Sept. 9, 2016
Kenosha---From the street, the grandeur of the exterior of the stately brick mansion on 3rd Ave. known as the Manor House at times belies the chaos that occurs inside: With four kids in the family, the place occasionally serves as a giant children's playhouse. The huge foyer has been known to double as a racetrack. Toys abound.
The owners--Kurt Jorgensen and his wife, Roberta Jorgensen Puntillo, wouldn't have it any other way. "With four children and friends the house is always lively and is full of a lot of people," Kurt says, with Roberta interrupting: "which is just how we wanted it."
The couple and their children have lived in the home for the past four years.
Having a 'lived in' look doesn't mean the couple minimizes the mansion's historical significance and the responsibility that goes along with upkeep. "We definitely feel a sense of duty to preserve that home as it was and should be into the future," Kurt said during a recent Morning Show.
The public will be able to judge for themselves this weekend: They're invited to attend a Kenosha Symphony fundraising reception that the family is hosting Sunday afternoon and evening. Admission is $75.
The two-story home with a ballroom-attic was built in 1926 by Charles Nash for his daughter and her family. In later years, the mansion served as a bed and breakfast before changing ownership and becoming a single-family home again.
Kurt and Roberta bought the place in 2012. In the interview, Roberta spoke of her initial reluctance to sign off on the deal, fearing the mansion was too pretentious. But all is good now. "There are so many times when I look at a room or some portion of the house and just sit back and appreciate the craftsmanship that went into building this house," she said. "And I love the history."
The mansion has no fewer than 10 fireplaces and 11 bathrooms--it was originally built with 14, but Kurt jokes that he "decommissioned" three of them as part of an ongoing renovation and remodeling effort.
The full Morning Show interview is available here.
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