About Us
Jamieson House is a bed and breakfast and event center. You can book a room, stay the night, and enjoy a full sit-down breakfast in the morning. If you’ve got something larger in mind, we can host your meeting, celebration, or retreat in one or more of our generous common rooms.
Proprietors:
Kathleen and Ned O'Reilly
Location:
407 North Franklin Street
Poynette, WI 53955
Telephone: (608) 635-4100
Fax (608) 635-2292
Email: jamiesonhouse@charter.net
Directions:
The Jamieson House is located in Poynette, Wisconsin (25 minutes north of
Madison - 3 miles from I90/94).
From I-90/94, take Exit 115 to CS,
follow CS East into Poynette where it becomes Main Street.
Follow it to Hudson Street and turn right. Jamieson House
is on the corner of Hudson and Franklin. Drive around the house and enter
the parking lot from Franklin Street,
then enter at the front of the house on Franklin.
If you’re driving more locally, Highway 51 comes right through Poynette. Turn west on Hudson Street (there’s a car wash with a blue roof), drive three blocks to Franklin Street and turn right.
Activities:
The Jamieson House is conveniently located in the heart of Wisconsin's playground.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the House is only six miles from Lake Wisconsin with its swimming, boating, and fishing. Rowan Creek, one of the state's best trout streams, runs right through town, and is accompanied by miles of hiking trails. The nearby MacKenzie Environmental Center affords leisurely self-guided walks through several Wisconsin ecosystems and viewing of wild animals. Canoeing, horseback riding, golfing, and bicycling are all readily accessible. You can downhill or cross country ski at Cascade or Devils Head during the winter.
Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo, with its Circus World Museum and the International Crane Foundation, are a relaxing drive away. Madison, the state capitol, is only a 25 mile drive with art galleries, museums, and specialty shops. Visit the winery in Prairie du Sac, poke through the flea markets and antique stores located in many of the surrounding towns, or explore the nearby Amish community with its many shops. For gaming action, a short drive will take you to the tables at Ho Chunk Casino.
History
The former home of entrepreneur Hugh Jamieson was built in 1878, the first of several in Poynette built by him and his extended family. Characterized by its yellow brick facade (called creamery brick) and Victorian décor, including pocket doors and 12-foot ceilings, the main building has been home to other bed and breakfasts, a bank, restaurants, an antique shop, and several Jamieson generations.
Peruse the original bank ledgers and Hugh’s journal or view an assortment of photos and documents from various eras in the history of the house. Jamieson made his fortune as a dairy farmer, but once established in Poynette, owned a pickle factory, a lumber yard, and many other town businesses.
The old school house at the back of the property, similar in its yellow brick exterior, was moved to the property some decades back from elsewhere in the county, enhancing the feeling of stepping back in time. All the bricks had to be removed during transport and were painstakingly re-mortared once the house was set on its new foundation. The same folks who did that work also hand-laid the Portage brick cobblestone parking lot.
In addition to the high ceilings, Jamieson House is decorated with a tasteful blend of antiques, reproductions, and a few modern furnishings. On the walls hang a mixture of classic portraits and landscapes, photos of the house from previous generations, and international and American artwork. Late 20th century renovations such as private baths, whirlpool tubs, and cable connections help bring the experience of a visit to Jamieson House into the current century.