When Henry Guhleman built the property at 209 Cherry St. about 1910, it was a prominent neighborhood.
Owners of industries inside the Missouri State Penitentiary lived along Capitol Avenue around the corner, and many of their employees or other businessmen then lived on the intersecting side streets, like Cherry Street.
The area around the prison in the last several decades has seen a decline. But the last decade has seen an influx of property owners revitalizing the residential neighborhood.
Keith and Jeanie McGowan's efforts at this now-combined address have been recognized by the Historic City of Jefferson with the September Golden Hammer Award.
"They sold their dream home and purchased two properties on Cherry Street to follow their new dream of making a difference in the lives of the those living in this diverse downtown neighborhood," said selection committee chairman Laura Ward. "They feel a great sense to make a positive difference to revitalize the neighborhood.
"From an old neighborhood revitalization standpoint, I am really excited that they chose to make one of the properties their personal residence. It's really important to not only have people investing in our old neighborhoods, but also living in these neighborhoods.
"Just one change, good or bad, can influence an entire neighborhood. I have no doubt that the McGowans are a wonderful change and have created a great sense of security in this neighborhood."
John and Ellen Edwards, who owned many properties in the city at the turn of the century, sold these two lots to Guhleman in October 1907.
Guhleman was a foreman of Parker Shoe Company when he built the properties. Later, he became the secretary-treasurer of Scruggs-Guhleman Lumber Company. He lived at 211 Cherry St. until about 1938, with his first wife, Emma, then his second wife, Jane.
Historic researcher Deb Goldammer discovered the home had two front doors and two addresses at 209 and 211 until about 1968, without two houses on the same space.
Samuel Haley, a clerk in the Governor's Office, lived at 209 Cherry St. in 1913 with his wife, Beatrice. By 1915, Duncan Tait, a clerk in the Treasurer's Office, lived there.
George Middlekamp, the state treasurer in 1920, lived at 209 Cherry St. with his wife, Clara, and daughter, Florence. And Newell Strother, secretary of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation, lived there in 1925.
Thomas Allen, who was a guard at the MSP, lived there with his wife, Jeannie Allen, in 1929. They had about four lodgers, all of whom were public school teachers.
Elmer Gardener, a civil engineer with the state highway department, lived at 209 Cherry St. with his wife, Evelyn, from 1933-35.
After 1938, Guhleman lived at 209 Cherry St. and renters lived at 211 Cherry St.
Frank Licher, a clerk with the Power and Light Company, lived at 211 Cherry St. with his wife, Edna, in 1940.
Jane Guhleman was still listed at 209 Cherry St. in 1971. The properties transferred to sisters Glenora Groff Goser and Gloria Groff Thorne, along with their husbands, by 1972.
Douglas and Sandra Toebben owned the property in 1991 and sold to Cherry St. Capital City LLC in 2008.