Historic Carter House-Rivertown Romance-Licensed!

The A.C. Carter House is a unique and charming testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of the once wild river city of La Crosse. The personal residence of Civil War veteran, merchant, and patent medicine man Amos Claude Carter and family; it is a delightful study in the detail of whimsy that once was a part of everyday design in Victorian America. For the full history, architectural details and additional photos you may wish to send an inquiry for the historic web site. The space A truly unique and authentic Victorian gingerbread house! The ornate structure was restored and nominated to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1986 and photographed for the book Daughters of the Painted Ladies- America's Resplendent Victorians (one of only two homes in La Crosse chosen for that honor). It is listed on the La Crosse historical walking tour. Decorated in delightful Victorian imported wall coverings and friezes chosen to closely match the original designs and colors discovered during the restoration. The interior is furnished with a eclectic fun mix of comfortable and antique furnishings from Empire, to Victorian, to Art Deco, to Atomic Age and featuring rare massive antique 1 st Empire and Victorian bedroom suites by Anthony Quervelle of Philadelphia and Charles Lee of New Orleans. A House Adorned-The History The A.C. Carter House, Circa 1888 is significant for it’s historic connection with the economic and social development of North La Crosse, Wisconsin. It serves history as a prime example of entrepreneurial spirit , alive in La Crosse, an important Mississippi River port of the 19th century. This home is a rare, and excellent example of fine craftsmanship and detail, in the late Gothic Revival style of the Queen Anne Victorian Period of American architecture. Highly ornate, it was one of the most adorned suburban residences of the new North side subdivision at it’s time of construction. It directly reflects still, the tastes and character of it’s original occupant, and builder, Amos Claude Carter. Carter, a Civil War veteran, shot in Richmond, imprisoned in the horrific “Bull Pen” POW camp and present at Gen. Lee's surrender at Appomattox during his service, came to La Crosse in the 1880’s, and worked as a craftsman in many different area’s of construction with only one useful arm. Being of strong spirit, having been marched in “double quick” for nine days while shot through this arm and without rations for three days, he became a leader of men. Amos Carter soon became a builder and independent contractor. An entrepreneur, Amos Carter began yet another business, that of a wholesale grocer and dry goods merchant, and was among those to first build a North side business district in the 1300 block of Caledonia Street. A.C. Carter & Son, provided a good income as well as an outlet for his new venture, Fell’s Patent Medicine. Being very successful in his endeavors, he built himself the home of his dreams, and cherished it till his dying day. After his death, the home eventually passed to his youngest surviving daughter Bessie, whom occupied the home until her death in Feb, 1985. Just two months short of her 101st birthday. The home still stands today, relatively unchanged, as the legacy of the free enterprise, and spirit, that was A.C. Carter. A.C. Carters granddaughter Avis Riley, who grew up in the home, still resided in the smaller home north, until her death in 2007. We forever thank her for her invaluable contributions, and use of photographs in researching it’s history. Additional Carter Family Data Amos Claude Carter, Civil War Veteran, married Lurene Henry, *great granddaughter and direct descendent of Revolutionary War patriot Patrick Henry (“Give me liberty or give me death”) in New York, Aug. 15th 1865 the date was also recorded as Sept. 15th 1865, perhaps a 2nd wedding ceremony. This kinship being subject of an article in a Minnesota newspaper from the 1890's, shown to us by Avis Riley, about the Henry family wedding spoons presented to Amos and Lurene (aka Lorena) by a Patrick Henry descendants society. We do not know the true exact genealogical connection. They bore four children, one, a daughter Mae Bell, died in infancy. Son Claude, and daughters Maude and Bessie survived. First settled in Sparta, Wisconsin before moving to La Crosse. They lived above their dry goods store during much of the four year construction of the A.C. Carter House. The home was purchased in 1985, first restored, and is still currently owned by Dean and Signe Gronbeck-Johnson, owners of Grandeur Restorations of Madison, and it was accepted for Nomination for the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The A.C. Carter House is featured on page 77 of the book “Daughters Of The Painted Ladies, America’s Resplendent Victorians” Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larson authors, Douglas Keister photographer. It is widely considered the 'bible' of Victorian restorationists. One of only two La Crosse homes selected on Ms. Pomada's nationwide tour, the photographer was sent back from San Francisco to capture 2 photos during restoration to be on time for publication. Ms. Pomada described the home as one of the most delightful surprises of her tour. We are truly honored by her recognition of this wonderful home that time seemed to have forgotten. Guest access First floor includes kitchen, full bath, full laundry, dining room, two living rooms and the romantic Claude Carter bedroom and second floor has an additional half bath, landing parlor and both the Bessie Carter and A.C. Carter bedrooms. Attic and basement spaces are restricted to emergency access or storage access for extended stays. Other things to note Traveling during the coronavirus? How we are addressing guest concerns. We understand the anxiety of travelers during this time of uncertainty. A short term rental provides privacy and control to guests not possible in a hotel, but how do you know that accommodation is safe? Please make sure your short term rental is a licensed and inspected guest house that is required by law to follow safe and sanitary practices. At the A. C. Carter House, we are licensed by the state and inspected by the board of health MWAS-B5WQZ8 Our guest house is cleaned to exacting standards. Between every guest stay our home is fully cleaned, using bleach products and surfaces are disinfected including but not limited to railings, counters, door knobs, appliances, remote controls, bath fixtures and light switches. All our bedding are laundered with laundry sanitizing solution. Our home has been popular for years as an accommodation for people traveling to La Crosse for advanced medical treatment, and many of our guests have had compromised immune systems due to cancer treatments. We have been doubly aware of the necessity of a clean environment for these travelers and have followed these extra cleaning methods as routine for all guests of our home. We feel this information will help or guests in their traveling decision at this time. We feel that it is important for us to continue to remain open for bookings and offering accommodations at this time because we offer a private and guest controlled rental where travelers can rest assured that are staying in an inspected sanitary space and exposure is limited to their own guest choices. If you have any questions, please contact us. Travel safe! Due to the historic nature of the property, it is not ADA compliant. Those with mobility disabilities are absolutely welcome but should be aware that they will likely need assistance to enter and exit the property. There is a first floor bedroom and full bath. We are a licensed and inspected guest home This home was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Every effort has been made to maintain any unpainted original surfaces present and furnish it with authentic antique furnishings. To correctly protect and preserve these surfaces the floors, woodwork, and furnishings are not sealed in urethane coatings, we use museum grade oils to maintain the original natural finishes. The home was also heated with coal stoves and fuel oil for 112 years. We use cactus oil, tung oil, linseed oil, Old English dark oils, and Bruce floor wax. The home is regularly professionally cleaned, and we use regular cleaning products including disinfectant spray in the kitchen and baths, regular laundry detergent, commercial carpet cleaning service annually and Zeps carpet shampoo monthly, bleach products, professional ozone treatments, and Febreeze products to neutralize the air etc.. If you are hypersensitive to the natural faint smell of these products, or do not wish to stay in a home that may ever have been smoked in or heated with coal or oil in the past 130 years, please consider other accommodations. The house has smelled wonderful to 99% of our guests over the 37 years that we have owned it and our house rules do not allow smoking inside the premises, that does not mean the home has never been occupied by someone that smoked tobacco or anything else. There are two couches and three air beds (must be set up by guests) and a trundle bed available for additional sleeping use in the common areas of the home.