Project 2001
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Recent History
The house was built in the 1850's by Alexander Earl for
Fred Seaver. It appears that the house was built, not as a farmhouse,
but a second home for the elite. It was nicknamed "the castle",
because it was quite elaborate for that era. Around 1900 it was modified
to appear even taller, perched upon the hilltop, as one viewed it from
across the lake. From the outside the dentals tell the story of the original
lower roofline and the subsequent addition of four more feet, a second
set of dentals and the present roofline. Dentals are where the bricks
stick out a the top of the house in a pattern. The house gained two more
additions during the following decades. These are the wings on either
side of the main structure. The house got electricity and running water
in 1937. The house has the original woodwork, painted graining, popular
in those days, and the original hardwood floors.
The Korth family purchased the farm in 1880. The Indians
used to come up and beg for bread and pies that Mrs. Korth used to bake.
Dave Korth was 16 when his father past away, leaving Dave the responsibilities
of the farm. He went to school two hours a day. He would do his chores
then go to school and then go home and do more chores. Also when Dave
was 16 his sister was in school so he would have to do the all chores
himself. The Korth's had ducks, chickens, cows, horses, geese, and pigs.
There are two parts to the barn.
The second part was built so that Mrs. Korth could not
see the lake from the porch. This could be because he wanted her to do
her work or for other reasons.
The house was also said to be the Finch Brothers look
out. The Finch brothers were notorious horsetheives that lived in the
area and "hid out in the swamp". For more information about
them visit the local library and read the writings about The Fighting
Finches.
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Korth Park, on Rock Lake, Lake Mills Wisconsin 