The name Tergin is synonymous with downtown Jefferson City.
Jim and Irene Tergin once lived at Tergin Apartments at 201 W. McCarty St., which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and built by Jim's father George who operated a shoeshine and hat shop on Madison Street. Jim and Irene operated a dry cleaning business at 117 High St., bought a Hallmark store and named it after his daughter Carrie. The popularity and profitability of Carrie's Hallmark has allowed for business expansion through the Tergins and Carrie's hard work. Now Mayor Carrie Tergin owns and operates the business.
Jim and Irene have renovated other downtown buildings through the years. However, one downtown structure they have owned finally received a full restoration about five years ago. Now known as the home of Coffee Zone, 130 E. High is a three-story commercial building built, circa 1885, that for 94 years served as the Brandenberger Drug Store. The Tergins have helped with renovations to the first floor since Coffee Zone opened in 2003, however, they saw how the upper floors of the building had fallen into disrepair.
"It was in such bad shape," Irene said. "We did all that work throughout the years until we finally decided we are just going to renovate it."
Jumping in full steam ahead, the Tergins and their hired renovation team restored the historic building to its former glory in about six months time. Now known as the Brandenberger Apartments, three apartments are furnished with modern amenities and characterized by restored original skylights, fireplaces, built-in cabinets, floors and fixtures. In May, they received the Landmark Designation Award from the Historic City of Jefferson, and this month, the same organization gave them the July Golden Hammer Award for their efforts to the building.
"Their building at 130 E. High, the Brandenberger Drug Store, is Italianate architecture and was stripped down over the years. It had missing decorative cornice details and an added aluminum store front with metal panels. They removed this faade and reconstructed the cornices and transoms," said Laura Ward, committee chairman for the Historic City of Jefferson's Golden Hammer Award. "The restoration is just beautiful and we want to share our gratitude by recognizing them for our July award."
Adolph Brandenberger bought the property in 1889 and operated a drug store, the "Deutsche Apothke," until 1935, according to information courtesy of the Historic City of Jefferson. As published in a 1932 Jefferson City Post-Tribune article about the Brandenberger Drug Store's 50th anniversary, Charles A. Buckner, son of Congressman A.H. Buckner, formed a partnership with Brandenberger to buy the B.A. Suppan drug store. Buckner only continued the business with Brandenberger for 14 months, and then Major J.M. Clarke allowed Brandenberger to buy out his partner and continue the business under his own name and for himself, the article said. The Brandenburg family lived above the store.
According to information Tergin provided, Brandenberger was an institution in the community. He stocked home remedies and patented medicines, as well as medicines prescribed by physicians. Before construction of the Central Trust Bank, the upper floors of the Brandenberger Drug Stores were filled with doctors' and dentists' offices. One of the physicians was Dr. J.S. Summers, a pioneer in ENT specialized medicine.
Soon after the Central trust Bank building was nearing completion, lightning in the form of a fire ball struck the Brandenberger Drug Store. The fire was brought under control quickly, but the offices could not be used, the information stated. Two doctors moved to the fifth floor of the Central Trust Bank before it was completed.
On Adolph's death in 1935 the property went to his wife Beulah Edom Brandenberger. Upon her death in 1950, the property went to their only surviving child, Jewel Brandenberger Francis. Jewel kept the property until she sold it to Jim and Irene in 1983.
In 2012, the Tergins applied and were approved for the city's Commercial Facade Improvement Program. The project included restoring the storefront, balcony reproduction, window replacement and masonry restoration. According to a News Tribune "Home Living" article on the renovation project, the Tergins also invested $350,000 into renovations and historical restoration of the facade and upper floors of the building and other improvements to the Coffee Zone shop.
Jim Wisch, founder and owner of Wisch and Vaughan Construction Co., supervised the efforts of a large team of craftsmen as general contractor and historical consultant of the Brandenberger project, with job superintendent Steve Duncan at his side.
They restored an original fireplace that offers a focal point to a room in one of the two second floor apartment and discovered an original pair of French doors during the demolition process and a dry sink cabinet, circa 1925, that was carefully dismantled, restored and installed for a unique china cabinet in the top floor two-bedroom 1,230-square-foot apartment, the "Home Living" article said.
"We found skylights on the top floor and didn't even know they had skylights," Irene said, noting they were restored with new insulated skylight glass and a square made of bead board to provide natural light.
"The railing in the stairwell is original and has been restored, and we discovered some amazing built-ins and original doorknobs and fixtures," Jim added. "Now, the apartments have everything you need, energy efficient appliances, parking."
"And we have been very lucky since day one and have very nice renters," Irene added.
Jim and Irene were surprised and thankful for receiving the Golden Hammer Award, which joins their recent Landmark Designation Award and National Register of Historic Places designation in 1976. Jim appreciates that this award is special to detail and restoration of historic, important buildings like the old Brandenberger Drug Store.
"We are thrilled about all the special awards, but this recognition is very special to detail," Jim said. "It is amazing and it makes it all worth it."
"It is good to recognize people that help go through this to fix up these building and bring them back to life, making them as close to the original as possible," Irene added about why the Golden Hammer Award is important.
Ward said the Historic City of Jefferson tries to recognize one of its downtown property owners each year with a Golden Hammer Award, and they believed Jim and Irene were very deserving.
"We have a beautiful downtown for many reasons, but it's because of those individuals, who take pride in its architectural character, that makes it extra special and a destination location," Ward said. "Jim and Irene Tergin are a wonderful example of owners who take great pride in our downtown."