Share what you know,
and discover more.
Share what you know,
and discover more.
Jacob Zass House
Like many houses in Dutchtown, that early German mill town on the north end of Stillwater, this house at 125 East Willow Street is hard to date precisely. The tax assessors record on file in Washington County gives a building date of 1903, but those records are often wrong. The 1892 Map of Dutchtown has a house in this location with a similar footprint. The first resident of the house appears to be Jacob Zass who is listed at 123 East Willow Street (the previous house number) in the Stillwater City Directories of the 1890s. _x000D_ _x000D_ The 1900 Census lists the inhabitants of this house as William Kirso, a 40-year-old teamster who immigrated from Norway in 1869; his 30-year-old Minnesota born wife, Olivia; and their children: Walter, 12; Mathew, 10; Roy, 8; Fred 5; and Eli, 2. Living in the house just west at 119 East Willow Street (no longer there) is a man by the name of John Plumbaum, and his wife, Mary._x000D_ _x000D_ A decade later, John and Mary Plumbaum are now the residents of 125 East Willow Street. John was born in Germany and immigrated to this country in 1885. His wife, Mary, was 53, and was also born in Germany. Living with them is Vista, 6 years old, listed as their stepdaughter. _x000D_ _x000D_ John and Vista are still living here in 1920, and Vista, now 16, is working in a paper box factory. Sharing the house with them are Walter and Catherine Wilkins, both age 43. English-born Walter is a foreman at the state prison, and Catherine is listed as the daughter-in-law of John._x000D_ _x000D_ By 1930, John, 80, is still living in the house along with Walter and Catherine Wilkins, who are listed as the owners of the house. The Census records a value of $1,000 on the house. According to the state death records, John Plumbaum died on October 22, 1933._x000D_ _x000D_ The house itself is a typical cross-gable vernacular style house, which could have been built anytime between about 1870 and 1915. The wraparound porch is a nice feature of the house. But perhaps the most remarkable element of this property, which will make it memorable well into the future, are the lush and colorful gardens surrounding the house, giving so much pleasure to all who pass by._x000D_ _x000D_ Michael and Gary moved into the house about 1984 and began planting and arranging flowers around the house. Twenty-five years later, they have cultivated over an acre of beautiful flowers, shrubs, and trees surrounding their home. Their gardens are on several levels, rising from the street level to the hillside behind the house. The many annuals in the garden are started from seed every spring using a portable greenhouse. The gardeners are finding that as the climate warms, they are able to grow flowers previously impossible. In addition to all the plants, there is also a fountain in front of the house and a waterfall behind it. _x000D_ _x000D_ Although the gardens have been on several Stillwater tours, there is still a steady stream of local people knocking on the door eager to explore the gardens. When asked why he is so devoted to the gardens, Michael replied that "he just loves flowers."
Jacob Zass House
Like many houses in Dutchtown, that early German mill town on the north end of Stillwater, this house at 125 East Willow Street is hard to date precisely. The tax assessors record on file in Washington County gives a building date of 1903, but those records are often wrong. The 1892 Map of Dutchtown has a house in this location with a similar footprint. The first resident of the house appears to be Jacob Zass who is listed at 123 East Willow Street (the previous house number) in the Stillwater City Directories of the 1890s. _x000D_ _x000D_ The 1900 Census lists the inhabitants of this house as William Kirso, a 40-year-old teamster who immigrated from Norway in 1869; his 30-year-old Minnesota born wife, Olivia; and their children: Walter, 12; Mathew, 10; Roy, 8; Fred 5; and Eli, 2. Living in the house just west at 119 East Willow Street (no longer there) is a man by the name of John Plumbaum, and his wife, Mary._x000D_ _x000D_ A decade later, John and Mary Plumbaum are now the residents of 125 East Willow Street. John was born in Germany and immigrated to this country in 1885. His wife, Mary, was 53, and was also born in Germany. Living with them is Vista, 6 years old, listed as their stepdaughter. _x000D_ _x000D_ John and Vista are still living here in 1920, and Vista, now 16, is working in a paper box factory. Sharing the house with them are Walter and Catherine Wilkins, both age 43. English-born Walter is a foreman at the state prison, and Catherine is listed as the daughter-in-law of John._x000D_ _x000D_ By 1930, John, 80, is still living in the house along with Walter and Catherine Wilkins, who are listed as the owners of the house. The Census records a value of $1,000 on the house. According to the state death records, John Plumbaum died on October 22, 1933._x000D_ _x000D_ The house itself is a typical cross-gable vernacular style house, which could have been built anytime between about 1870 and 1915. The wraparound porch is a nice feature of the house. But perhaps the most remarkable element of this property, which will make it memorable well into the future, are the lush and colorful gardens surrounding the house, giving so much pleasure to all who pass by._x000D_ _x000D_ Michael and Gary moved into the house about 1984 and began planting and arranging flowers around the house. Twenty-five years later, they have cultivated over an acre of beautiful flowers, shrubs, and trees surrounding their home. Their gardens are on several levels, rising from the street level to the hillside behind the house. The many annuals in the garden are started from seed every spring using a portable greenhouse. The gardeners are finding that as the climate warms, they are able to grow flowers previously impossible. In addition to all the plants, there is also a fountain in front of the house and a waterfall behind it. _x000D_ _x000D_ Although the gardens have been on several Stillwater tours, there is still a steady stream of local people knocking on the door eager to explore the gardens. When asked why he is so devoted to the gardens, Michael replied that "he just loves flowers."
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Heirloom Homes and Landmark
