N61 W6088 COLUMBIA RD

N61 W6088 COLUMBIA RD

Ozaukee

Cedarburg

1889

1988

house

Queen Anne

Asbestos

William Hilgen

No

Features include: triangular orielled bay over porch, stained and leaded glass transom on first floor front window. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: William Hilgen was the architect for this large Queen Anne house. It was built for Arthur R. and Hermina Boerner. The woodwork and stairway came from the Hilgen Manufacturing Co. The house cost between $3000 and $4000 to build, which was a goodly sum for its day. Arthur R. Boerner was born in Cedarburg in 1858. His aunt was Frederick Hilgen's wife. In 1866 his family moved from Milwaukee back to Cedarburg to operate and live in the family general merchandise store on Washington Ave. In 1876 Arthur attended Spencerian College in Milwaukee. He then worked for a Milwaukee manufacturer until his father's death which spurred him to move back to Cedarburg to run the store. He was 20 years old at the time (1878). Around 1886 he married Hermina and they had at least six children. In 1900 they also had two servants living with them. Although the Boerner store was a going concern when Arthur took it over he was nevertheless credited with building it into a successful business, with stores run by other younger brothers in West Bend and Port Washington. Boerner was also active in the establishment of the Gilson Mfg. Co. in Port Washington, was postmaster of Cedarburg, vice-president of the Riverside Creamery in Saukville, treasurer of another creamery in the Town of Cedarburg. Hermina died in 1907 and Arthur followed her in death in 1909. His obituary called him Ozaukee County's "leading businessman." From 1920-1935 the house was occupied by the William and Anna Roebken family. The founder of the Roebken family, who was probably William's father, was another relative of the Boerners and Hilgens from the same town in Oldenburg. William Roebken was a manufacturer and in 1923 had four young sons. William was one of the top managers at the woolen mill.

Wendt, p. 363. Ed Rappold. Port Washington Star, 06/12/1909. C. FRIEDRICH BOERNER, Cedarburg, 1937. Washington Avenue Historic District, NPHP nomination. Rappold, p. 64. Legend and Lore, p. 110. Tax Records. U.S. Census, 1860, 1900. 1923 City Directory.

Columbia Historic District

Jan 22, 1992

Oct 25, 1991

Yes