Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI)

May 17, 2006, Front page

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon. 

Historic ‘John Hein’ house achieves state, national listing

The John Hein House, on Neillsville’s north side, is the latest residence in the city to be placed on both the state and national listings of historic places.

The home named after its original owner, was recognized for its distinctive Queen Anne architecture.  Located at 824 N. Hewett St., its current owners are Dick and Kathleen Quast.

Local historian Pat Lacey, of Neillsville, prepared the nomination recommending the home’s recognition as a designated historical site.  Acting on behalf of the Quasts as a nation register consultant, she made a presentation before the Board of Review of the Wisconsin Historical Society last January.

In her presentation that included a slide show, Lacey submitted architectural detail of the home built in 1892, reflecting the opulence of the age, with ornate detail in its exterior characteristics, a trait that continues inside the house with features such as a lattice-like staircase.

John Hein, a German immigrant, owned a cooperage factory in Neillsville, manufacturing barrels and staves in the late 19^th century.  He was also a retail merchant, owning and operating a dry goods and grocery store.

“It is distinguished by the high degree of architectural integrity that remains on both the interior and exterior and deserves listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places,” Lacey submitted in her presentation to the review board.

The panel agreed, designating the John Hein House to the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places.  Its inclusion to both the state and national registers was noted on April 12^th.

The John Hein House joins more than 20 other homes and sites in the city of Neillsville that have now achieved that distinction, according to Lacey.

• Obit: Hein, John (1840 -1925)

Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

February 6, 2008, Page 2

Neillsville adds two homes to Historic Register

The city of Neillsville’s Historic Preservation Commission recently added two properties to the local registry, bringing the total number of properties on the local registry to 16.

The two properties are the John C. Hein House at 824 Hewett Street, currently owned by Richard and Kathleen Quast, and the Decatur Dickinson-Marcus Hoesly House at 411 State Street, currently owned by Allan Hoesly.

The John Hein House

The Hein house has a rich history that dates back to its 1892 construction.

John Hein owned a cooperage factory in Neillsville, manufacturing barrels and staves in the late 1890s.  He was also a retail merchant, owning and operating a dry goods and grocery store next to his house on Hewett Street.

The property changed hands in 1901 when Joseph Morley, a local lawyer and banker bought it.  Morley’s wife sold the house in 1917 to Frances Neff.  George Prochazka purchased the property in 1943.  Richard and Kathleen Quast bought the house in 1989 from Dorothy (Prochazka) Schlinsog.

A 1996 fire destroyed the second floor, but has since been rebuilt to original specifications, according to Kathleen Quast.

The house features a lattice-like staircase and an ornate carved fireplace front and grille.  The 1892 John Hein House on Hewett St. has been added to the city’s historic register.

The Decatur Dickinson House

George Trogner, a local entrepreneur, built the house in 1891 at a cost of $5,000 for Decatur Dickinson, a Neillsville merchant.

Dickenson sold the house to Markus Hoesly, a prosperous farmer who moved to the city.  His daughter, Ann, purchased the house in 1932 and lived there until 1985 when she sold it to her nephew, Allan.

The house features the Victorian Queen Anne style of architecture, characterized by its ornate porches, multiple gables and bay windows.

The five other houses currently on the local registry include: the Calway House at 318 E. 4^th Street; the Cornelius House at 118 Clay Street; the Wolff-Roberts Housed at 318 Grand Avenue; the Bruley-Dewhurst House at 26 Hewett Street; and the Sniteman House at 319 Hewett Street.

Six of the properties on the local registry are located within the State and National Historic District in the downtown area.  These properties include: the Eberhardt Building, currently “The Waiting Room”; The Esch Building, currently “Doc’s Diner”; the Walk Brothers Building, currently “Gifts From The Heart”; the Hewett & Woods Building currently, “All Season Sports & Archery”; the Bast Bakery, currently “M & M Catering”; and the 1887 Variety Store (on W. 6^th Street), currently unoccupied.  The 1887 International Order of Odd Fellows Hall (building), currently “Scott’s Auto Parts”; the Neillsville Public Library and the 1897 Clark County Jail are also listed on the local registry.

Having properties listed on the local historic registry is one way of helping to preserve them into the future.  Four of the 16 properties listed on the local registry are also listed on the State and National Historic Registry. They are the 1897 Clark County Jail, the Calway House, the Hein House and the Dickinson-Hoesly House.  The Decatur Dickinson House, built in 1891, was added to the city’s historical register.

***Visit the Neillsville Historic Homes Project***