Victor Lawson, a "printer's devil" in Chicago, was the successful publisher of the Chicago Daily News. He met his eccentric wife Jessie in the church choir. They honeymooned in Green Lake.
In the summer of 1888, Jessie took friends for a boat ride on Green Lake. A sudden storm caused the captain to put in on Lone Tree Point, named because of the large cottonwood tree at its end. There, huddled in a shack, Jessie decided to purchase the very spot as a refuge from the pressures and harried life of the city.
Before the year was over the Lawsons had purchased 10 acres, including the point, and Lone Tree Farm was begun.The Lawsons added farm to farm until the estate included more than 1,100 acres.
As the primary developer, Jessie spent several million dollars building a spacious home, 12 miles of paved roads, two sets of farm buildings, a boat house, two greenhouses, a powerhouse, seven water towers, a small golf course, and homes for her workers. The Guernsey barn (1916) with its two silos is the largest barn in Wisconsin. She maintained horses, pigs, sheep, and herds of both Guernsey and Jersey cattle.
Lawson's boat, No Hurry (1905) is one of only three made by the Electric Launch Company and was operated by two electric motors powered by 140 batteries. The other two boats were sold to Thomas Edison and Czar of Russia. It was purchased and returned to the Center in 1995 for permanent display and is in a state of ongoing restoration.
The large water tower (1908) dominated the landscape and is now named in honor of pioneer Baptist missionaries Ann & Adoniram Judson. Its observation platform is 140 feet above the lake. Its 75,000 gallon tank was filled from a 400 foot well near the boat house. Water from the towers irrigated fields and roads with horse-drawn sprinklers. Kansas Baptist Youth organized a drive in 1947 to place the lighted cross that sits on top of the tower today - a beacon to our guests and local residents across the lake. Carillons play every hour.
The Boat House (1910) was inspired by one Jessie saw in Switzerland and the green tile on the roof came from Italy. It was built by Mrs. Lawson to accommodate their large boat and re-charge its batteries.
Bruce Kinney Lodge (1910), a bull barn in the Lawson era, was renovated and is used for guest housing.
The Tea House (1910), overlooking Green Lake, was the "Tee House" for Jessie's nine-hole golf course. It is now used for meetings and picnics.
One of Jessie's most expensive projects was the development of the greensward and the island off Lone Tree Point. Two summers and an investment by the Lawsons of eight million dollars was required to complete it. Mrs. Lawson died in 1914, and Mr. Lawson continued to maintain the estate until his death in 1925, when it was sold by heirs to the H.O. Stone Company of Chicago.
Winnebago Indians (early 1800s) and pioneer settlers (mid 1800s) preceded the Lawson's time on the grounds. A Chicago development company (late 1920s) and American Baptist visionaries (1944) followed the Lawsons. Read more about the history of this special place here.
View the sales booklet created by the Lawsonia Corporation - Lawsonia: A Community of Summer Homes within a Great Country Estate. This booklet is for sale at Kraft Centre at Green Lake Conference Center: (920) 294-3323 or GuestServices@glcc.org and at the Worldwide Gifts shop on grounds.
In the summer of 1888, Jessie took friends for a boat ride on Green Lake. A sudden storm caused the captain to put in on Lone Tree Point, named because of the large cottonwood tree at its end. There, huddled in a shack, Jessie decided to purchase the very spot as a refuge from the pressures and harried life of the city.
Before the year was over the Lawsons had purchased 10 acres, including the point, and Lone Tree Farm was begun.The Lawsons added farm to farm until the estate included more than 1,100 acres.
As the primary developer, Jessie spent several million dollars building a spacious home, 12 miles of paved roads, two sets of farm buildings, a boat house, two greenhouses, a powerhouse, seven water towers, a small golf course, and homes for her workers. The Guernsey barn (1916) with its two silos is the largest barn in Wisconsin. She maintained horses, pigs, sheep, and herds of both Guernsey and Jersey cattle.
Lawson's boat, No Hurry (1905) is one of only three made by the Electric Launch Company and was operated by two electric motors powered by 140 batteries. The other two boats were sold to Thomas Edison and Czar of Russia. It was purchased and returned to the Center in 1995 for permanent display and is in a state of ongoing restoration.
The large water tower (1908) dominated the landscape and is now named in honor of pioneer Baptist missionaries Ann & Adoniram Judson. Its observation platform is 140 feet above the lake. Its 75,000 gallon tank was filled from a 400 foot well near the boat house. Water from the towers irrigated fields and roads with horse-drawn sprinklers. Kansas Baptist Youth organized a drive in 1947 to place the lighted cross that sits on top of the tower today - a beacon to our guests and local residents across the lake. Carillons play every hour.
The Boat House (1910) was inspired by one Jessie saw in Switzerland and the green tile on the roof came from Italy. It was built by Mrs. Lawson to accommodate their large boat and re-charge its batteries.
Bruce Kinney Lodge (1910), a bull barn in the Lawson era, was renovated and is used for guest housing.
The Tea House (1910), overlooking Green Lake, was the "Tee House" for Jessie's nine-hole golf course. It is now used for meetings and picnics.
One of Jessie's most expensive projects was the development of the greensward and the island off Lone Tree Point. Two summers and an investment by the Lawsons of eight million dollars was required to complete it. Mrs. Lawson died in 1914, and Mr. Lawson continued to maintain the estate until his death in 1925, when it was sold by heirs to the H.O. Stone Company of Chicago.
Winnebago Indians (early 1800s) and pioneer settlers (mid 1800s) preceded the Lawson's time on the grounds. A Chicago development company (late 1920s) and American Baptist visionaries (1944) followed the Lawsons. Read more about the history of this special place here.
View the sales booklet created by the Lawsonia Corporation - Lawsonia: A Community of Summer Homes within a Great Country Estate. This booklet is for sale at Kraft Centre at Green Lake Conference Center: (920) 294-3323 or GuestServices@glcc.org and at the Worldwide Gifts shop on grounds.