Property Record
1210 S LAKE ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | August F. Dumke/Walter E. Spindler House |
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| Other Name: | Manitou Girl Scout Council |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 58060 |
| Location (Address): | 1210 S LAKE ST |
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| County: | Manitowoc |
| City: | Manitowoc |
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| Year Built: | 1875 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1985 |
| Historic Use: | house |
| Architectural Style: | Early Gothic Revival |
| Structural System: | Unknown |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' titled "William Rahr House" exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Intact. The original portion of this house evidences Gothic tracery; arched detail; cresting and bargeboards, all features of the High Victorian Gothic style. As such this house is unique to the city. The original portion of the house is an L-Plan with a square two story tower in the crook of the "L". Windows on this part of the house are narrow and elongated with Gothic arched hood molding over trefoil tracery panels. The one story polygonal side bay features four windows which repeat this pattern. The gable ends feature delicately carved tracery bargeboards with repeated trefoil patterns. The tower is topped by an overhanging eave with a flat roof with wrought iron railing. The rear block was built in 1931 and is in the Tudor Revival style. The second floor overhangs slightly and replicates a half timber effect with diagonally laid bricks laid between the timbers. The Rahr house is the only house in Manitowoc which reflects the high style Victorian Gothic Revival school of architecture. It has retained virtually all of its integrity even though a major addition has been added and its use changed from residential to office. The older portion of the home was originally constructed on Marshall Street, ca. 1875, and moved to the S. Lake Street location in 1913 or 1914. In 1873, August F. Dumke (1824-1906) purchased a vacant lot at 206 (606) Marshall Street. Construction began on his home the following year, and according to Manitowoc City tax rolls and mortgage records, appears to have continued through 1878. Mr. Dumke was a native of Germany who immigrated to Manitowoc County in 1853. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as 1st Lieutenant before being promoted to Captain of Company B, 9th Wisconsin Infantry. His foundry and machine shop, Manitowoc Iron Works on Quay Street, was engaged in manufacturing steam engines and machinery for early mills and industries. An 1877 newspaper advertisement states: "Every variety of Casting and Railings of new Designs and Patterns made to order. Jobbing promptly attended to. I will make estimates on every sort of Iron Work. Will also furnish Drawings, Specifications and Estimates for SAW AND GRIST MILLS, and contract to build them." The High Victorian Style home on Marshall Street was the family's homestead until 1890. William Rahr, II (1854-1919), whose residence was adjacent to the Dumke home on Marshall Street, acquired the property in 1912. Information passed down through the Rahr/Spindler family relates that the home was moved to 1210 S. Lake Street as a wedding gift in 1914 from William and Olga Rahr to their daughter, Martha, and son-in-law, Walter E. Spindler. Walter was president of the Aluminum Specialty Company. Martha was a founder of the first Girl Scout Council in Manitowoc. In 1963, their daughter, Mary Spindler Torrison, and the W. E. Spindler Foundation presented the home to the Manitou Girl Scout Council in memory of Martha Rahr Spindler for its headquarters. As of 2018, the home is a private residence, once again. A search of the deeds shows that the S. Lake Street property was sold to William Rahr in 1903 for $600, a figure indicating two vacant lots. The tax assessor's rolls indicate a 1931 construction date for the Tudor Revival addition. William Rahr, II was a second generation member of the Rahr brewing family. He left the William Rahr Sons company in 1900 and started the Manitowoc Malting Company on S. 20th Street. He resided at 612 Marshall Street until his death in 1919. Please see Wisconsin Historical Image I.D. No. 137676, "View on Marshall Street", for a partial view of the home in its original location. