Brief Yahara House History
The Clubhouse space is its own separate establishment 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 1950’s 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 for the fourth year, 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 the Prairie School style of architecture. Our building is a distinctive blend of classical details, stained glass, oak paneled rooms and massive windows that draw natural light into virtually every room. Between 1914-16 the Kayser House was a hub of Madison political and social life, when Mr. Kayser was the Mayor of Madison. 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.