A Home in the Grove – Emma and William C. Wiechmann’s Home, 1555 S. Washington Avenue

In 1900, Emma Kober and William C. Wiechmann* opened a modest store on East Genesee Avenue. Through their tireless efforts, it thrived and grew quickly. In 1914, they advertised, “Associate the name Wiechmann with the best values in Northern Michigan.”  In honor of their fourteenth anniversary celebration, they offered a 10 percent discount on everything in the store.

The success of the store soon enabled them to purchase a home on South Washington Avenue in the Grove. However, it wasn’t the existing c. 1870 house they wanted – it was the lot on which it was located that they desired. Situated directly across South Washington Avenue from Hoyt Park, the site gracefully sloped down to Lake Linton. They soon started to plan the construction of a new home – a home that was described in a 1970 Saginaw News article:

“One of the greatest Joys of in her life came in 1916 when the beautiful 20 room mansion in the grove was built for the couple and their two children, William H. and Elda.

“Says Mrs. Kessell, ‘Mother selected most of the furniture and draperies, and was so happy with the home. We children loved it, of course, especially being close to Hoyt Park. Mother enjoyed company and when people came, she would always manage to slip out to the kitchen for a moment and put her favorite coffee cake in the oven. Sometimes it would be warm when she served it.’”  (The Saginaw News, March 22, 1970.)

This c. 1910 view was taken before the Wiechmanns constructed their home; the future site of their home would be toward the center of the row of homes.

The Saginaw architectural firm of Cooper & Beckbissinger** designed the home. Although both members of the firm, William T. Cooper and J. Fred Beckbissinger, were skilled designers, the home’s Arts & Crafts style suggests Beckbissinger was the lead in this project.  It is an elegant home and one of Beckbissinger’s most fully realized Arts and Crafts designs. Its brick walls are complemented by a steep green tile roof. Porches and balconies maximize the residence’s relationship to the outdoors, and its windows are positioned to provide sweeping views of Lake Linton and Hoyt Park.

The home’s interior is carefully and richly detailed; however, the ornamentation is always integrated into the overall design. The Museum’s collection includes some architectural drawings for the home. Careful study, reveals a number of changes as the design for the home was being developed. One includes a pencil notation for changing the brick fireplace facing to tile – almost certainly the tile that was used was from Pewabic Pottery in Detroit.

The home is complemented by a garden Mrs. Wiechman created along the shore of Lake Linton. Deeply involved in local charitable causes, the garden and home were used for charitable fundraisers – often described in the paper:

“Flower and trees, soft green grass, a glimpse of the river, glassy smooth, and the blue sky overhead formed a beautiful setting for the garden party given at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Wiechman in the Grove Tuesday afternoon for the benefit of the Children’s Free Ward association. The affair was successful in every way, and a large number of ladies in softly shaded, fluffy summer frocks and parasols grouped themselves about the lawn to enjoy the charming program.” (The Saginaw News Courier, June 18, 1919.)

The Wiechmanns were dedicated clients, and in 1929, they engaged J. Fred Beckbissinger to design a new building on South Jefferson for their store.

William C. Wiechmann died in 1939. A few years later,  Emma Wiechmann sold her home to David C. Doyle – the owner of Doyle Freight Lines. In 1949, it was sold to the Catholic Diocese and became the residence of the Bishop of the Saginaw Diocese. In 1985, the house was used by the Saginaw Junior League as a decorator showhouse. That Same year, it was purchased by Dr. Robert W. Cady and used as a home for his dental practice.

110 years after its completion, the Wiechmann home remains a testament to the success of the Wiechmanns’ business and the skill of its architect, and it still has a splendid view of Hoyt Park and its skating rink.

*This is a link to Wiechman’s biography on the Saginaw County Hall of Fame Website.

**This link will take you to additional information about J. Fred Beckbissinger.

The Recipe: Mrs. Wiechmann’s Coffee Cake

2 eggs

½ cup sugar

4 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons  milk

2 tablespoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

11/2 cups flour

Vanilla to taste

Topping of additional butter and sugar with cinnamon, walnuts

Cream butter, add sugar gradually, then well-beaten eggs, [add vanilla,] sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Add alternately with milk. Pour into well-greased 6” x 12” pan. Melt additional butter and drizzle over top of batter. Sprinkle on white sugar, cinnamon and coarsely chopped walnuts. Bake in moderate oven 25 to 30 minutes. Cool and serve.

CTK Notes:

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Unable to easily locate a 6” X 2” pan, we substituted a 9”x 9” pan. The result was fine – although the coffee cake was obviously slightly thinner than Mrs. Wiechmann’s original.

We are uncertain how much cinnamon and sugar we actually used; however, use more than you think you want – we regret not being more generous. Also chop the walnuts more finely than you think you should.

And this coffee cake is much more magical if served still warm from the oven – a reheated coffee cake is not the same as one warm from the oven.