Historic tour takes look at cottage home

(Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Cheryl Bolser will open her home at 709 Second St. S.E. to visitors Saturday for the Historic Homes and Churches Tour. Tours will start at the Plymouth County Historical Museum where tickets will be on sale. [Click to enlarge]

A church, two houses, a church converted into a home and sections of the Plymouth County Historical Museum will be spotlighted in the Historic Homes and Churches in Le Mars tour this Saturday, May 9.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with all tours starting at the Plymouth County Historical Museum. The last tour will leave at 4 p.m.

The tour is hosted by the Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission and Plymouth County Historical Museum in observance of May as National Preservation Month.

The theme for 2009's National Preservation Month is "This Place Matters!" and highlights an awareness of the power of historic preservation in homes, neighborhoods and communities.

Cheryl Bolser of Le Mars will open her home at 709 Second St. S.E. to tour guests.

The cottage was built between 1938 and 1940 by Orville Nemmers for his bride, Dorothy Nothem. His father, John Nemmers, had purchased the entire block in 1920. The lot was a wedding gift to his son. Twelve houses were built on this one block, with some, but not all, built by the Nemmers family.

The entrance to the 1 1/2 story cottage features an indented, arched door. Inside the entry, two photographs show the early landscaping around the house.

A lot of work has been done to restore the home after several remodels by previous owners.

For example, vinyl siding was removed to reveal cedar siding. Guests will see more restorations inside.

The original brick fireplace has an oak mantle and fluted oak pilasters.

Oak woodwork of varying designs is found in the home.

Former resident Dorothy Nemmers said a built-in, folding ironing board in a narrow cupboard in the kitchen area was very handy.

A peek out the kitchen window gives a view of the original garage, now lengthened to accommodate longer vehicles.

A unique telephone niche is handy to all parts of the house. The woodwork has been milled rather than using pieces to attain the paneled appearance.

Bolser took out the carpeting upstairs and plans to remove the paint from the mopboards and refinish them. The oak banister, however, with its narrow, fluted, square newel posts and rectangular balusters retains the original finish. Original plaster covers the walls.

Both the west and east bedrooms showcase the 6/6 windows found throughout the house.

The den on the main floor features historical memorabilia as well as pieces of Bud Bolser art on the hall walls.

The family room used to the Orville Nemmers tool/workshop. Bolser added an electric fireplace and entertainment center, with a high table as her worktable. The interesting 96 compartment National ticket case on the west wall is purported to be out of the Union Hotel which was in downtown Le Mars.

This lot was already platted by the Le Mars Improvement Company in 1894 (George E Richardson, M. A. Moore, E. D. Chassell, Ira T. Marin and Mat Wurth) as Elm Hill Addition. The financial panic of the mid-1890s put the brakes on all development of plans laid just before that period.

M.A. Moore purchased the area in 1902. His widow sold the block to Ley and Nemmers in 1920. Andrew G. Ley sold out to John G. Nemmers in 1940, with the lot passing to Orville J Nemmers in 1941 connected with a mortgage on the lot and buildings. In 1945 Orville and Dorothy sold to James G and Elizabeth Long, who sold the next year to John P. Kommes. As a widower, he sold to Margaret Kommes in 1956. Margaret Kommes Thill's estate sold to Doug Downing in 2003 who remodeled for resale. Downing sold to Jason and Jeanette Miller in 2004. Cheryl Bolser purchased this home in 2005.