Geiger house retains Italianate look despite remodeling

The home of Wendy Geiger at 629 Central Ave. S.W., features Italian Renaissance styling, and may be the product of two or even three housees joined together early in its history. Remodeling has adapted it to today's lifestyle. [Click to enlarge]

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series featuring the stops on Le Mars' annual Tour of Historic Homes.

A beautiful Italianate home, much remodeled for today's lifestyle but still retaining characteristics of its beginning, is one of four homes in the Foster Park area in the 2008 Tour of Historic Homes set for Saturday, May 10 in Le Mars. The tour is sponsored by the Le Mars Historical Preservation Commission.

The home of Wendy Geiger at 629 Central Ave. S.W., exhibits Italian Renaissance styling built during the late Victorian period. This home may actually be the product of two or even three houses joined together early in its history, with other additions added later.

It is estimated the original house was built about 1881, since a Jane and William and Smith were living on this corner by 1882.

A look at the front shows widely spaced, heavy, paired brackets, typical of Italian Renaissance or Mediterranean style houses. These were most likely added when the houses were joined. Probably also added at the time were the identical 5/1 double-hung windows trimmed with flat tops inset in segmental arched window hoods in a molded design. These are typical of mail-order windows from Montgomery Ward. The large arched front window, added in the 1990s, replaced two earlier windows, which were directly in line with the second floor windows above.

The front entrance hood has a semi-circular center section with angled sides supported by paired brackets. The inviting, oval-glazed front door opens immediately into a small foyer with four alternatives offering themselves: left or right into living areas, a staircase for access to the upstairs, and a narrow hall leading to the coat closet and dining room. The beautiful staircase is made of two colors of walnut-black walnut and red walnut. Former owner and resident Barbara Wells stripped and stained them to appear the same. Oak floors cover the first floor.

The massive living space to the north was probably part of the second house attached to the original. Clues include the wide double-wall between this room and the dining room, as well as differences in the woodwork.

In the sunporch, a unique table constructed from a waterfall bed is a early purchase by Geiger. The wood-burning/gas fireplace is in its original location, but the firebox has been enlarged and a new surround/mantel built. Notice that the windows to the sunporch have been lined with glass shelves to provide additional interior lighting as well as attractive display space. The peacock chandelier was added by Geiger. Many of the light fixtures were replaced by Wells during a major remodeling, but are stored in the garage attic, in case a future owner wishes to restore them.

A wide opening invites guests into the dining room, with its unusual, operational buffet window. On the opposite wall, a built in china closet was probably part of the original kitchen, with the cookstove on that same wall. Gracing the chimney are portraits of Wendy's grandmother, great-aunts and great-uncles, placed beneath her great-grandparents.

The kitchen addition was added along the back stairway leading to the maid's quarters and an interior basement stair.

Most of the basement was remodeled by Barbara Wells, and includes nooks and crannies for storage and a complete dark room.

In the kitchen, visitors will notice the three stained glass light fixtures, the very first shades designed by Bogenrief Studios.

Upstairs, the main bath boasts a Bogenrief window. In the southwest bedroom is a cedar chest constructed by Geiger during her student days at Westmar.

The southeast bedroom has three windows, just inches from the floor, allowing magnificent views of Foster Park from any angle in the room. Cross ventilation was very important before air-conditioning was available.

Visitors will want to take note of all the wall sconces throughout both levels of the house.

Also upstairs check the the office/den, which formerly lined with awards given to Ron Geiger before his death in 2007. The awards have since been donated to the Plymouth County Historical Museum for the purpose of securing the history of Harker's, Inc. Also check out the painting of an earlier version of this house.

Descending to the first floor via the front staircase, the replaced newel posts were turned using word from a tree removed at the end of Central Avenue.

Geiger notes that nine exterior doors lead in and out of this very functional and livable home. Wells alludes to 'spirits' that may have wandered about during their remodeling projects, but the Geigers have lived peacefully alone.

The patent on this land was held by J. H. and Joseph Bolser. By 1871, Benjamin O. Foster had not only purchased this land, but every lot in the South-side Addition was marked at the corners with stakes, and the streets marked with stones larger than 1/4 cubic feet. Passing through several hands between then and 1881 when Jane and William H. Smith because the owners and were listed as residents of this corner lot (1423 Main Street). Smith was a merchant tailor. In 1902, Grocer George A. Sammis and wife, Fannie, lived here. In 1919, the property passed through M. R. Faber to James and Mary Bowers. The Bowers family held the property for 55 years until Mrs. Russell (Alice) Bowers' estate sold to the Wells family. Gary (Wells' Dairy, Inc.) and Barbara Wells, who did the major remodeling, reared their family here from 1975 to 2000 when Ronald and Wendy Geiger moved here from another Foster Park Historic District home.

All four of the homes on the tour are located within the Foster Park Historic District, which has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.

Each home has unique and interesting characteristics for visitors to view.

The tour begins at the Le Mars Arts Center, 200 Central Ave. S.E., and leave from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the houses closing at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 12.

For information, call 712-546-7184 or e-mail le marsarts@frontiernet.net.