Many on the northwest side of Gilman sat on large lots that reached down to Lake Mendota.

Along with growth at the UW and state government, Madison was adding some manufacturing to its economy with concerns like Fuller and Johnson, which made farm implements.

The UW population was growing and the university provided on-campus housing only for women.

With the influx of students into the neighborhood, many families gradually left for the newly popular suburbs, and some of their old mansions were remodeled into multi-unit housing.

In response, residents petitioned the city to have the district designated a landmark and protect its history.

[2] Here are some good examples of different architectural styles present in the district, in roughly the order built: The Nye House at 115 E. Johnson Street is a Greek Revival-style house built in 1857, with the relatively low-pitched roof, the simple window treatment, and the cornice returns typical of the style.