August & Anna Jesse House
In December of 1877, a 22-year-old Prussian-born machinist named August Jesse purchased two lots on the northwest edge of the city in Wilkins Addition. The following year, he married Anna Jordel, and by June of 1880 they were comfortably ensconced in their new $550 home at 214 West Stillwater Avenue. August apprenticed with David Swain, a well known Stillwater foundry man who crafted engines for the steamboats. After learning the trade, August established his own Stillwater Foundry and Machine Shop on Fourth and Olive Streets. _x000D_ _x000D_ Around 1900, as the Jesse family grew to include five children plus Annas father, the household moved to another home on the south hill closer to the foundry. _x000D_ _x000D_ August worked at his business until he was in his early 80s. Besides his own business, he also served as a state boiler inspector under Governor John A. Johnson. After retiring, August lived on for another decade, before dying in 1946 at age 90._x000D_ _x000D_ The smallish house at 214 West Stillwater Avenue is quite unusual in Stillwater because it is a broadside. Instead of the narrow gable end with the second story windows facing the street which is typical in a city setting with its narrow lots, this house faces the street with its broader side, and there are no second floor windows facing the street. This type of house has a central front door with windows symmetrically placed on either side. Usually when you enter the house, you encounter a room on both the left and right side, and often the stairway to the second floor will be in line with the front door. From the old maps, we can see that when the house was built, it had a one-story addition on the rear which served as the kitchen. Like all houses of this period heated by stoves, there are two chimneys: one on a central wall to heat the front rooms, and one at the rear of the kitchen to serve the kitchen stove._x000D_ _x000D_ To the west of the house is a picturesque old shed (once a chicken coop) with a satellite dish mounted on it, providing a house that is over 125 years old with the latest technology. The current owners, Don and Emily Greeley, have been improving the house and maintaining its historic character since 1984.
August & Anna Jesse House
In December of 1877, a 22-year-old Prussian-born machinist named August Jesse purchased two lots on the northwest edge of the city in Wilkins Addition. The following year, he married Anna Jordel, and by June of 1880 they were comfortably ensconced in their new $550 home at 214 West Stillwater Avenue. August apprenticed with David Swain, a well known Stillwater foundry man who crafted engines for the steamboats. After learning the trade, August established his own Stillwater Foundry and Machine Shop on Fourth and Olive Streets. _x000D_ _x000D_ Around 1900, as the Jesse family grew to include five children plus Annas father, the household moved to another home on the south hill closer to the foundry. _x000D_ _x000D_ August worked at his business until he was in his early 80s. Besides his own business, he also served as a state boiler inspector under Governor John A. Johnson. After retiring, August lived on for another decade, before dying in 1946 at age 90._x000D_ _x000D_ The smallish house at 214 West Stillwater Avenue is quite unusual in Stillwater because it is a broadside. Instead of the narrow gable end with the second story windows facing the street which is typical in a city setting with its narrow lots, this house faces the street with its broader side, and there are no second floor windows facing the street. This type of house has a central front door with windows symmetrically placed on either side. Usually when you enter the house, you encounter a room on both the left and right side, and often the stairway to the second floor will be in line with the front door. From the old maps, we can see that when the house was built, it had a one-story addition on the rear which served as the kitchen. Like all houses of this period heated by stoves, there are two chimneys: one on a central wall to heat the front rooms, and one at the rear of the kitchen to serve the kitchen stove._x000D_ _x000D_ To the west of the house is a picturesque old shed (once a chicken coop) with a satellite dish mounted on it, providing a house that is over 125 years old with the latest technology. The current owners, Don and Emily Greeley, have been improving the house and maintaining its historic character since 1984.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Heirloom Homes and Landmark
