The Spring Harbor neighborhood is bounded by Lake Mendota on the north, Old Middleton Rd. and the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad on the south, Whitney Way and the city limits on the east, and Camelot Dr. on the west. In the 1850's the land was first settled by farmers, including Alfred Merrill who was known as the “Golden Farmer” because of his success. In 1910 a man named Ernest Warner donated land for the Merrill Springs Park and created a harbor by dredging the marsh land. Today's Warner Park is named in his sake. The Commons House was built in 1913 at 1645 Norman Way. John Commons lived in it from 1913 to 1937. He was a professor of economics at the UW and was nationally known for his books on social reforms that helped pave the way for Roosevelt’s New Deal. He is also credited with the “Wisconsin Idea” where University of Wisconsin faculty serve as advisors to the state government. In the 1920's two mansions were built for Magnus and Annie Swenson and their daughter Mary North on Thorstrand Rd. Magnus was a Norwegian immigrant who became internationally renowned for his humanitarianism and inventions, including the patents to over 200 machines and processes. He is responsible for building hydroelectric dams on the Wisconsin River and for founding the Norwegian-American Steamship Lines.
The area currently houses over 1200 households, with about 70% being single family dwellings. Residents enjoy seven public parks, and another eight are located within a mile of its borders, as well as three major natural resources located within its boundaries. These include Lake Mendota, Merrill Spring and Kettle Pond, formed by a glacier over 10,000 years ago. Another outdoor feature of the area are a number of Native American burial mounds made between 700 and 1200 A.D, including a bear and a linear mound. The neighborhood association holds a number of annual events including a Halloween Party, Fourth of July Parade and Picnic, a neighborhood clean up day, and neighborhood garage sale.
The area currently houses over 1200 households, with about 70% being single family dwellings. Residents enjoy seven public parks, and another eight are located within a mile of its borders, as well as three major natural resources located within its boundaries. These include Lake Mendota, Merrill Spring and Kettle Pond, formed by a glacier over 10,000 years ago. Another outdoor feature of the area are a number of Native American burial mounds made between 700 and 1200 A.D, including a bear and a linear mound. The neighborhood association holds a number of annual events including a Halloween Party, Fourth of July Parade and Picnic, a neighborhood clean up day, and neighborhood garage sale.
