BlockFrom the record
One of 141 National Register listings published here for Rock County · listed in 1980 · category: Building.
Sources: the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
John T. Dow House
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The listing
- What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
- Listed as. Dow, John T., House - the National Register files a house under its owner's surname.
- Address. SR 1, Evansville, 53536
- When was it listed? September 1980
- Category. building
- Also known as. Cooksville MRA
- Town. Porter town
- Architectural style. Greek Revival architecture
- National Register reference number. 80000396 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.
The ground it stands on
2,525 wordsThis property stands in Porter Town. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin; Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., published 1879 gives that township a chapter of its own.
The chapter covers the township.
Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.
Read the whole chapter on Porter Town - 2,525 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.
Fires near this property
13 since 2006Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 13 fires within 5 miles of John T. Dow House between 2006 and 2020, burning about 100 acres in total. None started naturally. 2 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 5 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 2 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 2 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 July 2012 | Arson/incendiarism | 26 acres | Leopold Wetland Management District | BIGLOW RD |
| 5 May 2013 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | TRAILER DRAGGING |
| 3 May 2020 | Recreation and ceremony | 1.0 acres | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | 55 |
| 1 May 2020 | Recreation and ceremony | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | 54 |
| 9 April 2019 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | 2019076 |
| 8 April 2019 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | BADFISH |
| 5 April 2006 | Debris and open burning | 41 acres | Leopold Wetland Management District | LUND CONVERSION |
| 29 April 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | 136 |
Mines and quarries near this property
8 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 8 workings within 5 miles of John T. Dow House: 6 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halverson Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Reindahl Quarries | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Rock County Highway Department | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Brunsell Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Brunsell Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Knutson Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Stearns Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Union Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Storms near this property
60 of 64 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Evansville, the town this property stands in, in 64 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 39 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 3 funnel cloud, 3 heavy rain. The reports record 4 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | 2 hurt, $5,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | 2 hurt, $3,000 | no account filed |
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Evansville | $500,000 | Several rounds of thunderstorms with heavy rains on top of a saturated ground resulted in scattered flash flooding from the Evansville area to the Janesville vicinity. Water damage to basement contents and/or basement walls, as well as fast-flowing water depths of 6 inches to 1 foot on roads, were reported in the Civil Towns of Avon, Fulton, Magnolia, Union, and Plymouth. Some soil erosion, gravel washouts, and crop damage were noted. Badfish Crreek and Allen Creek just east and northeast of Evansville exceeded flood stages by 3 to 5 feet and overflowed adjacent roads.||August, 2007, rainfall totals include: 17.39 at Afton, 13.15 in Beloit, 16.24 in Clinton, 15.22 in Milton, and over 17 in Janesville. |
| August 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $500,000 | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $300,000 | no account filed |
| August 2007 | Heavy Rain | Evansville | $150,000 | Urban and small stream flooding occurred across the northern third of Rock County after 3 to 4 inches of rain fell overnight. Water depths on roads reached a foot, especially in the Evansville and Edgerton areas, however no roads were closed. Reports indicated that the flood waters were not fast flowing, nor did they pose a danger to the public. Some crop damage was noted. Overnight rainfall of 6.4 inches were measured by a spotter in Edgerton. Local residents near Badfish Creek, west of Cooksville, noted that this creek flooded and merged with Frog Pond Creek and the water was 3.5 feet deep between the creeks. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $75,000 | Powerful thunderstorm winds knocked down large trees and power-lines. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $50,000 | This was a heat burst - generated by a decaying convective rain shower band which resulted in evaporation of most of the rain that caused gusty southwest winds and rising temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees F. Two trailers in Edgerton were blown over and damaged: one was construction trailer and the other a semi-truck trailer. Also - a racetrack concession stand was demolished by the winds. Additionally, a few large trees were blown down and broken tree limbs knocked some power lines down. The damage swath was about 5 miles wide. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $25,000 | Pole barn, furniture, and tree damage. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $20,000 | Twenty reports of branches and trees down across the county. |
| July 2011 | Lightning | Evansville | $20,000 | Lightning struck a farm outside of Evansville in Rock County. Windows were shattered in the garage as well as double-pane windows on the front of the house. The foundation of the garage cracked. A car stored in the garage was declared a total loss, while a motorcycle incurred minor damage. Glass from kitchen cupboards and from pictures knocked off the wall covered kitchen counters and the floor. Circuit breakers in the home were blown out, and the telephone pedestal box outside the home was blown to the other side of the road. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $15,000 | Seveal large trees were toppled and a couple power-lines down sustained damage due to tree debris. A tree fell on a car. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $10,000 | Scattered trees down across the county including trees down on Weary Rd. southeast of Evansville. Some wooden boards were blown off a horse fence near Weary Rd. A measured 63 mph wind gust on the west side of Evansville and an estimated wind gust of 70 mph on Weary Rd. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $10,000 | Downburst winds just north of Evansville and affecting a portion of a golf course. Numerous trees down leaning in a west to north direction. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $10,000 | Numerous trees down in northern Rock County. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $10,000 | Powerful thunderstorm wind gusts toppled several large trees and broke branches that brought down some power-lines. |
