%) of the purchase price.