Clarence Henry Truesdell Home
I found these 2 cards in the Stapleton, Caughill batch of photos. These are Christmas and New Years Cards. No year is noted.(Click on any of the photos to see them enlarged)
Mr. Truesdell died in 1917. Not sure how long his wife and kids remained in the home or if these cards were sent AFTER his passing. I love photos of old houses and love trying to see if I can find them still standing today. All I had was 2 photo cards with a name in them. Well to my surprise this home has been beautifully preserved and and turns up on a website of historic preservation for the area!
Clarence Henry Truesdell
Born Sep. 30, 1866 Wisconsin and Died Mar. 24, 1917 in Mississippi
Wife Jennie (Browne) Truesdell
This info was found on the internet, website noted below.
“Born Sept 19, 1863 Waupaca, Wisconsin Died 1964 OH. (Clarence Henry) Truesdell was born in Kenosha on September 30, 1866, where he received his early education in the public schools. He then attended Beloit College, and later the Chicago College of Pharmacy.
On September 13, 1892, Clarence Henry Truesdell had been united in marriage to Miss Jennie Browne, the only daughter of the Honorable E. L. Browne, and they became the parents of three children: Mary, Edward B., who died in 1901 age four years, and Philip.
(A side note, E. L Browne, Jennie Truesdells Father was also was of note in Waupaca. There is a law office still standing today on the historic register that he and his son E.E. Browne practiced law at, and this name will pop up in later) E. L. Browne Law Office photo
For seven years Mr. Truesdell was the successful proprietor of a drug store in Chicago; this gave him the experience that he needed in compounding physician’s prescriptions.
Truesdell came to Waupaca in 1894, and opened up a drug store in the north one-half of the newly-built Waupaca County National Bank building, that was located on the northwest corner of East Union and South Main Streets. This building is presently the headquarters of Coldwell Banker Petersen Realtors.
It is here that Truesdell supposedly had the first soda fountain in Waupaca.
Truesdell’s lease ran out on April 1, 1914, and was not going to be renewed because the bank had plans for expansion and needed the extra space. Truesdell moved his drug business to the Masonic Block, to the building that had just been vacated by the W. H. Laabs Grocery Store.
According to the Waupaca Record Leader, on May 13, 1914, Clarence H. Truesdell moved his drug business to 107 N. Main Street, the first door north of the Star Bakery. The Star Bakery, that operated at 105 N. Main for many years, is now (1993) the south one-half of the Stratton Drug Store.
- H. Truesdell remained at this location for just over a year, when illness forced him to retire. On September 1, 1915 he sold the business to Frank O. Stratton. Death cut short the young life of Clarence Henry Truesdell at his winter home at Biloxi, Miss., on March 24, 1917.
“He died at age 51 of Diabetes. The body was brought to Waupaca by Congressman E.E. Browne, who went from Washington to Biloxi for that purpose, and interment took place under Masonic auspices.” (from old newspaper archives)
Congressman E.E. Browne who brought the body also has a historic home preserved in the area.
Statement of Significance: The C. H. (Clarence Henry) Truesdell home began construction in 1900 and was completed in 1901. The home is one of the more prominent in Waupaca, closely reflecting the taming of the era in Queen Anne Architecture. Home styles were becoming more subdued by 1900. C. H. maintained a Pharmacy in Waupaca from 1894 until 1915. He and his wife Jennie (Browne) were prominent in the community. Jennie was the daughter of E.L. Browne.
Winter Snow Photo of the Truesdell home on the second card I found.
Period of Home: 1900-1901
Address: 702 S. Main Street
Current Photo on the Internet of the home
I hope you can keep all the notes and photos straight in this blog. When I start looking something up I sometimes end up going down other paths linking others together. Seeing as these cards came in such a large batch of photos of so many families you never know if more that lies in the photo collection contains the Truesdells or the Brownes.
The following info is from the historic site descriptions of the Truesdell home.
Exterior Description: The exterior of the C. H. Truesdell home “appears” original (wood construction) in physical appearance from the exterior. However, closer inspection shows that a majority of the house has been re-sided in vinyl. The scale of the siding is similar to that of the original clapboard, and does not detract from the home’s historic presence. Only the clapboard portions were covered. The gabled portions of the home maintain their original trim, as do the bargeboards and windows. The front (east) porch maintains its original appearance as well as the 2nd story east balconette. All window openings maintain their original sizes. Most of the home’s windows are original. The northwest room off of the kitchen could be original to the home. It is essentially built over the outside basement stairway. The footings are fieldstone; there may have also been an in-ground cistern here. This room may have originally been the “maid’s quarters.” Overall, the Truesdell home is in very original condition and appearance. The grounds also have a detached garage at the back (west) portion of the lot, which is not original to the home’s building era, the original carriage house probably sat in this same general location.
