To the editor:
Wednesday’s Leader contained a large photo of a building in Clintonville’s Pioneer Park as part of an article promoting the upcoming anniversary of the local historical society. The caption referred to the History House, former city hall.
The structure was, in fact, the city hall from 1887 until 1894, when a new brick city hall was constructed. The frame building shown was then purchased by our great-grandfather, Louis Kuester, who was the city clerk. A house mover, he moved the house down Main Street to 11th Street, where it remains. The family added four bedrooms and a large sun room. The house was the Kuester family residence until 1974, when the Kuester family sold it to the historical society. So in fact, the building was well-known as the Kuester residence for 90 years. It is furnished largely as a home would have been furnished in the beginning of the 20th century.
The above information is taken from a brochure produced and distributed by the historical society. The structure was listed in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not,” noting that it had been the Larrabee Town Hall, village of Clintonville Hall before Clintonville became a city. Louis Kuester was also the clerk of the town and village.
Maintaining accurate historical records as time passes is important. Our family is proud of our early history in Clintonville and pleased that our family home is now part of history. Thank you for helping keep the records accurate.
Mary-Beth Kuester, Kay Kuester Doran, Carol Kuester Walker and Robert Kuester,
Clintonville
