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Jacob Zass House

 

Like many houses in Dutchtown, that early German mill town on the north end of Stillwater, this house at 125 East Willow Street is hard to date precisely. The tax assessor’s record on file in Washington County gives a building date of 1903, but those records are often wrong. The 1892 Map of Dutchtown has a house in this location with a similar footprint. The first resident of the house appears to be Jacob Zass who is listed at 123 East Willow Street (the previous house number) in the Stillwater City Directories of the 1890s.

The 1900 Census lists the inhabitants of this house as William Kirso, a 40-year-old teamster who immigrated from Norway in 1869; his 30-year-old Minnesota born wife, Olivia; and their children: Walter, 12; Mathew, 10; Roy, 8; Fred 5; and Eli, 2. Living in the house just west at 119 East Willow Street (no longer there) is a man by the name of John Plumbaum, and his wife, Mary.

A decade later, John and Mary Plumbaum are now the residents of 125 East Willow Street. John was born in Germany and immigrated to this country in 1885. His wife, Mary, was 53, and was also born in Germany. Living with them is Vista, 6 years old, listed as their stepdaughter.

John and Vista are still living here in 1920, and Vista, now 16, is working in a paper box factory. Sharing the house with them are Walter and Catherine Wilkins, both age 43. English-born Walter is a foreman at the state prison, and Catherine is listed as the daughter-in-law of John.

By 1930, John, 80, is still living in the house along with Walter and Catherine Wilkins, who are listed as the owners of the house. The Census records a value of $1,000 on the house. According to the state death records, John Plumbaum died on October 22, 1933.

The house itself is a typical cross-gable vernacular style house, which could have been built anytime between about 1870 and 1915. The wraparound porch is a nice feature of the house. But perhaps the most remarkable element of this property, which will make it memorable well into the future, are the lush and colorful gardens surrounding the house, giving so much pleasure to all who pass by.

Michael and Gary moved into the house about 1984 and began planting and arranging flowers around the house. Twenty-five years later, they have cultivated over an acre of beautiful flowers, shrubs, and trees surrounding their home. Their gardens are on several levels, rising from the street level to the hillside behind the house. The many annuals in the garden are started from seed every spring using a portable greenhouse. The gardeners are finding that as the climate warms, they are able to grow flowers previously impossible. In addition to all the plants, there is also a fountain in front of the house and a waterfall behind it.

Although the gardens have been on several Stillwater tours, there is still a steady stream of local people knocking on the door eager to explore the gardens. When asked why he is so devoted to the gardens, Michael replied that "he just loves flowers."

Source(s): Information complied by Donald Empson, Empson Archives on 2/27/2009 The original annual tax assessors’ rolls, 1861-1890 (on microfilm in the St. Croix Collection, Stillwater Public Library) were used to try and determine a building date. The 1892 Stillwater map of Dutchtown portrays the house on the lot. The Stillwater City Directories and the U. S. Census 1900-1930 provide the rest of the information. Michael and Gary provided the information about the gardens.

Washington County Parcel Identification Number (PIN): 2103020130020

Common Property Name: Jacob Zass House

Neighborhood: Dutchtown Addition

State Historic Preservation Office Inventory Number: WA-SWC-826

Construction Date: Circa 1890

Builder:

Architect:

Architectural Style: Vernacular