Interior Description: The Truesdell home has maintained its original floor plan, except for changes made to the kitchen/pantry area. The front (east) entrance is accessed by an original large paneled white oak door with the upper half composed of glass. It is flanked by two side windows. The entry creates a vestibule area that “juts” outward onto the front porch. The foyer is lit by a chained globe, which appears original. The floor is a squared parquet design in, what is believed to be white oak. The floor has a thin (probably stained oak) border that follows the foyer’s floor plan. The stairway is a “half open” design; comprised of most likely white oak and original. The stacked paneled newel with rounded finial is also original and a common design in a late nineteenth (turn of the century) house. The staircase has an interesting small storage compartment below the main stair. The foyer doorway and window trim as well as the 10 inch mopboard are in white oak. The stair also has an unusual feature of a pocket door at the landing, which separates the foyer stair from the kitchen stair. Entry to the front (south) parlor is through double 5 panel pocket doors. The floor has a complex square parquet pattern of possibly white oak with a ribbon border around the perimeter in possibly cherry or maple. The parlor trim appears to be maple or, more likely, cherry. It does have a picture rail and coved ceiling. It has a large east facing “picture” window and south side standard double hung window. Door and window hardware is simple. The room is lit by a six light cast iron round fixture, which is most likely original. From the front parlor is access to the back parlor, which may have been a library or sitting room. These rooms are adjoined by 5 panel double pocket doors. The flooring is identical to the front parlor. Again, there is a picture rail and coved ceiling. The trim is also the same style and wood grain (likely cherry). The room is lit by the same style cast iron round 6 light fixture that adorns the front parlor. The room has a triple window bay style window seat and also a rear facing (west) standard double hung window. The room is dominated by an unusual fireplace mantle comprised of brick and terra cotta with fluted décor. It is flanked to the left (west) by a bookshelf, which appears original. Access to the kitchen can be from the back parlor or the short hallway from the foyer. This short hall also has the basement entry. The kitchen is in the northwest corner of the home. It has been modernized and changed but has a “period” feel. It does have the original pine floor. The kitchen also has access to the central stair. Off of the kitchen, near the dining room, was originally most likely a butler’s pantry, but has been converted into a bathroom. Connected to the kitchen is a back room, now used as a den. It appears to be original to the house or a very early addition. It may have been a maid’s room or served some utilitarian role as it has access also to the basement and a side porch entrance. The dining room is accessed by the foyer by a single 5 panel hinged oak door or by a 5 panel oak swinging door from the kitchen. The dining room has a diamond pattern white oak parquet floor bordered by a darker stained oak ribbon near the perimeter. It has a triple window seat (north) and a large front (east) facing “picture” window. Left of the kitchen entrance is an original china cabinet. All woodwork/trim is of white oak. The dining chandelier has triple shade lighting in a “japanned” finish. It is most likely original. The 2nd floor is comprised of 4 main bedrooms at each corner. The front (east) facing bedrooms are adjoined by a sitting room. All of the bedrooms have their own closets except for the front (northeast) bedroom, which now has a “master bath” which may have been converted from a closet(s). Between the rear facing bedrooms is a full bathroom, which still has its original pine/fur wainscoting. The bathroom has newer fixtures but a “period” feel. Flooring throughout the 2nd floor is 2 ¼-inch maple. Trim/woodwork appears to be of the pine family, possibly fir. Doors are 5 panel. Mopboards are 10 inch. All original to the home. The upstairs newel is also a stacked paneled design with a rounded finial as in the foyer. The stairwell also has its original handrail. Ceiling height is 8’6” on the second floor and 9’6” on the first floor. The basement is a “full”, with a stone/cement foundation and a concrete floor.
This info can be found at….
http://www.cityofwaupaca.org/development/historic-preservation/c-h-truesdell-home/
and
http://www.mainstreet-marketplace.com/pages/People/truesdell,%20ch01.htm
Browne Law Office Historic building info from
http://www.cityofwaupaca.org/development/historic-preservation/browne-law-office/
E.E. Browne Home
http://www.cityofwaupaca.org/development/historic-preservation/e-e-browne-home/
savethephotos 