Historic Name: Schlegelmilch-McDaniel House
517 S. Farwell Street

Herman Schlegelmilch, the first owner of this upright and wing style home in 1871, was a German gun maker. After losing his home and hardware business downtown to fire, he purchased the lot and had the brick addition built, adding to an existing frame structure. This was the earliest, or near earliest brick home in Eau Claire. In 1906, Herman’s daughter Louise had the frame portion of the house (the east section) rebuilt in brick. She modernized many parts of the home, adding dual gas/electric lights so she could have light when electrical power wasn’t available, shortened the windows, and moved the front entrance from the west side (where the bay window is now) to the south side. Many of the objects in the house are from the family, including the photographs. The folding bathtub was not owned by the family, but it is one of eight in existence. Although the Schlegelmilch’s house is very beautiful, they were only a middle-class family; hence, they wouldn’t have owned such an expensive bath item.

The family is very interesting. Herman was born in Suhl, Germany and came to the United States in 1853. His wife, Augusta, also immigrated during this year. They met in the U.S. and married, eventually moving to Eau Claire, where Herman began his hardware business. Herman Schlegelmilch was an alderman and the founder of the Eau Claire German singing society; after retiring from the hardware business, he became a banker. He and Augusta had six children. Some of their children and grandchildren lived here with their own families. In 1977, their granddaughter, Agnes Barland McDaniel donated the house to the Chippewa Valley Museum. It is still used today for museum and social events.

1- “The Schlegelmilch-McDaniel House,” CVM files.
2- “SCHLEGELMILCH/MCDANIEL HOUSE,” CVM files
3- “Interesting Schlegelmilch House Artifacts,” CVM files.
4- “SCHLEGELMILCH/MCDANIEL HOUSE,” CVM files.