Before it became the themed Wisconsin Dells Restaurant, Dawn Manor was a 19th century estate in the lost village of Newport. Dawn Manor’s rich history includes ties to Abraham Lincoln, Agnes Moorehead, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
History of the Original Dawn Manor
1855
Abraham Vanderpoel, a friend of Abraham Lincoln and a signer of the Wisconsin Constitution, purchases land in the former city of Newport, Wisconsin, just a few miles from Mirror Lake and has Dawn Manor built with Potsdam sandstone.
1860
The dam to create Mirror Lake is built.
1861
Abraham Vanderpoel responds to a call for troops from his friend, President Abraham Lincoln, at the start of the Civil War.
1865
Captain Vanderpoel sells Dawn Manor to Enoch and Rhoda Chaffee.
1887
Annie and Samuel Humes Kerfoot, Sr. purchase Dawn Manor from James W. Chaffee, son of Enoch Chaffee.
1888
The property is first referred to as Dawn by Annie Kerfoot and the local press after a property she owns in Chicago.
1891
The Kerfoots add a trout pond to the property.
1908
Annie Warfield Lawrence Kerfoot dies in Chicago at age 78. Helen Hammond and Hedley B. Ware are married. Helen gives birth to their son, Harry “Kirby” Hammond Ware.
1911
The Kerfoot’s children form the Wisconsin Dells Holding Company.
1912
Helen Ware Hammond and George Raab are married in Laporte County, Indiana.
1914
Harley Bement of Kilbourn and Dr. W. H. Wilson of Sparta purchase Dawn Manor.
1922
Bement opens the Dells Bathing Beach, a baseball diamond, and a cottage rental on the Dawn Manor property.
1923
A fire nearly destroys Dawn Manor, burning down a barn and 85 tons of hay. Bement dies at age 56 in a hunting accident.
1924
Belle Bement Edmonds and Eliza Bement inherit Dawn Manor. Helen and George Raab are divorced.
1926
Local press reports a new development headed up by W. J. Newman of Chicago will occur along the river, eventually spreading to Mirror Lake, and Dawn Manor will become a country club. Eliza Bement purchases Dawn Manor from Belle Bement Edmonds.
1927
W. J. Newman purchases Dawn Manor from Eliza Bement.
1929
Helen Raab begins to acquire land in the Lower Dells area.
1936
Lake Delton Holding Company purchases Dawn Manor from W.J. and Margaret Newman.
1946
Helen Raab begins to purchase portions of Dawn Manor from the Lake Delton Holding Company.
1953
Helen Raab completes the acquisition of Dawn Manor from the Lake Delton Holding Company.
1955
Dawn Manor celebrates its 100th anniversary.
1970
Helen Raab dies in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, at age 81.
1974
Dawn Manor is transferred to Kirby and Adelaide Raab.
2012
George F. Raab holds a long-awaited estate sale at Dawn Manor.
2018
Uphoff Ventures purchases Dawn Manor.
2022
Dawn Manor is deconstructed and placed in storage for preservation.
2024
Dawn Manor is reconstructed at a site on Mirror Lake with preserved original 1855 Potsdam sandstone.
2025
Dawn Manor reopens as a restaurant, bar, and speakeasy experience.
