Green House / Powerhouse Area
Greenhouse
In 1904, the Lawsons built a fine barn to house their work horses in the area now occupied by the greenhouse. This was a large barn that included a brick-yard area covered in hay. In later years, when it was not necessary to keep the horses close to the residence, it was decided to tear down the barn and build a large greenhouse. The Lawsons decided to model their greenhouse after the fine greenhouses that they had seen in their travels through Europe. The greenhouse was designed in the “Curved E” style with a palm garden with plans to produce specialty fruits and vegetables year-round. Jessie passed away in 1914, before this project could be completed. To keep Jessie’s dream alive, Victor completed construction of the greenhouse in 1916. Herman Schultz. The Lawsons gardener, did his best to grow the produce Victor envisioned, however, Wisconsin weather would not allow the production of the quantity or quality of produce to make the greenhouse profitable.
In the years after the property was purchased by the American Baptist Assembly, the West Wing was dismantled, and the parts were used to rebuilt what was left. The greenhouse is still in use today to start and nurture plants used throughout the conference grounds.
Information from “Just Do It Jessie’s Way” Pages 48, 76
Powerhouse
To power this great estate, the Lawsons hired the Fairbanks Morse Company to build the power plant for the estate. Two large generators charged banks of batteries that in turn powered the estate. All the wires that powered the property were buried underground, a very innovative idea for the time. Large cables were run underground to the boat house to charge the 140 batteries that propelled the Lawsons yacht “No Hurry.”
After purchase by the ABA, the building was named the John Mason Peck Building, and it was used as the Administration and Check-in Center. With the completion of the Kraft Administration Building in 1963, it was used by the maintenance department until it was converted to the World-Wide Gift Shop.
Information from “Just Do It Jessie’s Way” Pages 48, 66, 76
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