Take a guided tour of the fascinating architecture and history of the Struthers-Wetmore-Schimmelfeng House on Friday, Sept. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. Now the home of the Warren County Historical Society, this lovely house was built between 1870 and 1873 and became the home of Anna Struthers and George Wetmore until their early deaths in 1880 and 1890 respectively. Their only living son Tommy also died young in 1894 but he had rented the house out by that time. In 1893 the owner of the Stoneham Tannery, Charles Schimmelfeng, bought the house for his family and made some changes which included adding electricity, installing new fireplace mantles, and re-covering some walls with a material made to look like leather.
The county bought the building from Francis Schimmelfeng, daughter of Charles and Louisa, in the 1950s to utilize as an annex to the courthouse. At that time, the back of the house which had once been the servants' quarters were again separated and turned into an apartment for the courthouse caretaker. In 1964 the Warren County Commissioners provided the historical society with a new home, the Struthers-Wetmore-Schimmelfeng house.
During the tours visitors will be shown Victorian era building features, the changes made by the Schimmelfeng family and hear more about the family that lived here for the longest time period. Visit what perhaps was a former nursery on the third floor; The Victorians often had nurseries far away from the rest of the family and servants took care of the young children. The servants' quarters at the back half of the house, the curving back staircases, and even the basement will be included on these remarkable tours.
Article Photos
Some say the Struthers-Wetmore
Schimmelfeng House is haunted
Other points of interest during the tours are the oldest Warren County ledger dating to 1795 that contains a store account record of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), the Colt .45 pistol that was used in the murder of Judge Allison Wade in the 1950s, and many of the archives and collections that the society preserves for future generations.
The cost for the tour is $5 per person at the door between 6 and 8 p.m. The Warren County Historical Society is located at 210 Fourth Ave., Warren. For more information, call 723-1795.