Hagemeister House

Hagemeister House

photo by Grant MacLaren

The Charles Hagemeister House

Located on a solid foundation on Byrnes Mill Road in Byrnes Mill Park, the log core of this old (ca. 1871) cabin preserves historical and architectural value for generations now and in the future.

Thanks to the efforts of the Northwest Historical Preservation Society of Jefferson County and the cooperation and generosity of many area individual and organizations, the house was moved to its current site from its original location near Highway MM when that highway, its bridges and infrastructure were improved in 2000. Major restoration efforts are ongoing.

Charles Hagemeister

The House

In 1900 Charles Hagemeister reported to the census taker that he immigrated to the United States from Germany with his new wife Frederica in 1872. A date of 1871 is more likely, because his name does not appear in the 1870 Missouri, but he is listed as a property owner in House Springs in 1871
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In 1880, Charles, age 34, and Frederica, age 27, had four children ages one through seven, all Missouri born. He listed his occupation as a shoemaker.

Charles Hagemeister died on September 17, 1924, in House Springs (U.S. Census 1900-1920; Jefferson County Probate Records).

Early maps and records suggest that Hagemeister built his house about the time he arrived in Jefferson County in 1871.

A map published in 1860 does not show the house but another map, published in 1871, locates a house on property Hagemeister owned.

He and his wife arrived in House Springs before the birth of their first child. Charles built a small log house on his newly acquired parcel, and added to it with frame construction as the family grew.

Later. Hagemeister's son-in-law, Charles Alt, cut the lumber and sided the house.

photos by Grant MacLaren

BYRNES MILL: Hagemeister House gets much-needed repairs
Historic log cabin cherished by local preservation group

ANDREW JANSEN PHOTO Vincent Zangaro hangs pine boughs
from the window sill at the Hagemeister House in Byrnes Mill.

By Kevin Carbery
Monday, December 24, 2007

A historic structure in northwest Jefferson County has received some long-needed refurbishing work.

The Northwest Jefferson County Historical and Preservation Society paid for recent improvements made to the Hagemeister House, which sits in Byrnes Mill City Park.

"There's been at least $30,000 put into it so far," Alice Zangaro, the society's president, said. "This particular project was $14,000. The work was done by Tangible Touch, a local contractor."He was stabilizing, weatherizing, treating all the logs. He did work on the roof and the sides. He put in all new windows."
"It's closed in now," added her husband, Vince Zangaro. "(The carpenter) squared off, straightened everything. He worked on it five weeks overall."

Dan May, another member of the society, said the rehab effort has made the Hagemeister House sturdier.
"It's in good shape now, after the work that's been done," May said. "It was disassembled (when it was moved by truck from House Springs several years ago), then put back together. I think it's an important part of local history."

Alice Zangaro said the log building is significant to the region.
|"It's characteristic of the 1860s," she said. "Best as we can tell, it was built somewhere between 1870 and 1871. Most likely, they began with one room, then built another beside it and added what's called a 'dog trot' to link them. The Hagemeisters raised 11 kids in this house."

She said the Northwest Jefferson County Historical Society seeks structures like the Hagemeister House to help preserve some of the area's past.
"The organization is a not-for-profit group," Alice Zangaro said. "Our priorities are to find, identify and preserve historic buildings, sites or documents."

The Hagemeister House could become the organization's headquarters.
"We're hoping we can use this for our meeting place," Alice Zangaro said. "We do fund raising. We will eventually have tours of the house. We'd like to have an open house, but haven't set a date yet. We hope to have it as soon as possible."

But much still needs to be done to the Hagemeister House to make it a suitable meeting place, however, she said.
"The original plan was there should be a bathroom and a meeting hall in the lower level," she said. "We'd still like to do this. We'd like the upper level to be set up with period furniture and the whole thing to be a kind of museum. The lower level would be for meetings.
"Our next goal is to complete the inside with water and concrete. We'd like to get water and sewer attached."

The society has conducted fund-raising events through the years to get the money to make repairs and improvements to Hagemeister House.

"We've raised funds through the Demaree Fair," Alice Zangaro said. "We'll have other fund raisers in the future. We have antiques appraisals. That's a good source of income. We've also had contributions from businesses."

The society president would like to have more people join her organization.
"We're definitely looking for more members," she said. "We need new members very much. If you're interested, call me."

The Zangaros may be reached at 636-285-4179.

"The big thing right now, there are people with historic homes," Alice Zangaro said. "We'd like to know about them so we can research them."