Merimac Ferry © 2009 Bo Mackison
Merimac Ferry season has started again. The free ferry, which crosses the Wisconsin River between Merimac and Okee, Wisconsin, runs between April and November. The dates aren’t exact as the ferry runs until the river ices over, usually in November, when the crossing becomes impossible. Service resumes on ice out, most often in mid to late April.
The ferry, called the Colsac III, connects Columbia and Sauk counties on State highway 113. (Colsac is a combination of the two counties’ names.) Colsac III is operated on a winch using three underwater cables. Not only is it part of the state highway system, it is also a tourist attraction. It is near popular Devil’s Lake State Park and travel destination Wisconsin Dells. There is often a wait to get on the ferry, but both landings are well set with snack bars and other facilities, so most people don’t mind the wait.
Barge, Stairway, and Captain's Box © Bo Mackison
A trip across the river takes about 14 minutes. The Colsac III can carry up to 15 cars, assorted bikes, even the occasional semi-trailer truck. It operates 24 hours a day during the open water season.
The first Colsac began crossing the river in 1933 when the state of Wisconsin took over the ferry service and the ferry accommodated eight cars, although the site has been a ferry crossing since 1844. It was replaced with the Colsac II in 1963 and the capacity was increased to 12 cars. The latest Colsac III was put into service in 2003 at a cost of 2.2 million dollrs.
The ferry crossing is on the National and Wisconsin Register of Historic Places.
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Bo Mackison has a series of photographs of the historic buildings in Wisconsin available for licensing and publication. For information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.
Pima County Courthouse © 2010 Bo Mackison
Pima County Courthouse, in Tucson’s downtown district, was designed by Tucson architect Roy Place and built in 1929. This building is often referred to as the “old courthouse” since the Superior Court Building was built in the 1970s and operates as the main court, but the historic structure continues to serve as the courthouse for lower level state criminal matters as well as housing the offices of the Pima County Treasurer and Recorder.
Mosaic Dome © 2010 Bo Mackison
The building is a lovely example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style and also has Moorish influences. The brick structure is covered with pink stucco, a rather bold move when it was done in 1928 amidst some local debate. A remarkable cement dome decorated with mosaic tiles also gives the building an international flavor. The building was built at a cost of approximately $350,000.
Arches, Columns, Tiles © 2010 Bo Mackison
As part of the walking tour of downtown Tucson (accomplished by following a stripe of turquoise paint on the pavement) one crosses through an interior courtyard of the courthouse and passes through this columned pathway. Moorish arches cover the portico and lead into a central patio with fountains and tiled designs.
When ground was excavated for this building, the third county courthouse, the southwest corner and part of the wall of the original Tucson Presidio was discovered. A section of the wall is on display on the second floor of the builing and can be viewed during business hours. (Security check required.) A stone marker in the courtyard also gives the location of the ancient Presidio.
The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Bo Mackison loves to photograph historic places, including many sites in one of her favorite cities, Tucson Arizona. Photos are available of various historic places in Arizona for licensing and publication. For information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.
Lathrop Hall © 2010 Bo Mackison
This week Lathrop Hall celebrates its 100th birthday. Lathrop Hall, one of the oldest buildings on the University of Wisconsin – Madison campus, was built in 1910 to serve as a physical training facility for the women attending the university. It first housed the Women’s Department which later became the Department of Physical Education and Dance. Currently Lathrop Hall is home to UW’s Dance Program.
The building originally had a three story gymnasium with a running track, a bowling alley, swimming pool in addition to a theater, cafeteria, and facilities for university business and teaching.
Happy Centennial, Lathrop Hall © 2010 Bo Mackison
The history of the building, citing its major effect on women’s education at UW in the early 20th Century, is documented in an article written by the University about Lathrop Hall.
The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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Bo Mackison is a Madison based photographer who enjoys shooting historic places. She has a series of photographs of the University of Wisconsin’s historic buildings available for licensing and publication. Prints are also available. For more information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.
Dr. Richard Eell's Home © 2010 Bo Mackison
Dr. Richard Eells, an abolitionist, built this home in Quincy, Illinois in 1835. It was located only 4 blocks from the Mississippi River and was the first stop on the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves crossing into Illinois from Missouri. The house is the oldest brick home in Quincy.
The house, located at 415 Jersey, is in the Downtown Quincy Historic District and is on both the Illinois and National Registers of Historic Places. It is open for tours on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm. Admission is $3.00. The house is closed for tours during December and January. For further information, call 217-223-1800.
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Bo Mackison enjoys taking photographs of historic places in her hometown whenever she returns for visits. Photographs of many Quincy sites are available for licensing and publication. For information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.
Illinois Capitol Rotunda © 2010 Bo Mackison
The Illinois State Capitol is located in Springfield, Illinois. The building, the sixth capitol building for the state, was designed by the architectural firm, Cochrane and Garnsey, based in Chicago. Construction began in 1869 and was completed 20 years later, in 1889.
The rotunda has a plaster frieze which has been painted to resemble bronze, and features illustrations of historical events in Illinois history. Stained glass windows complement the paintings.
Illinois Capitol Rotunda © 2010 Bo Mackison
The building is built in the shape of a cross, and the extensions correspond to the points of the compass. The dome of the capitol appears to be silver, but it is zinc-plated, a material which weathers well. The Illinois state flag, pre-Civil War vintage, flies at the top of the dome.
Illinois State Capitol in Early Spring © 2010 Bo Mackison
The capitol is built in the French Renaissance style, and at 361 feet in height, it is the tallest of the classically designed state capitol buildings in the United States.
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Bo Mackison enjoys traveling in the Midwest during the spring, summer and fall seasons and frequently photographs the historic buildings on her trips. A variety of photographs of the exterior and interior of the Illinois State Capitol are available for licensing, publication, and as prints. For further information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.
Dana-Thomas House © 2010 Bo Mackison
One of the most magnificent homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Dana-Thomas House, is tucked into a neighborhood in Springfield, the capitol city of Illinois. It is a wonderfully preserved example of Prairie style architecture. The State of Illinois’ Historic Preservation Agency purchased the house for a million dollars in 1981 and did a major restoration of the home from 1987 to 1990. The home was restored to appear as it would have been furnished in 1905.
The home, built for Springfield socialite Susan Lawrence Dana, was under construction from 1902-04. It was one of the few Wright designed buildings where the architect had an unlimited budget and a client who gave him relatively free reign. The end result was a spectacular, multilevel brick home with 35 rooms and over 12,000 square feet of living spaces. The home, now a museum, and rightfully so, contains over 100 pieces of original Wright designed furniture, and over 350 art glass doors, windows, and lighting fixtures, many in the house-specific sumac design. There are terra cotta sculptures, an indoor fountain, and delicate wall murals.
Entrance to Dana-Thomas House © 2010 Bo Mackison
The home was designed with Lawrence’s social standing in mind, and featured large areas for entertaining including a gallery and dining room which can seat forty. The home also has several balconies that could accommodate musicians to provide entertainment.
The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The home is open for tours Wednesdays through Sundays and an extensive gift shop is also on the premises.
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Bo Mackison enjoys traveling in the Midwest during the spring, summer and fall seasons to photograph historic buildings. Her photographs are available for licensing, publication, and also as prints. For information, contact Bo at bo@historicplacesphotography.com.