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The building at 207 Commerce was built in 1829 by John Falls O'Neill. This page will be an ongoing listing of what is currently known by gallery owner Grotelueschen about the history of O'Neill and his wife and their families and the building.
History of 207 Commerce Street Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Built by John Falls O’Neill, descendant of Irish kings, immigrant to a relatively young United States, witness to Black Hawk War and California Gold Rush!
1806 -John Falls O’Neill born in Shanes Castle, Ulster, Ireland 1822 - O’Neill arrives in Baltimore, MD and takes job as clerk 1827 - O’Neill accompanies British Army officers to Mexico, on return trip meets Mary Ann Sublette in St. Louis 1827 - O’Neill and Sublette married in Galena 1829 - O’Neill builds 2 story frame house in Mineral Point. Lower level faces back garden, stream, alley, probably was living level for family. Street level was store, sawmill, lead furnace, etc. Upper level may have been income rental. 1832 - Friend of Sublette’s family killed at Blue Mounds by Winnebago so O’Neill rides in search of killer 1836 - O’Neill is captain at Ft. Richmond in Mineral Point during Black Hawk War 1836 - Mineral Point is surveyed and platted for first time 1837 - O’Neill running 'old stand' out of street level of stone house, probably residing in garden level 1837 - O’Neill applies for claim to ½ of lot 110, states there is a house built as ‘improvement’ 1840 - O’Neills mortgage lot 110 and house 1845 - O’Neills sell lot 109, cuts frame house at lot line and limestone building is built adjacent 1845 - John Falls O’Neill goes to California to supply merchandise to Gold Rush 1846 - Lot 110 is foreclosed on 1856 O’Neill move family to California After - O’Neill returns to Mineral Point, buys land in country, dies there
Sublette O'Neill's brothers are involved in blazing Oregon Trail and 'discovering' parts of what later became Yellowstone National Park.
Multiple owners with upstairs multiple apartments, store level various retail functions
Early 1980s Frame portion is entrance to upstairs apartments, with front door through porch addition, Stone portion has porch as well. Exterior once included fuel oil tank on roof of front porch. Interiors were broken up into several apartments with layers of wall materials.
Late 1980s Jennifer, watercolor painter, and John Sharp, wood carver, renovate the building, and operate gallery on ground floor. John hand hews beams and Jennifer hand planes antique barn wood for walls. Period materials are used when available, period construction methods are used, and as much original as practical is preserved.
Early 2000s Miriam Nesset operates Winsor Bleu, and antique and interior decorating shop on ground floor, further renovates and occupies living quarters.
2005 July 15 Karma Grotelueschen purchases 207 Commerce and opens Prairie Oak Artisans North one week later.
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Prairie
Oak Artisans |
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