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Summary
Herman and Hanna Hediger House
8 Grand Avenue, Neillsville, Clark County
Date of Construction: 1949
Designer: Herman Hediger
Herman Hediger was born in Switzerland in 1903. When Herman was eighteen years old, he convinced his father to allow him to travel to the United States. Neighbors who had emigrated spoke about the wonderful opportunities in Clark County, Wisconsin. With only $16 in his pocket Herman set sail for America; he had a job waiting for him at the Zbinden cheese factory. Herman would remain in the cheese making business for the next fifty years.
After many years of hard work, Hanna, Herman's wife and Swiss immigrant, and Herman decided to build a new house in town. Hanna and Herman's hearts remained in Switzerland and when the time came to build a house they both knew that it had to be a Swiss chalet. Herman took three trips to Switzerland to study the chalet and Swiss building methods. He brought John Morgenthaler, a Swiss cabinet maker, and Hans Haefeli, a skilled mason, back from Switzerland to assist with the construction of the new house.
The two and one-half story house exhibits deep gable and side eaves, a red tile roof, stucco walls, half-log siding, and large decorative brackets. The full width balcony and gallery both exhibit decorative scroll-sawn balustrades characteristic of the Swiss chalet. The interior exhibits beamed ceilings and red tile floors. Unlike other houses that use elements of the chalet for picturesque effect, the Hediger House was built as an ethnic architectural statement.
The Hediger House is a private residence. Please respect the rights and privacy of the residents.
Property Details
Resources Within The Property
Designations
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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618 Second Street
15000551
Located in New Glarus, Green County
