Century-old house on West Main Street transported to its new home in Waukon
On the move ... The house that was built in 1911 and stood at 404 West Main Street in Waukon ever since was moved to a new home just about two blocks away in the initial block of 6th Street SW Wednesday, August 17. Members of the Agnes Anderson family, four generations of which lived in the house over the years, were in attendance to watch the house be transported by Aylsworth House Movers, LLC of Wadena. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
A moving experience ... Several members of the Agnes Anderson family, along with other interested on-lookers (all pictured directly above), watched the house that had been called home by four generations of Agnes’ family during the past century be moved from its original location at 404 West Main Street in Waukon to its new home in the initial block of 6th Street SW during a Wednesday morning, August 17 event. Originally lifted from its foundation on the beams of a transporting truck (as pictured in another photo above), the house was slowly moved just a block and a half west on West Main Street before turning the corner at 6th Street SW (photo directly below) and then heading south just a half block to an excavated lot in the middle of the initial block of 6th Street SW, where it was then backed into place (as pictured in lower photo) into its new location. Aylsworth House Movers, LLC of Wadena completed the task. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
The two-story house located at 404 West Main Street in Waukon, near St. John’s Lutheran Church, has found a new home just a couple blocks away at 4 6th Street SW, where it begins the next chapter in its 100-plus year history. The home that previously housed several generations of the family of Agnes Anderson of Waukon was moved to that new location Wednesday, August 17, the lot adjacent to the former C-Mart property not far from its century-plus original location.
Agnes Anderson, her daughter, Lori Hesse, and son-in-law, Randy Hesse, recently met with The Standard to discuss the history of the house, the property’s acquisition by St. John’s Lutheran Church, and what led to the house’s move to a new location. Agnes talked about the many years she had lived in that house as a child and as an adult, having been born in 1926 and moving into the house with her parents as a small child in 1928. Agnes called that house her home from 1928 until 1986.
Much like Agnes, the house was also Lori’s childhood home, in addition to being her residence for a portion of her adult life. Lori and her husband, Randy, lived and raised their own children in the house from 1986 through 1993, before moving to a rural Waukon residence.
Agnes further discussed the history of the house, which was built in 1911, with 2022 being the 111th anniversary of its construction. Agnes noted that her parents, Lars and Anga Johnson, bought the house in 1928 from L.T. Hermanson, Justice of the Peace at the time. Agnes discussed the house’s close proximity to St. John’s Lutheran Church, located on the property next to her longtime residence on West Main Street. She added that the close location often created confusion, with some believing the family’s house was the Church’s parsonage.
As a result, Agnes added, she had served as a witness for several weddings for couples from out of state often not aware of that requirement and mistaking the house as the Church’s parsonage. Agnes also talked about the years she lived in the house as a small child and as an adult.
Agnes married her husband, Bob Anderson, in 1946, spending the next 40 years together in that home as well, until 1986, when the Hesses moved in and made it their home. Bob and Agnes raised Lori and her siblings, Linda and Larry, in the house, with Randy and Lori’s children, Heath and Heidi, then marking the family’s fourth generation to have lived in that home.
Randy discussed St. John’s Lutheran Church’s decision to purchase the house and property when it became available earlier this year. He noted that as the Church was budgeting for the replacement of the retaining wall between the Church parking lot and the adjacent property, Casey Larson, the most recent owner of the house and property at 404 West Main Street, made the decision to sell and move his family to a new home elsewhere in rural Waukon.
As the opportunity to purchase the house and lot became available, discussions began relating to this potential purchase by the church, with those plans later becoming a reality with the assistance of several donors stepping forward. Randy added that the generosity of these donors has allowed the Church to make this purchase without taking on any debt.
He advised that St. John’s will be using the adjacent lot as green space once the open remaining basement is filled in, further enhancing the street view of the Church, with other plans potentially including outdoor services and Sunday School use of the area.
Local real estate agent and Waukon area native Daryl Hansmeier most recently purchased just the house from St. John’s Lutheran Church. It was Hansmeier’s idea to move the house and preserve it in its current state as much as possible at a new location.
Randy and Lori both expressed similar thoughts relating to the preservation of the house being ideal considering its history and beautiful woodwork, in addition to the well-maintained condition of the house. They both discussed the decision made by Hansmeier to move the house to a new location and being thankful that he saw the value in its preservation with plans in place to make several improvements prior to becoming a home for a new family.
Prior to the physical relocation of the house, Hansmeier shared with The Standard his plans relating to improvements and renovations that will be completed before the house is ready for potential home buyers. He is planning for the replacement of lighting fixtures that will include lighting removed from another house constructed during that same era, a house built just a year later in 1912. Hansmeier advised that the foundation and basement will now be poured underneath the relocated home, and that there are plans for a double garage to be added.
