Eghart House to Host Wake for Judge

If not for the look back at Victorian era living or to get a taste of the life of a historical family in Port, then perhaps you'll visit for a peek at the artwork made of hair.

These are all experiences to be had with a visit to the Judge Eghart House, 302 W. Grand Ave. The museum invites the public to step back in time this summer from 1 to 4 p.m. every Sunday.

The museum also has several new exhibits to share with the public this summer: a display of mementos from a Victorian teen and a wake for Judge Eghart himself.

Curator Pat Baganz said that the board is "always thinking of newer ways to keep the public involved."

During June, the home features a special exhibit with the mementos of Lulu Mueller, the daughter of Port Washington Mayor Charles Mueller.  

Gina Taucher, secretary for the Judge Eghart House, proudly showed off some of Mueller’s prized possessions, including photographs of her drill team, her wedding dress and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings from the "Port Washington Star."

Come July, the museum and its staff will go into mourning, though, as the house will host a wake for Judge Eghart — 110 years after his death.  Baganz said the house will be full of mourners and even have an undertaker present, but she’s quick to assure that this will not be a dismal affair. 

"Remember the first three letters in funeral," she said.

Taucher said she feels comfortable in the home, where you can see photos of the family, original artwork and handmade textiles and where each room is arranged as if the Eghart family — Leopold, his wife Anna, and their six children — still lived there.

"I feel like I could live in this house — it feels like a home," Taucher said.

The restored home of Judge Leopold Eghart and his family, built in 1872, features some of the Eghart’s original possessions as well as donated items from local families that date back to the 1800s. Taucher pointed out examples of Victorian era living, such as a parlor that was reserved for formal occasions and a dish used for callers to leave their cards to announce their visits. Some of the more curious items during tours of the house include artwork made of hair and course brushes used to give color to women’s cheeks.

Until 1969, one of the Eghart daughters had inhabited the home, but shortly after her death, the city had plans for the estate.

"The city originally wanted it to be a parking lot," Taucher said, but she explained that the Port Washington women’s club approached the city about restoring the building instead. By the fall of 1971, the Eghart home was completely restored.  Since that time, it has been available to the public to learn more about the early days of Port Washington and one of its prominent families.

E-mail jjones5@esls.lib.wi.us for more information about visiting the museum.