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John Schempf Home
803 Clyman Street
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LINK TO CHAPTER ON JOHN SCHEMPF
1937
01 13 SCHEMPF HOME IS REMODELED.
The former Schempf
residence located at the corner of 8th and Clyman streets has been remodeled
into three apartments it was announced today by its owner, Dr. F. E.
Kosanke. The Kosanke family occupies the
first floor and the second floor consists of two 3-room modern apartments. A separate entrance to the second floor is
located on 8th Street.
The residence was
built by the late John Schempf in 1895 and in remodeling it was found that the
architects of that day knew how to build for permanency. The original shingle roof served 40 years and
was still in fair condition. Of interest
was the discovery that the modern streamline effect in wall decoration is not
new. When the several layers of wall
paper in one of the rooms was removed it was found that at one time the walls
were painted "streamline" in colors more contrasting than is the
vogue today.
The trend of today
is toward smaller living quarters and this residence in its attractive location
has been modernized without greatly changing the original design of the house.
This house was the
home of John Schempf between c. 1900 and around 1920. John Schempf was related
to George and Leonard Schempf who founded the Schempf Brothers store in 1848.
The store grew to become the largest and most important department store in the
community. John and Edward Schempf continued the tradition of family ownership
until the store closed in 1936.
This house has
historical interest as the home of John Schempf, one of the second generation
of Schempfs to operate the Schempf Brothers department storem Watertown's most
significant retail business. While John Schempf was important in the later
operation of the Schempf business, he was not the founder or long-timed
original owner.
Architecture
and History Inventory record
|
Clyman, 803 |
1911, circa, John Schempf home,
WHS_001_PC_091 |
|
Clyman, 803 |
1920, John Schempf home, WHS_006_969 |
|
Clyman, 803 |
John Schempf (sitting outside home?),
WHS_006_965 |
|
|
|
|
Clyman, 803 |
1954, Frederick & Leona Kosanke home,
WHS_016_096 |
|
Clyman, 803 |
1960, circa, Former home of John Schempf,
WHS_016_198 |
|
Clyman, 803 |
1960, circa, Former home of John Schempf,
WHS_016_199 |
History of Watertown, Wisconsin