Many Warren County residents have inquired about the renovations going on at “the big yellow house” on Main Street. 

The house, known as the Schowengerdt House, located at 308 Boones Lick Road, Warrenton, was placed on the National Historic Register in 1980 and is owned by the Warren County Historical Society. The Warren County Historical Society has been overseeing the house’s much needed repairs for the past several years. 

The house was built in 1866 by Ernst and Elesebet (Hukreden) Schowengerdt. The home was continually occupied by Ernst’s grandson, Maury Neal Schowengerdt, who passed away in 1992 and granddaughter, Margaret Carol, who passed away in 2002. 

After her death, ownership of the property was transferred to the Warren County Historical Society to be administered for the educational benefit and pleasure of the residents of Warren County. An endowment was provided by the Schowengerdts to maintain the upkeep of the house. 

The original Schowengerdt property was originally a mini farm that extended to what in how Highway 47 on the east and to Southside Street on the south. It encompassed 23 acres and included livestock barns, a chicken house, servants’ quarters, garden and orchard areas. 

When Walton Street was opened the barn was moved south across the street and rebuilt. In addition to the large loft with stalls below, there were the granary, the carriage house, a special compartment for the “fishing wagon,” which had been built-to-order for camping, and a place for a big freight wagon.  The family enjoyed camping on Dry Fork Charrette in the summer. 

The historical society noticed problems with moisture in the house several years ago. There was evidence of extreme moisture penetrating the maids’ quarters. Moisture and mold was found behind pictures hung on the exterior walls throughout the house. The historical society installed air cleaners on the ground and second floors to circulate the air and remove mold spores. They added a commercial dehumidifier in the basement. 

The house was closed so that a company could test for mold throughout the house. 

Kurt Bickmeyer, a brick mason from Hermann, was hired to repair the brick exterior where moisture appeared to be seeping through. When Bickmeyer began spot repairs, he discovered that the entire exterior needed tuck pointing. The mortar was too soft to leave it like it was. The worked stopped and the tuck pointer had to rebid the project to include the entire house. 

At each step, there came a new surprise – or challenge. They learned that the house’s leaf guard gutters had been improperly installed, forcing water down the exterior brick instead of into the gutters. The gutters were reinstalled with new, extra large downspouts. 

The gutter repair solved the mold problem, then came a new problem: the need for professional lead (paint) removal. Because of the health risks, abatement had to be completed before any work on the house could continue. When it did continue, some floor joists were repaired and the brick floor in the basement was reinstalled. 

The work continues. Some trim will be replaced on the exterior and then the structure will be painted. Inside, plaster, wallpaper and woodwork repairs will be made and then the interior will be painted.  

It was Neal and Margaret Schowengerdt’s wishes that the Schowendgerdt house be part of the rich heritage of Warren County’s history for years to come so future generations may enjoy the house. 

The historical society hopes to reopen the house by Christmas 2020. 

This story was provided by the Warren County Historical Society, which is funded by donations and run by volunteers. The museum is located at 102 W. Walton in Warrenton, and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, to attend an event or to make a donation, call 636-456-3820 or email museum@warrencountymohistory.com.

This is what the Schowengerdt House looks like today. This picture was taken July 30. 

The picture, taken in 1976, shows an addition to the Schowengerdt House that was designed to give it a Victorian-style during a 1892-1893 remodel. 

The Schowengerdt House on Main Street in Warrenton as it looked when it was built in 1870.