Editor’s Note: The following was provided by The Whitewater Landmarks Commission.

The City of Whitewater Landmarks Commission has designated the Converse House at 161 N. Fremont Street, currently owned by John and Mary Seiser as a Local Landmark. The mission of the commission is the preservation of the city’s architecturally, culturally and historically significant properties.

The Converse House received the designation at a public hearing on December 8th. Located on Fremont Street, pioneer settler, Frederick J. Starin designed and built the single family residence for his daughter Margaret and her husband E.D. Converse. The building of the Italianate style house, believed to have begun in 1868 and completed in 1869 was designed as a rectangular, cream brick two story building. It is one of the few remaining examples of the Italianate style with arched openings in the city of Whitewater. A front porch was added to the home in the late 1880’s.

The present owners have recaptured the Victorian feeling with their exquisite decorating and collection of antiques typical of the time period.

The house is potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and is the 27th Local Landmark in the City of Whitewater.