County of building: Franklin County
Location of building: W. Front St., 2nd store front W. of Olive St., south side, Washington
Built: 1865/1905
Architect: 1865 Bldg: Otto Brix
Architectural Style: Italianate
Current Occupant: Vacant
"This one masonry story building appears to have undergone
a number of alterations over an extended period of time.
The remaining structure is divided into two sections.
The section of the building nearest Front St. appears to
be the newer. The building attached to the south of the
newer section has had extensive alteration.
"Older Section, Circa 1865:
On the south elevation there is evidence of a large opening
now bricked in and containing a door opening within the space of the original
opening. It is possible that this large opening allowed entry of wagonloads of goods. The east elevation (Photo right) contained five openings just below
the cornice. It is possible that these were used as loading chutes into railway cars. The tracks are parallel to the limestone foundation. These openings
are now bricked in however brick arches and stone sills are still in place.
Recently a garage door has been installed central to this elevation. The west
elevation contains evidence of four windows with transoms above now bricked in.
Brick arches crown these. Brick piers are in evidence. A new door opening
exists. A simple double band of projecting brick forms a cornice. The north
elevation is attached to the newer section of the building.
Newer Section, Circa 1905:
This section of the building has a dressed limestone foundation. On
the north elevation double leaved wooden doors with two levels of three paned
transoms above are existing. Windows are 6/6 double hung with limestone sills.
Transoms are now boarded. Brick arches are in place above.The corners of the
north elevation contain a frieze formed by a corbelled brick motif. Brick
pilasters engage at the corners and extend beyond the roofline where they
are capped by limestone. The east elevation also contains a double leaved
door flanked by 6/6 double hung windows. Here three light transoms are in
place above. Vent windows appear above transoms. On this and west elevation
the frieze contains corbelling which spans the entire elevation. On the east
elevation a brick pier and frieze project from the new section of the building
to incorporate the older section of the building.
"The 1850 census lists a Washington miller. Francis Sulltrop, as a possible
owner of the older section of building.The building is on the site of the John Schwegmann Mill. An 1860 engraving by Robyn shows the Schwegmann Mill to be a 3 story frame building. It is possible that the older building is
a masonry addition.By 1900 Anton Tibbe owned the site. He is probably the person who built the newer section of the building which faces Front St." ~ DNR Historic Survey PDF page 75 (The original photos are also here.)
"The building was the second of three electrical plants built by Anton Tibbe Sr., according to a historical plaque on the building. It was completed in 1904.
"Marc Houseman, director of the Washington Historical Society Museum, said Tibbe was responsible for bringing both electricity and telephone service to Washington in the 1890s.
"Houseman said Tibbe also owned the Missouri Meerschaum Company.
'“His desire was to replace steam power at the factory with electricity,” he said. “There was no electricity in Washington, so Tibbe built a building at Fourth and Oak streets from which electricity was generated. He sold this to a competitor and then quickly built this Front Street building in 1904 and was back in business.
'“His competitor was none too happy, and bought Tibbe out a second time,” Houseman said. “Again, for a third time, Tibbe built a plant just west of the pipe factory thus going into business against his competitor one final time.”
"Tibbe later sold out and moved to California, Houseman said.
'“This particular building later became the headquarters for Hausgas, a home gas company operated by the Hausmann family,” he said.
"The Tibbe power plant was built on the site of the old Schwegmann Mill which was mostly demolished in order to build the present building. However, a small portion of the mill was saved, for whatever reason, Houseman said, and remains as part of the present building (the southernmost, back side)."
~ The Missourian, By Joe Barker, Jan. 22, 2015