August 17, 2005
Historic home opens doors
Members of Almira Township Historical Society celebrate Thompson-Kuemin House
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
After six years and innumerable volunteer hours to restore it, the Thompson-Kuemin House is officially open.
Members of the Almira Township Historical Society celebrated the debut of this original Lake Ann home Saturday afternoon. The modest home, which is situated behind the society's historical museum, was moved 2.5 miles to the site in 1997. Slated for demolition, the society saved it in keeping with their mission of preserving history for future generations.
"We needed to save it, that's what I said from the beginning," said Vera Carmien, president of the historical society, which was established in 1992. "Otherwise, what do your grandkids have to look back on and know where we came from?"
Twenty relatives of Emma and Henry Kuemin, including five siblings who were the couple's grandchildren, drove up from downstate to attend the open house. Some recalled many summers spent in Lake Ann during the 1940s and 1950s, the period to which renovators restored the home.
"It just brings back lots of memories, it's part of our heritage," said Kathleen Gulley of Niles. "It looks really nice and they've done a wonderful job."
Three main volunteers threw themselves into the project: Earl Clark, Mason Clark (no relation,) and Terry View. The trio rebuilt and restored the three-room home and garage from the roof down and the floor up. Part of the roof had collapsed and the water damage was extensive. In addition, the cupboards in the kitchen had to be completely rebuilt and the floor, windows and doors replaced throughout.
A three-foot by three-foot section of a living room wall was left as is. Instead, workers framed it and the society posted historical information there on some faded, antique wallpaper. The original lathe and plaster construction shows in one portion, demonstrating the building techniques of that era.
"Everybody pitched in and we worked in zero weather and hot weather and all the way through," said Earl Clark, who worked for Brown Lumber Company for 33 years. "We worked day by day and what got accomplished, got accomplished."
"We had a lot of laughs and a lot of dirty hands," he added.
While redoing the walls, workers found newspapers taped on them for insulation, one dating to 1886 and the other to 1896. However, the historical society board chose to restore it to the 1940s era to highlight a decade still in the memories of many residents and visitors.
From wallpaper and linoleum to furniture, appliances and accessories - including crocheted potholders of the era and a bar of Ivory soap on the kitchen sink - members of the historical society wanted authenticity.
"We used the original sink, we saved what we could," Carmien noted.
The kitchen sports a combination electric and wood stove and the living room has a potbelly stove for heat as well as donated furniture of the time. Even a last minute, Saturday-morning addition of an outdoor front-door light is historically authentic.
"Those three guys put in thousands of hours," Carmien said. "We planted a tree in their honor, how do you thank guys who don't want to be thanked?"
With the Thompson-Kuemin house complete, the volunteers and the society will now concentrate on the Babcock House. They moved this structure, which is the original Lake Ann United Methodist Church minister's home from the late 1800s, to the property a few years ago.
The Almira Township Historical Museum is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. and by appointment. The Thompson-Kuemin House will also be available during those hours and by appointment. The museum is located just west of the township hall in downtown Lake Ann at 19440 Maple St. For more information, contact Vera Carmien at 275-7362.