Schaeffler House awaits historic nomination
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
Hillsboro's Schaeffler House may soon join the ranks of some of America's most prestigious landmarks.
Wednesday morning, a representative from the Kansas Historic Sites Board toured the William Schaeffler House, located at 312 E. Grand, to determine if it should be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.
If the Schaeffler House does receive that honor, it will also be placed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places, said David Wiebe, director of the Hillsboro Historical Society.
"I think it'll be a great accomplishment for the community," Wiebe said.
Currently, the Adobe House is the only other Hillsboro building to be listed on the National Historic Register. It became a part of the registry in 1973.
The Schaeffler House is owned by the city of Hillsboro and operated by the historical society as a museum. Putting the house on the national and state registers will help to protect the building and keep it in good condition, Wiebe said. The house will also be protected from development around the house that might damage its value.
Being listed on the historic register also allows the house to take advange of grants through the national "Historic Trust Fund." Money from that fund goes toward preserving historic buildings around the country.
But being nominated for the national register is about much more than money — it's the prestige that comes with the honor, Wiebe said.
And it's something Wiebe's been working toward for quite some time.
"It's a long process," Wiebe said. "They've had the application for months."
To be considered as a member of the historic register, Wiebe had to complete a 20-page application, which he submitted to the state board. The application was five pages of basic information, and 15 pages describing the house, Wiebe said.
The board then reviews the application, hears about the site visit, and makes its decision. If it decides to nominate the house, that's the final step to join the register.
Wiebe feels confident that the Schaeffler House will be nominated. He's been a member of the historical society for 15 years.
The Schaeffler House was built in 1909 by William Schaeffler. Schaeffler's family was Lutheran, so he chose for his new home to be just a block
away from Hillsboro's Lutheran church. The Hillsboro school — for all grades — was across the street.
Schaeffler was well-known in Hillsboro as a leader in the community and a good businessman.
"He was loyal and generous to the Lutheran church," Wiebe said.
Schaeffler had three sons and one daughter, but because his sons' sons never had boys of their own, none of William's descendants have the Schaeffler name.
After William Schaeffler passed away, his bachelor son, Robert, lived in the house until he retired to Parkside Homes in the early 1980s. The family then gave the home to the city.
Schaeffler's daughter, Louise, married Arthur Ebel, who ran what is now Dale's Supermarket.
Since the city took ownership of the house, almost every room has been re-wallpapered, but the basic layout and structure of the house is original, Wiebe said.
The twelve-room home can be toured or rented for special occasions such as bridal showers and small weddings. But its busiest season is Christmas, when the house is open Sunday afternoons during December.
The open houses were very well attended this year, Wiebe said.
To tour the Schaeffler House, contact the Hillsboro Historical Society at 947-3775.
