Page 17

NORTH WASHINGTON STREET
217
John F. Spoon (1843-1925)
1896
The facade of this Queen Anne style house is dominated by the
shingled gable end, which also contains the third-story windows.
Although the clapboard siding has been covered with asbestos, the
original richness of surface decoration is also evident at the porch.
The design for this building was likely taken from one of the many
plan books popular at the turn of the century.
   7$n>~ "                          303
J.A. Sleeper House (1818-1903)
ca.1853
According to tax records, this house was enlarged in the late 1850s,
and the renovation likely added the Palladian window in the gable
end as well as other details such as the rope beaded moldings at the
cornice, entry, and windows. J.A. Sleeper, the first owner, was an
attorney who practiced law with W.M. Tallman and Charles Norton.
Sleeper and Norton continued the partnership after Tallman retired
in 1854. Sleeper moved to Chicago in 1863. Alexander A. Graham,
a City Alderman, later owned the house. It was subsequently owned
by Alfred Jackson, a railroad attorney, who lived here 1882-
1913. Jackson is best known locally for having invited Abraham
Lincoln to speak in Janesville in 1859.
J.A. Sleeper house detail.
17