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. County Tax Rolls. B. Bird's eye Map of Manitowoc, Wis., 1883. C. Property abstract researched on 1210 South Lake Street by Atty. John Spindler for Manitou Girl Scout Council, 6/27/85. D. Manitowoc City Directories, 1873-1915. E. City Tax Assessors records. F. Manitowoc County Centennial Commission, Story of a Century 1848-1948, p. 62. 1. 1883 Bird's Eye, Manitowoc, Wisconsin showing the home in its original location. 2. 1883 Bird's Eye, expanded to also show the location of Manitowoc Iron Works on Quay Street. By this time, his nephew, August C. Dumke, had joined his business. 3. 1912 Sanborn detail, Block 276, Lot 11, showing the house at 606 Marshall St. 4. 1912 Sanborn detail Block 320, Lot 3, showing an empty lot on S. Lake St. 5. 1919 Sanborn detail Block 276, Lot 11, the lot is now vacant and is no longer numbered 606. 6. 1919 Sanborn detail Block 320, Lot 3, showing the home on the E 1/2 of lot 3. 7. Deeds, Vol.22, pg. 283. 1873, Dec. 3. Block 276, Lot 11. August F Dumke purchases lot from Gottlieb Bieling. 8. Mortgages, Vol. 3, pg. 181. 1875, Dec. 3, Block 276, Lot 11. August F. Dumke borrows $700 from Henry Kolwey. "...being the homestead of the parties of the first part." "...and also will insure and keep insured the house on said lot in a reliable insurance company of the amount not less than due on this mortgage for the benefit of the parties of the second part..." 9. Mortgages, Vol. 3, pg. 187. 1875, Dec. 6, Block 276, Lot 11. A. F. Dumke borrows $600 from The First National Bank. 10. Deeds, Vol. 58, pg. 234. 1890, Oct. 20, Block 276, Lot 11. August F. Dumke to Ruth R. Burritt, formerly Ruth R. Ginner, "...said premises being the homestead of said grantors and now occupied by them as such and having been their homestead for more than ten years prior to the date hereof." 11. Deeds, Vol. 101, pg. 203. 1912, Nov. 25, Block 276, Lot 11. Catherine Goedjen, widow of Henry Goedjen, to William Rahr, Sr. 12. 1873 Tax Roll, Block 276, Lot 11. A. F. Dumke owner, total valuation $ 150. (It's a vacant lot, per previous years tax records.) 13. 1874 Tax Roll, Block 276, Lot 11. A. F. Dumke, owner, total valuation $ 200. 14. 1875 Tax Roll, Block 276, Lot 11. A. F. Dumke, owner, total valuation $ 350. 15. 1876 Tax Roll, Block 276, Lot 11. A. F. Dumke, owner, total valuation $ 700. 16. 1877 Tax Roll, Block 276, Lot 11. A. F. Dumke, owner, total valuation $1,100. 17. 1878 Tax Roll, Block 276, Lot 11. A. F. Dumke, owner, total valuation $1,675. 18. "The History of Northern Wisconsin, Vol. II" pub. 1881, p. 526-527. 19. Ibid., p. 524. 20 1917, Sept. 22, "Manitowoc Daily Herald" Departure of Boys Today Recalls Scene of 56 Years Ago (Sept. 24, 1861). 21. "Soldiers and Citizens Album of Biographical Record", pub. 1888, title page. 22. Ibid., p. 437. 23. Ibid., p. 432. 24. Ibid., p. 432, portrait enlarged. 25. 1868 Ad for Manitowoc Iron Works, from "Edwards Annual Directory of the Village of Manitowoc, for 1868-1869" 26. 1877, Dec. 20, "Manitowoc Tribune", Advertisement 27. 1881, Oct. 11, "Manitowoc Lake Shore Times", Advertisement 28. 1914, May 27, "Manitowoc Daily Herald", Wedded Under Canopy of Ferns in Rose Bower, Rahr-Spindler wedding. "The couple will be at home in their handsome new residence on Lake Street on July 1." 29. "Manitowoc County Historical Society: occupational monograph 48, 1982 series. Boy scouting and girl scouting history briefs: Manitowoc County 1912 to date (1982)", p. 13. Donation to Manitou Girl Scout Council. 30. Rahr/Spindler family information obtained from John Torrison, grandson of William E. and Martha Spindler. 31. Wisconsin Historical Image I. D.: 137676, "View on Marshall Street", 1891. Partial view of the home in its original location. https://www.htrnews.com/story/life/2019/03/15/manitowoc-w-e-spindler-home-once-manitou-girl-scout-headquarters-wisconsin-history/3153502002/?fbclid=IwAR24q6mRfWO8kyJz5mzniEjU21UkBcWkGauCHNfGk3J_sWlYH5GGz88KfLo |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |