Greenbush
The Greenbush Neighborhood Association is bounded by Regent Street on the north, Randall Avenue on the west, Park Street on the east, and Vilas Park/Haywood Avenue on the south. The area takes its name from the historic Greenbush addition. Originally, the neighborhood was home to many Italian and Eastern European immigrants who settled in Madison at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Although most of the original homes were destroyed in the 1960's, the Bowen House still stands. Built in 1856 at 302 S. Mills St, the farmhouse was originally located on a 60 acre parcel and owned by Seth and Harriet Van Bergen. Harriet arrived in Wisconsin with her family in 1838, and Seth later in 1842. The home was later sold to Dr. James and Susan Bowen and retains that family's name today. Dr. Bowen was Madison's first homeopathic doctor, and also founded a bank and served as mayor in 1871. The home remained in the family until 1923 when the adjacent land was donated for St. James Roman Catholic Church in Dr. Bowen's honor.
Despite the loss of much of its history, the current neighborhood has much to offer. Residents have easy access to Vilas Beach, Vilas Park Zoo, the UW Arboretum, the UW campus, and is close to Madison's downtown.
