Herman C. Timm House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Herman C. Timm House
|
|
The Herman C. Timm House from the south
|
|
 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1600 Main Street, New Holstein, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Built | 1872 |
| Architect | August F. Neuman |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Stick/Eastlake |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000727 |
| Added to NRHP | July 05, 1996 |
The Herman C. Timm House is a special old house in New Holstein, Wisconsin. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This house is a great example of something called "Stick style" architecture. This style uses lots of wooden trim that looks like sticks. It was built for Herman C. Timm, who was one of the first people to settle in New Holstein and became a very important person there.
Contents
Who Was Herman C. Timm?
Herman C. Timm came to New Holstein in 1848. He was only 14 years old when he arrived from Marne, Germany. He earned his money by running a place called Calumet Feeds. This was a mill that processed animal feed. Later, he started a bank. He was also the very first president of the village of New Holstein.
The House's History
The original part of the house was built in 1873. It was designed in a Greek revival style. A builder named August F. Neumann from Kiel, Wisconsin constructed it. This first part included an upstairs bedroom and a kitchen/dining room on the first floor.
In 1891, a big addition was built. This new part became the front of the house. The addition was built in the "Stick style." This style was popular between 1860 and 1890. It allowed for lots of fancy wooden details and trim.
After Herman C. Timm passed away, his children who were not married lived in the house. They turned the upstairs into a place to rent out. By 1954, both the upstairs and downstairs were rented. In 1974, Herman C. Timm II gave the house to the New Holstein Historic Society.
Local volunteers worked hard to fix up the house. It had its Grand Opening on May 31, 1976. This was part of the United States Bicentennial celebration. The New Holstein Historical Museum showed old photos of New Holstein there. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The society used the house as a museum.
House Challenges
The house faced some big problems. In 1998, a major roof leak forced them to stop house tours. Experts looked at the house. They estimated it would cost over $116,000 to fix it.
Before the roof was repaired, another disaster happened. In January 1999, a pipe broke in the dining room. This pipe poured 500,000 gallons of water onto the first floor and into the basement. The water in the basement put out the furnace. Then, the water in the pipes and radiators froze and burst.
The city knew there was a water leak somewhere. But they couldn't find it. A volunteer at the house finally discovered the leak. She called a repairman to stop the water. When the repairman left, he closed the door. The door frame was so swollen that the volunteer was stuck inside! She had to go upstairs and call for help through a front window.
Restoration and Reopening
Only two photos from 1896 showed what the inside of the house looked like. The New Holstein Historical Society worked to raise money. They collected $1.2 million for the house's restoration. A group called the Jeffris Foundation gave them a large grant of $562,875.
A company called Crown Services painted the house. They started painting in 2007 because it got cold early in 2006. They finished the job by July 2007. The painters had to be careful with lead paint. They had a special area to keep workers safe from lead poisoning. Only a small amount of damaged wood was replaced. This helped keep the house looking historic. When paint was sprayed, it was brushed by hand. This made it look like it was painted by hand. Two coats of chocolate-colored latex paint were used.
The house's reconstruction was finished in the summer of 2007. It was ready for the city's Market Street Days festival. The house was reopened on July 15, 2007. Important people like Congressman Tom Petri and state Senator Joe Leibham spoke at the event. A special plaque was put up to show it was a historic place. An information sign was also put up. It is easy to see for drivers on Highway 57 / 32. People could take tours of the house again. It was the first time in almost ten years. Congressman Petri was in the first group to tour the house.
House Design and Features
The house has a tower where Herman C. Timm could relax and read. His wife, Augusta, sometimes slept on the porch on hot summer days. The porch had a copper roof. Some windows in the living room and entrance hall were made from beautiful stained glass.
A large 600-gallon water tank provided running water. This was used for bathing, cleaning, and a bathroom. This was very unusual for that time! Another special feature was the master bedroom on the first floor. The original brass chandelier is still in the parlor. It has shiny, colorful shades. Many original items were sold over time. So, other old pieces from that period were used instead.
Tiny pieces of the original wallpaper were found in most rooms. A company from Sweden made new wallpaper by hand to match the old designs. The three bedrooms upstairs have donated historical items. These include the community's first sewing machine, a bed warmer, and an old trunk.
The ceiling in the formal living room was painted by hand. An Arts & Crafts-style chandelier was added when electricity came in 1912. The hardwood floor in this room was laid diagonally. This was very expensive back then. An old Eastlake-style fireplace was found and put back in 1974. Two original ceramic dogs sit on top of it. Next to the living room is the master bedroom. It has a closet, which was rare because closets were taxed as extra rooms back then!
See also
