H I S T O R Y

The Neumann House B&B has had over a century of interesting overnight guests, and now you can join their ranks. During the waning years of the nineteenth century, the home was owned by several prosperous mercantile families. In post-World War II years, it was owned by Campion College of Sacred Heart, a Jesuit boarding school for young men. In 1988, the house was established as the Neumann House Bed & Breakfast, and since then has hosted hundreds of guests from around the world.

Today, the Neumann House B&B is owned and operated by Luanne Neumann. Her education in home management, balanced with her easygoing manner and sense of humor help make this Wisconsin bed and breakfast the perfect getaway.

R I V E R T O W N     R E L I Q U E S

In 2004, the Neumann House B&B was a featured house in a historic tour of 1850s buildings. The following excerpts were written by Mary Ann Stemper for a program guide for that event.

A Community Treasure - As a family home for 10 generations, the house at 121 North Michigan has touched many people in its 150 years. A review of the lives of its owners, gives a fascinating insight into the life of the community over that time.

Records indicate the land has been occupied since 1795 when it was a Farm Lot owned by Francois Lavigne. He gave it to Peter Antega who sold it to Pierre Lariviere who gave or sold it to his son Julian. In 1820 when the US government settled the land claims at Prairie du Chien, Julian's ownership of Farm Lot 31 was confirmed.

Over the next 30 years, pieces of Farm Lot 31 were bought and sold by Alexander S. Hooe, Jr. (husband of Emily Rolette ), E.W. Pelton, and Champion Pelton--all prominent names in early Prairie du Chien settlement. In 1856 the Union Plat grid replaced the old French Farm lots, narrow ribbon lots running from the river to the bluffs. 121 North Michigan became Lot 10 Block 30 of the Union Plat. Edward W. Pelton owned the land in 1858 when Charles Wright bought it for $450. Wright build the current house. The house was part of the building boom ushered in by the arival of the railroad in 1857. That year alone, 327 buildings went up on the prairie.

E. W. Pelton started a retail business in 1856 with partners Orson Jackson and Charles Wright. By 1859 something happened to take Wright out of the business. A newpaper account in April 1864 hints at court action on guardianship due to lunacy. Whatever the truth about Charles Wright's sanity, in April of 1864 Wright sold the house to Robert R. Jackson and his wife Gratia for $2100. The Jacksons owned the house 14 years before selling the house to Daniel Webster in 1888 for $1800.