c.1876 Wisconsin Gothic Revival Fixer Upper $59,900

Pros

• Central location: Close to downtown shops, restaurants, bars, and cultural venues (The Pablo Center, music venues, galleries).
• Walkability: Short walking distances to many services, entertainment and public transit stops.
• Historic character: Older courthouse and surrounding buildings give the area architectural interest; good for photography and local character.
• Civic amenities: Nearby government services, courts, post office and related offices — convenient for legal/business matters.
• Events and vibrancy: Frequent community events, parades, or festivals often happen in or near the civic core.
• Access to parks and riverfront: A short walk to the Chippewa River and nearby parks/greenways for outdoor recreation.
• Economic spillover: Businesses serving courthouse visitors (cafes, law offices, copy/print, quick-service eateries) are plentiful.
• Public parking: Multiple municipal lots/ramps and on-street parking nearby (though availability varies).

Cons

• Parking can be limited at peak times: During court sessions, events, or weekday business hours lots and on-street spots can fill up.
• Traffic and congestion: Higher pedestrian and vehicle traffic during courthouse hours and events; noise from downtown activity.
• Less residential privacy/quiet: If you’re seeking a very quiet residential neighborhood, courthouse/downtown districts tend to be busier and less private.
• Limited housing inventory and higher cost per square foot: Historic or central locations can have fewer available homes and somewhat higher prices or rentals compared with outlying neighborhoods.
• Business hours and bustle: Nearby businesses and bars can create late-night noise in some blocks.
• Security/loitering concerns: As with many civic centers, there can be a visible presence of people seeking services, which sometimes correlates with panhandling or loitering; police presence may be higher.
• Older buildings: Some structures may need maintenance or lack modern amenities (insulation, soundproofing, parking).
• Event-related disruptions: Street closures, increased foot traffic, and temporary noise during festivals or civic events.

This was the home of Ann Parrott Howard (1840-1908) from 1876 to 1908.  She lived with her second husband, daughter Gertrude, mother and a couple of boarders. Ann was widowed twice. She was first married in 1853 to Volney Babcock, who died in 1874. In 1883, she married Henry Howard. He died in 1901. Ann was Lady Commander of the Ladies of Maccabees, a prominent fraternal society for women in the US and Canada, operating primarily between 1886 and 1926.  As the first fraternal benefit society operated exclusively by women, it provided essential insurance benefits and social opportunities during a time when women had limited financial autonomy