Through the help of the City of Jefferson's Rental Facade Improvement Program, Charlie Frank's renovation to a 1930s home as earned 706 Swifts Hwy. the Historic City of Jefferson's Golden Hammer recipient for August.
According to Golden Hammer committee chair Laura Ward, Frank was awarded assistance through the Rental Facade Improvement program, which allows homeowners to enhance the aesthetics of the city by improving exterior appearance and condition of neighborhood residential rental properties.
"I definitely think this project has been a win-win-win for the property owner, the neighborhood and the city," Ward said.
As the property's new homeowners, Frank and his wife, Bridget, have two young children and one on the way. He shared with the Historic City of Jefferson that restoring this home has been a sacrifice for all, Ward said. He also said he could not have accomplished what he has without the assistance and expertise of his father, Ron Frank.
Ward said Frank replaced the roof, siding, doors and windows and also added a new porch.
"One of the most impressive things about this home is the view of the Capitol. Charlie shared that when he purchased the home, this view was blocked by overgrown vegetation. They now have a wonderful view of not only our beautiful State Capitol, but also the Fourth of July fireworks."
Ward said the Historic City of Jefferson is excited about the restoration of the property on Swifts Highway since it's a substantial transformation that improves the aesthetics of one of the city's historic areas.
"It's a small property, but Charlie Frank has made an impact," she said.
The house at 706 Swifts Highway was formerly 104 Swifts Highway, according to Ward. Built around 1930, the 1925 city directory actually indicated there was no 104 Swifts Highway. However, the 1929 city directory Samuel and Minnie Wyrick were living at 104 and owned the house. They may not have built the house, Ward said.
Fred W. Stewart, of Boone County, sold the property to Henry Schneider, of Cole County, on June 20, 1928, for $715 and loaned him $415 for the purchase. On July 16, 1929, Schneider sold the property to Wyrick for $2,600.
"For that price, there probably was a house on the property. That would mean the Schneiders built it," Ward said.
In the 1925 directory, Schneider is in construction and living with his wife Katherine at 312 W. Dunklin St. In 1929, he is listed as owning a business at 118 W. Elm St. Schneider is listed under contractors in the directory, and he probably built the house but did not live in it. Ward said the Wyricks were probably the first residents.
In the 1920 U.S. Census, Samuel and Minnie Wyrick were living at 294 W. Atchison St., and he is a 58-year-old farm laborer. Minnie is 57. In 1910, they had a mortgaged farm in Miller County. They had four children - Sadie, John, Samuel and Carney. In 1925, Samuel is a watchman in the Supreme Court building. This job must have improved his income because he bought the Swifts Highway house in 1929 at age 67. The home was worth about $2,800 at that time.
The Rolls lived there through 1946, and Michael and Kath McCarty then lived at the house in 1948. In 1951, Earl Williams was living at the Swifts Highway home, at some point acquiring the property, according to information provided by Ward. Williams was a clerk with the state highway department in the '50s, then working at Buescher's Funeral Home and serving as a doorkeeper for the senate. During the '60s, the houses were renumbered, with 104 becoming 706.
Listed as retired in 1977, Williams continued to live in the house with his wife Lillian. He died in 1978. According to the county records, the final settlement of his estate, which included the property, was dated July 7, 1980, and the property was divided in thirds to Deborah K. Steppleman Higginbothan, David Louis Steppleman and Donna Sue Steppleman.
In 1978, they sold the home to David Walther, who died on July 4, 2014. The property was left to Jennifer Walther Helvey and Kelly A. Trigg. They then sold the property to Sackett Group, LLC on Sept. 19, 2014.