Hiram B. Scutt Mansion, Second Empire mansion in Joliet, Illinois, United States.
The Hiram B. Scutt Mansion is a Second Empire-style residence distinguished by its mansard roof and ornamental exterior walls typical of 1880s construction. The house preserves its original architectural features and interior layouts that reflect the design standards of that era.
Built in 1882 by architect James C. Wesse, the house was commissioned by Hiram Scutt, a Civil War veteran who founded the first barbed wire manufacturing operation in the city. His industrial success directly influenced the mansion's construction and scale.
The property served as a gathering space for the Business Woman's Club and now displays how Victorian-era families lived and spent their time at home. You can walk through rooms arranged to show domestic life from that period.
The mansion is located in central Joliet and easy to find with a standard address. Plan time to walk through the rooms at a leisurely pace since each area contains period details and exhibition information worth observing.
The property's connection to barbed wire innovation is striking - the original owner held patents for multiple wire designs that transformed fencing technology. Few visitors realize this industrial achievement exists alongside the domestic exhibition spaces.
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