Harley-Davidson Founder’s Home For Sale

A Mediterranean Revival home with 3,821 square feet of finely crafted living space was listed for sale at $399,000 on Friday. Quite possibly constructed as a speculative home in 1916 by Prokop Schissler, as early as 1918 it was owned and occupied by William Sylvester Harley (1880-1943), who, with the three Davidson brothers, founded Milwaukee’s best known brand name. He served as Chief Engineer and Treasurer of the motorcycle manufacturer.

By 1918, Harley and his wife Anna Caroline (1882-1954) had three children — William, age 6; Ann, age 5; and John, age 3. So even if the plaster was still wet, and the copper gutters and downspouts were gleaming like a newly minted penny, the brood moved into the home at 4906 W. Washington Blvd. and settled in.

Did they ever! After William’s death, his wife remained in the home another decade. The home was then owned by daughter Ann, now Mrs. Charles Edward Kohl III. She and her husband lived there another 15 years, selling the home in 1969 to Willis L. Johnson for $32,000 after a half-century of Harley family ownership. It was then purchased by the current owners for $44,500 in July, 1974. Now it’s your turn.

Noted Architect

The 10-room, 3.5 bath home is a symmetrical stucco structure with a slate roof and copper gutters designed in what the Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory calls the “Mediterranean Revival Style.” (The Milwaukee Assessor begs to differ, calling it “French Colonial,” which it is emphatically not.) It was the work of Charles W. Valentine (1879-1951), who designed many homes and commercial buildings in the city ranging from the Bay View Bowl on S. Kinnickinnic Ave. to the Miller Mansion on E. Newberry Blvd., as well as the N. Lake Dr. mansion of UWM Chancellor Mark Mone, which actually is French Provincial.

The residence includes such fancies as a pergola and a sunroom, and has been very little altered over the years — with the exception of a second floor Harley added above the garage to augment the existing servant’s quarters in the attic of the main house.  The interior construction is a time capsule. Bathroom walls are wainscoted in original tile 5 feet high, with original fixtures. Coved ceilings and ornamental plaster abound, and hardwood floors can be found throughout the home, except in the tiled floors of the baths and sunroom surrounding the indoor fountain. (Servant’s bath has wood floors.) The doors and built-ins are original and in fine shape. The dining room is paneled from floor to ceiling. “Arched doors and windows abound,” exults agent Mike Argeropolous of Riverwest Realty in the listing. He goes on to say, “This fabulous home will thrive with your maintenance, attention and loving care. Sold in ‘as-is’ condition.”

Assessor’s Notes Harley Connection

The assessor dropped by on June 21st, 1990 to take a look at the home, which had already been occupied by the current family for 15 years, the servants long gone. “Unf[ortunately] No Change in property. Just poorly maintained — Quite a Shame. Former Harley mansion with many unique features.”

Real Estate Listing

Riverwest Realty Listing (MLS #17630534)

Virtual Tour

Photo Gallery

Wisconsin Architecture and History Record

• 4906 W WASHINGTON BLVD | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society (wisconsinhistory.org)

The Rundown

• Owner: John J. Shaw and Camille, his wife
• Location: City of Milwaukee
• Neighborhood: Washington Heights
• Subdivision: Vliet Street Park Heights
• Year Built: 1916
• Architect: Charles W. Valentine
• Style: Mediterranean Revival
• Size: 3,821 square feet of finished living area.
• Fireplaces: 1
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 3-1/2
• Rec Room: Plenty of space for one
• Assessment: Land: 12,000 sq. ft. lot is valued at $70,600 ($5.88/sq. ft.). The 3,821 sq. ft. improvements: $232,200. Total assessed valuation: $302,800. Owners purchased home 07/01/1976 for $44,500
• Taxes: $7,664.97 for 2020. Paid in Full
• Garbage Collection Route and Schedule: CG4-5D. Friday
• Polling Location: Neeskara School, 1601 N. Hawley Rd.
• Aldermanic District: 10th Michael Murphy
• County Supervisor District: 15th Eddie Cullen
• Walk Score: 67 out of 100 “Somewhat Walkable” City Average: 61.
• Transit Score: 51 out of 100. “Good Transit” City average: 49

How Milwaukee Is It? The residence is four miles northwest of Milwaukee City Hall.