Stephanson House
133 Lake Street
1930, Tudor style Bungalow

This house, built in 1930, is a Tudor style bungalow with brick cladding.  A sweeping asymmetrical front gable, with a repeating decorative wall, dominates the entrance.  It is a one-story home with a steeply pitched side-gabled form, and is punctuated by a large chimney on the west side. Casement windows are prevalent, as well as small windows flanking the entrance and chimney. An attached garage reflects the growing importance of automobiles in American culture.

Inside the home’s front room is an impressive vaulted ceiling with decorative half-timbering, the original light fixtures, and a large chimney.  Throughout the entire home, unique details stand out and illustrate the period in which the home was built.  For example, in the front room, a small outlet-shaped wall plate remains as part of an early radio cord port.  Other interesting points include crown moulding in the bedrooms and an original vent that was perhaps used for heating. There is original woodwork and flooring throughout.

Benjamin and Emma Stephanson, the first owners of the house, lived there for over forty years. Mr. Stephanson worked at Huebsch, a locally owned and operated laundry business.  After their tenure, Mrs. Eva Lighthizer resided there for over twenty years. She was a nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital.  The house has had five owners since its construction, and has been preserved beautifully.
Source information from Virginia and Lee McAlester’s A Field Guide to American Houses, Eau Claire city directories, and the current owners.