"King' Heinrich's house became city's first public funeral home

Forgotten gem receives the Golden Hammer Award

This July 2012 photo shows the Jefferson City house at 712 E. High St., which is a recipient of the Golden Hammer Award.
This July 2012 photo shows the Jefferson City house at 712 E. High St., which is a recipient of the Golden Hammer Award.

A "forgotten gem" was discovered at 712 E. High St. when Donna and Michel Deetz teamed up with Laurelanne Bellezzo on a business venture to create office and meeting space on Jefferson City's Near East End.

"Their rescue mission of this house has saved it from further abuse and neglect, and preserved for Jefferson City yet another piece of history," said Deedie Bedosky, spokesman of the Historic City of Jefferson's Golden Hammer Award selection committee.

Doing most of the work themselves, the team rebuilt a crumbling porch and retaining wall, and added landscaping and paint on the outside.

Many architectural details are being restored to the interior, including an entryway bench and stairway spindles.

In the process of rejuvenating 712 E. High St., the Deetzes also bought and improved two neighboring lots.

Frank Heinrich, known to his contemporaries as "King" Heinrich, built 712 E. High St. in 1900. Heinrich was the local funeral director and also owned a furniture store, common for that day.

Heinrich's son Charles bought the family's home and opened the first public funeral home in the 1920s.

The Dulle family bought the property and business in 1943. They lived on the second floor while operating the funeral home until moving to the corner of High and Marshall streets, now the Cole County Special Services.

A variety agencies, including the Girls Scouts, the Cancer Society and the Visiting Nurses Association, occupied 712 E. High St. 

By the 1970s, it was divided into three residential flats.

The Deetzes and Bellezzo bought the house from a bank in 2010.

Although the couple have renovated other historic properties, including the nearby 602 E. High St., this was a first for Bellezzo.

"I gained an appreciation of the original workmanship," Bellezzo said.

With the emphasis on renewing the Old Town area, Bellezzo said she was pleased to be part of a project that "picked up and dusted off one more building on the East Side.

"We're looking forward to having tenants in it, and it being a good investment down the road," she said.