Company aims to maintain building, update interior for community use
By Kellen Olshefski
SLN Staff
Elkhorn’s historic Holton House is undergoing some minor renovations and the company in charge is looking for donations to help turn it into a facility to benefit the community.
Emily Karls, marketing director for Wisconsin Illinois Senior House, which manages Holton Manor, said the company recently bought the historic home with the intended goal of honoring its rich history and legacy, all while transforming it into a facility that will benefit the entire community.
“That definitely is a priority for us,” she said. “The house is just gorgeous. It was definitely made with love and we’re looking to keep as much of that intact as we can through just refinishing it and making it look nice.”
The Holton Home was built in 1925, according to Karls, when Frank Holton moved his musical instrument manufacturing company to Elkhorn. The Renaissance-style mansion sits at the north end of North Broad Street. The company purchased the home prior to Holton Manor’s recent expansion for a little extra land to aid in the expansion.
While changing the historic home might be a concern to some Elkhorn residents, Karls said not to worry, as there are no plans to change the exterior of the home and the aim is to preserve its integrity.
Karls said the company is even looking to try and restore and preserve a portrait painted by Jan Castle Reed, known for carrying on the Elkhorn Christmas Card tradition for many years, which has suffered damage over the many years in the home.
“We’re looking into ways to restore it or even just keep part of it just for the historic sentiment,” she said.
To keep the Holton House’s structural integrity and to stay true to the interior footprint, minimal changes will be made during the restoration, according to Karls. She said necessary repairs, such as new heating and air conditioning systems, updated electrical work and new windows, have already begun at the home.
Looking to put the home to good use, Karls said there are numerous plans for its use.
With Holton Manor already having out-patient therapy, Karls said the hope is to create a therapy center for children, something new for the company.
With a huge need for pediatric therapy, especially in the Milwaukee area, Karls said the company was looking to bring it here to Elkhorn.
“It’s hearing, it’s seeing, making sure they can communicate properly and giving them the tools to feel comfortable in an environment where they can do all those things,” she said.
“It’s something where they can do what they need to do at a larger hospital and then come somewhere smaller where we can help you … it’ll be a familiarity, which is something we can offer that not all larger facilities can.”
In addition, Karls said the home will house offices for its new Transitions Home Health Agency, which will help patients transition from therapy back to their home. The home will also offer a couple guest rooms where family members of hospice patients at Holton Manor would be able to stay and spend quality time with loved ones.
Being a community-driven project, Karls said the hope is to also create a community room to be used for support group meetings and more.
To complete renovations, the company is still looking to raise $150,000. Donations can be made by either dropping off or sending checks to 645 N. Church St., Elkhorn, WI 53121.
Holton Manor is also selling memory bricks to celebrate or remember a loved one for a pathway that will lead from the Holton House to Holton Manor. Costs are $75 for a 4 by 8-inch brick with three lines or an 8 by 8-inch brick with six lines. Karls said they’re also exploring the possibility of offering naming rights for some of the rooms for larger donations. For more information, call (262) 723-4963.
The home will be open to the public for tours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 14 as part of the Open Doors Elkhorn event.
