Reimer Financial to hold March 24 open house in historic building
Members of the Reimer Financial Group are enjoying their newly-renovated historic office space. From left are Andy Reimer, Nikole Hoeger and Troy Sprenger. (Press photo by Molly Moser)
By Molly Moser
New York Life financial advisor Andy Reimer has completed renovations on the limestone building at 316 S. 1st Street, Guttenberg, making it the home of his new office. Reimer will host an open house for community members interested in seeing the updates on Friday, March 24, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with refreshments provided by Picket Fence, Kaffee 1858, and Sode's Green Acre Cafe.
“We’ve had lots of people coming in to check it out already,” Reimer told The Press. “They remember having ice cream or a beer in here.” That’s because the building was formerly the site of a grocery store, ice cream parlor, and bar. Built in 1860, Reimer recently learned it was also a hotel before the turn of the century.
“From what I learned about the Nigg building, it was one of the oldest buildings in Guttenberg,” said Mary Nigg Bartholet, whose parents purchased Reimer's building in the late 1920s. “At the time the building had the grocery store downstairs with a room for an ice-cream parlor on the side of the store toward the hill.”
“In the late 1930's after Prohibition was over, Dad converted the ice cream parlor into a bar where men stopped for a glass of beer on their way to their homes after a day's work. Over the years during the 1930's, he had people working for him in both the store and later the tavern until the late 1930's/early 40's when people took on other jobs during World War II.”
The building later served four decades as John’s TV Service and Hartmann Bed and Bath. After owner John Hartmann sold his business to Guttenberg native Carl Sadewasser, Reimer bought the building. Sadewasser worked alongside Hartmann for several years, learning the ins and outs of television service and repair, before purchasing the business. He now operates Guttenberg Electronics at 415 S. Highway 52.
Sadewasser returned to the former home of his business last week to install two new televisions, which Reimer and his associates will use to give presentations. “It’s come full circle,” said Reimer, watching Sadewasser work.
Many local craftsmen have been hired to help with the reconstruction, including Jeff Hoeger of House to Home Remodeling, Aaron Reed and Brad Eglesder of B&M Electric, painter Dave Poggenklass, Rob Ender Flooring and Gary Goyette, who has over 30 years experience in the field of architectural restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation of historic structures. Meuser Lumber has been the source for the majority of supplies, and Meyer Mechanical has also been involved with the project.
Renovations on the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, began June 29 of last year. Marc Kuempel of Kuempel Masonry removed the stucco on the building’s exterior, tuck-pointed the mortar joints beneath, and replaced minimal sections of the rock with stone from the Reimer family farm. The Kuempel Masonry crew performed the same process on an interior wall, exposing what was the west exterior wall of the original limestone building. “You just can’t recreate this rock,” said Reimer.
All the work was done while preserving as much of the original structure as possible. After gutting the building and removing three and a half dumpsters of waste material, crews poured a new level flooring and installed vinyl and carpet. New interior walls were built and one original limestone wall was restored, and a kitchenette and full bathroom were added. New heating and cooling systems were installed to regulate two offices, a conference room, and the main lobby. The exterior rear stairway was replaced, and paneling on exterior windows and doors was restored. Reimer will finish off the project with work on the roof and the second-story door directly above the office’s main entrance.
A community member recently asked Reimer how far he had to go to find someone to work on the celebrated limestone. “About six blocks,” he responded.
“People in town can do this. I’d like to see more renovation. There are still a lot of opportunities in this town; a lot of businesses and a lot of empty storefronts.” He commends owners of businesses like Sodes Green Acre Café, Kaffee 1858, and Ole’s Five-Star Realty, who saw the potential in their properties and made an effort to improve them. “I hope others will be inspired by the work we’ve done here,” Reimer told The Press.
