Hemmer-Hock House 808 Cedar Bough Place New Albany, IN 47150
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$260,000
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When the neighborhood was developed at the turn of the twentieth century, “living on the Bough” was considered very prestigious, and it is still a desirable address today. Prior to its development, this area had been owned by the Beeler family and was known as “Cedar Dale.” Mr. Hemmer, the original owner of 808 Cedar Bough Place, was a grocer and had his business, C. H. Hemmer Grocery, at 527 East 4
th Street in downtown New Albany. Mr. Hemmer purchased this vacant lot in March 1904 and had the house built shortly thereafter. The home is gabled ell in form, with elements of the Queen Anne and Free Classic styles. The Hemmers’ son, known as “Chalkie,” also lived here. He was a fireman on the Monon Railroad. The Hemmer family lived here until the early 1920s.
The home then saw numerous occupants – including engineer James Conner, undertaker Elmer Dieckman, and Earl Phillips, who worked as a doorman at the Elks Theater – until the Bernard Hock family purchased it in the mid-1940s. Mr. Hock was an accomplished table tennis champion and formed his own company, the Table Tennis Co., to manufacture equipment. The basement of the house at 808 Cedar Bough was a popular gathering place for local youth interested in learning the sport or helping to produce paddles. The Hock family was also proprietors of Fidelity Roofing and Siding, which is still in existence in New Albany today as Fidelity Roofing Company.
The Hemmer-Hock house is surprisingly spacious, offering approximately 2500 square feet, including four bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The exterior of the one-and-a-half story home retains its original clapboard siding – freshly repainted – above a tall brick foundation. The house features the complex roofline typical of the Queen Anne style, with a central hipped roof and projecting gable bays, and two brick interior chimneys. The centerpiece of the main elevation is a wrap-around porch with fluted Roman Doric columns, a plain entablature and a beadboard ceiling. The windows in the home have been replaced with one-over-one units that maintain the original window size and pane configuration. Among the other newer updates are insulation, updated plumbing, dual HVAC systems, updated electric on all levels, and custom oak storm doors.
The front door, which features leaded glass in a floral motif, opens into a large foyer illuminated by a stained glass window. Quarter-sawn oak woodwork, hardwood floors, and ten-foot ceilings are seen here and found throughout the house. Pocket doors separate the foyer from the spacious front parlor, which includes a stained glass transom over the front window. The focal point of the room is a corner fireplace with a tile surround and a Classically-detailed quartersawn oak mantelpiece with full-height Corinthian columns and a beveled glass mirror.
The dining room, also accessible from the foyer, includes a bay with another stained glass window, as well as a pass-through opening to the former butler’s pantry. A second door to the front porch is also found in the dining room.
The adjacent kitchen has been tastefully updated to reflect the style and character of the house: it retains some original cabinetry, with new cabinets and a copper backsplash added to compliment the original features. The roomy butler’s pantry, with beadboard-clad walls and a swinging door to the kitchen, offers plenty of storage space.
The primary bedroom includes pocket doors separating it from the front parlor, and a good-sized closet. Both bedrooms have exposed hardwood floors and lots of natural light. The full bathroom is located between the two bedrooms and accessible from both, and features a clawfoot tub and a linen closet.
An enclosed staircase leads from the side hallway to the second level. This space – which offers soaring ceilings and lots of natural light, and has its own HVAC system – has recently been finished, creating two bedrooms and a full bathroom. The home sits upon a partial, unfinished basement that includes ample storage space, as well as the laundry area.
The corner lot has a very private, fenced back yard, which can be enjoyed on the covered patio. An off-street parking area is available at the alley.
Because Cedar Bough Place is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the owner of the Hemmer-Hock House would be eligible to take advantage of tax credits to help recoup qualified rehabilitation costs. For more information, visit
https://www.in.gov/dnr/historic-preservation/financial-assistance/residential-tax-credit/. The neighborhood is also a locally designated historic district. Because of this local designation, any exterior alterations must be reviewed and approved by the New Albany Historic Preservation Commission. For more information about the NAHPC and a copy of the City of New Albany Design Guidelines for the local historic districts, please visit
www.newalbanypreservation.com.
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Sale Price: |
$260,000.00
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Contact: |
For more information contact Morgan Bauer, Schuler Bauer Real Estate Services, at 502/287-8749 or morganbauer@schulerbauer.com. |