| August 2007 | Heavy Rain | Evansville | $10,000 | Training thunderstorms moved east-southeast across portions of Rock County and dumped heavy rains overnight into the pre-dawn hours of August 5th. Although there wasn't a flash flood event, some basement flooding was noted due to drain-backups and sump pump failures. Consequently some basement contents sustained water damage. Additionally, many small creeks or streams in Rock County reached bankfull or flood stage; although no problems or road closures were noted. Specific rainfall totals include 5.45 at a spotter's location 4.9 miles southeast of Janesville, 4.5 in Evansville, 4.22 at a co-op site in Afton, 3.72 at a co-op site in Clinton, and 3.45 in Milton. Refer to the Flash Flood event for Iowa County on August 5, 2007, for related details. |
| October 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $8,000 | Numerous trees down in Evansville. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $5,000 | Law enforcement officials reported a few trees, tree branches and power lines downed by thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph (52 knots). |
| May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $5,000 | A trained spotter reported trees were downed by severe thunderstorm winds in the town of Evansville. |
| August 2000 | Tornado (F0) | Evansville | $5,000 | Narrative is incorporated in discussion of August 5th storms below. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $4,000 | Trees down in the Evansville area. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $4,000 | A trained spotter reported trees were blown down by damaging thunderstorm wind gusts estimated to be 56 knots (64 mph) along a path from Evansville to 5 miles east-northeast of Milton. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $3,000 | no account filed |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $3,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $3,000 | no account filed |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $2,000 | Trees down across a roadway. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2024 | Flood | Evansville | $1,000 | Water had flowed over portions of highway 59 and highway 104 in far western Rock County. Water also had flowed over the intersection of County Road A and Old 92. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $1,000 | A moving car was blown off the road when straight line winds struck. |
| August 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | $1,000 | no account filed |
| April 2025 | Hail | Evansville | - | Picture provided. |
| April 2025 | Hail | Evansville | - | Numerous hail damage to vehicles, siding, and roofs in Evansville. Gusty winds accompanied the very large hail. |
| July 2024 | Tornado (EF0) | Evansville | - | Damage reports from two local storm chasers showed a tornadic path southwest of Evansville. Video from a resident on the SW side of Evansville showed the tornado moving through mainly farmland, which was confirmed via satellite and ground surveys. Main damage was to a wheat field and a tree line. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | Law enforcement officials reported trees and power lines were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 61 knots (70 mph). |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | Officials reported up to 40 large trees uprooted, and numerous branches broken by powerful thunderstorm winds. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | Powerful thunderstorm winds pushed over dozens of large trees, and broken tree branches snapped several power lines in a 7-mile wide swath from Evansville to Milton. In the Township of Milton, on STH 59, the skeleton of a old barn was blown down. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | Damaging thunderstorm winds gusts blew trees down over roads in the city of Evansville. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | Powerful thunderstorm winds gusts knocked down several large trees. |
| August 2007 | Heavy Rain | Evansville | - | Heavy thunderstorm rains resulted in minor small stream and urban street flooding across Rock County for the 2nd straight night. A minor mudslide, about 20 x 30 feet in areal coverage, occurred on the southeast side of Janesville, and temporarily threatened an apartment building. Several streets in Janesville were closed for a few hours until the water drained away. Specific 24-hour rainfall totals ending about 0600CST August 6th include 4.25 at a spotter's location 4.9 miles southeast of Janesville, 3.88 in Janesville, 3.5 just east of Brodhead, and 3.25 at co-op site in Evansville. |
| April 2025 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| April 2025 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| May 2018 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| May 2012 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| July 2012 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Funnel Cloud | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| March 2007 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| August 2006 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| May 2005 | Funnel Cloud | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Funnel Cloud | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| April 2002 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| September 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Evansville | - | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Hail | Evansville | - | no account filed |
Map coverage status
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Listed places nearby
6 within 8 milesOther National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Cooksville Cheese Factory | 0.2 miles | 1980 |
| Cooksville Mill and Mill Pond Site | 0.4 miles | 1980 | |
| Cooksville Historic District (Boundary Increase) | 0.4 miles | 1980 | |
 | Cooper-Gillies House | 0.4 miles | 1980 |
| Cooksville Historic District | 0.4 miles | 1973 | |
 | Miller House | 0.6 miles | 1980 |
Sources for this property
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 80000396 in Record Group 79. |
| Rock County | All 141 listed properties in this county. |
Provenance
- Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
- Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
- How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
- Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
- Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
- Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.