History:
The large, white brick corner home at 205 S. State Street, the home of Mrs. Robert Thede, attracts many an admiring glance for its restrained elegance. A photo in the museum archives shows that in 1869 it was painted white as it is today.
One other substantial building, the original First Methodist Church, built by 1855, was standing on that block when George Richards built his fine, brick, Italianate style home.
We can best visualize Geneseo of that day if we are reminded that the colony's residential and business development was around the public square from 1837 to 1854.
When the railroad came through in 1854, Merritt Munson, a gentleman with foresight, was already laying out a business addition, to the town near the depot. There were immediate sales of lots. Buffalo Street became the busy street. Next he laid out Munson's Second Addition, from State Street to College (then called "Railroad") and from Second Street to the railroad.
Adjoining Munson's Second Addition, on the new business street, State Street, George Richards in July of 1855 bought Lot 1 on the southwest corner of State and Second Streets. Tax assessor's records tell us that this home must have been built in 1865.
Richards lived there with his wife, Ann Gora Gilmore Richards, till 1867. During this time he served as president of the village board, 1861-1862, and joined the newly formed Presbyterian Church as a charter member, 1863.
It has been determined that this home was built as two houses at two different periods, each house with separate front and rear entrances. The original home, the north house, was built by George Richards. Richards, born in Vermont, may have come to the county very early, being listed with the stockholders of the Wethersfield Colony in 1835. By 1840, he is listed with Geneseo settlers who immediately followed the first settlers in 1836 and 1837. He had bought a lot on Main Street and in 1852 was landlord of Geneseo House there.
The Richards house was sold in 1867 to Hiram and George Wilson, brothers, and both bankers, who were born New York. At this time, both were associated with the First National Bank on Main Street.
Hiram and his family moved in, and a second house in the same style was added on the south side for the George Wilson family. Both brothers were very attentive to their work. Hiram, a cashier at the Geneseo First National Bank, continued with his work at the bank even at age 89, when he was brought in a wheelchair.
His brother George and his wife on occasion interrupted a quiet life with a splendid and memorable social affair, such as the wedding reception for their daughter Emma. Food was catered from Chicago, as well as cut flowers. A Chicago band played for dancing on an outdoor deck erected for the occasion in the garden.
The home features 12-foot ceilings, ornate gold crown moldings, five of the original twelve marble fireplaces and two large winding staircases. Stained glass nursery doors and lintels over the double doors illuminate each of the home’s formal entry halls.
Magnificent chandeliers hang throughout the museum. In the south side formal parlor hangs the Chicago’s Hull House chandelier with 191 glass prisms.
The museum houses permanent museum exhibits as well as changing displays featuring thousands of local artifacts. It is a historic home and a working museum. We invite you to visit the general store, dentist office, children’s room and stroll through the lovely gardens.
