THIS LARGE QUEEN ANNE STYLE HOME was built in 1885 for George Mertens who was the president of the Bank of Baraboo (today The Baraboo National Bank). In 1885 Mertens hired Madison architect David R. Jones to design an up-to-date & elegant residence for him and his wife. Jones was one of Madison’s first professional architects & had already designed such prominent buildings as Washburn Observatory and Music Hall for the University of Wisconsin and additions to the second state capitol in Madison. The Mertens’ house was designed with all the necessary Victorian rooms including a servant’s bedroom & was furnished with an indoor bathroom with hot & cold running water. George Mertens & his wife, Jane, had no children and both lived in the house until their deaths (Jane died in 1904 and George died in 1914). The second occupants were S. Thomas Williams & his wife, Addie. In 1920 the home was purchased by E.F. Lueth and his wife, Louisa. They eventually rented out rooms in the house which remained a boarding house until the 1980's. The Lueths were well acquainted with the lodging industry as they had constructed the Wellington Hotel in downtown Baraboo in 1899. In later years the house was occupied by Stephen & Carol Jenkins and then by Alan & Sharon Leonhardt who sold it to the current owners, Bill Klink & Debbie Black, in 1994. They worked extensively on the home including renovating both bathrooms and the kitchen. They also restored the woodwork and hardwood floors in the home.

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