Brief Yahara House History
The Clubhouse space is its own establishment, seperate from its auspice agency. Yahara House has four levels and our 3 departments are on three different floors. In 1994, Yahara House acquired a building specifically for the Clubhouse, which allowed us to create a new vision and future for our community. We were able to move out of a small, box-like 1950s building into a historic mansion.
Overlooking Lake Mendota, Yahara House sits in a residential neighborhood on a wide gracious lawn, where we have a flower garden, a vegetable garden, and a compost bin. There are 8,700 square-feet of usable indoor space. Department space is well organized for Clubhouse work.
Painting by Yahara House member Mary
The Kayser House was built in 1902 by a local architectural firm that would later become one of the foremost practitioners of Prairie Style architecture. Our building is a distinctive blend of classical details, stained glass, oak paneling, and massive windows that draw natural light into every room. Between 1914-16, when Mr. Kayser was Mayor of Madison, this house was a hub of political and social life. In 1980, our building was designated a Madison Landmark by the Madison Landmarks Commission. It is on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.