Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series on the Woodcrest neighborhood. The first was published Nov. 21.
"It was an ideal night for an out of door affair. Dainty refreshments followed by a good cigar made for the content of the men who were present." This was a description in the society pages of a local 1916 paper of a soiree at the Tweedie home in Jefferson City's Woodcrest neighborhood.
The new neighborhood catered to the elite, with large, manicured yards to host many lavish parties, the homes with quarters for live-in maids and chauffeurs.
The Charles Tweedie family was one of the first prominent families to live in the Woodcrest Addition. Their large estate occupied half a city block, 3.4 acres, so big Woodlawn takes a jag around it at the corner of Adams and Woodlawn. Built before Adams Street was laid, the house is most likely the old Ewing house "Schoenberg" built in 1869. It faced north presumably because it fronted the 300 block of East Franklin Street; two blocks of Franklin were removed when Woodcrest Addition was platted in 1913.
Charles was a son of John Tweedie, a Scottish immigrant who founded the A. Preismeyer Shoe Company in 1874. The name of the company was later changed to the Tweedie Footwear Corp. John Tweedie's son Charles, his grandson William Sr. and great-grandson William Jr. succeeded him in the company's operation until its closure in the 1970s.
In 1968, the house and property on Adams Street were sold by the Tweedie heirs. As rumors of a coming apartment complex circulated, neighbors were concerned. Even the Tweedie heirs who expected the home to be renovated by the new owners were alarmed. But with little fanfare, it was demolished; a nursing home rather than apartments was soon built in its place. Trying to make the best of a sad turn-about, long-time resident Roberta "Bobbie" Herman said, "At least they are quiet neighbors."
Across the street at 1021 Adams St., William Tweedy Sr. built his house (about 1929) on 1 acre of land. His widow, Adelaide, continued to live there until her death in 1992.
The Robert Herman family bought the house at 1005 Adams St. from the widow of Alfred Hawkins and are only the second owners. Hawkins was an executive with the Midland Printing Company that had a large contract with the state of Missouri. The English Tudor home built around 1930 on almost 2 acres was designed by Mrs. Hawkins, Veva, a native of England. When the Hermans looked to buy the house in 1966, the widow Hawkins had a live-in chauffeur and maid. As they toured the expansive wooded park around the house, Bobbie asked the maid about the "shed" down in the backyard. She curtly corrected Bobbie. That was "the summer house." Indeed! It had electricity, indoor plumbing and a kitchen. Back in their heyday, the Hawkins were renowned for their lavish parties. Mrs. Hawkins died the day the Hermans signed the papers buying the house.
In 1914, David and Dora Mae Houchin Oberman built the expansive 6,800-square-foot home at 400 Woodlawn on 3.5 acres. All but about 1.4 acres was sold off over the years. The original red brick was later stuccoed. A Prussian immigrant, Oberman founded the Oberman Mfg. Co., one of the prison industries. The Obermans' only child, Theodore, built a house a block away at 1001 Adams St. in 1920. But by the 1940s, the family sold it and moved into the Woodlawn mansion with his aging parents. The house remained in the Oberman family until 1997.
The house at 1001 Adams St. is not the original structure, but from the outside, you would not know it. Current owners Allen and Patricia Pollock bought the original grand white stucco "L"-shaped house in 1978, but a lightning strike in 2006 destroyed it. The Pollocks rebuilt the house faithful to the original. An unusual touch, Patricia recalls the walls of the original living room were covered with hand-painted canvas.
In 1925, John Guy Gibson built the elegant Spanish Revival home at 1025 Adams St. Gibson was president of the Jefferson City Oil Company and developed Warwick Village. The home was later owned by attorney Flip Carson of Carson and Coil.
Other notable early residents of Woodcrest include Gov. Sam A. Baker, who lived in the four-square house at 1023 Adams St.; state Treasurer George H. Bates later lived at this address. Hugo Monnig, part of the shoe-manufacturing industry and son of Oscar Monnig, lived at 408 Woodlawn. The owner of the first steam laundry business in the city was Clem Thornton at 410 Woodlawn. Congressman Dorsey Shackleford also lived on Woodlawn and was one of the Schoenberg Land Company's investors.
In May 2019, the neighborhood sustained a direct hit from the historic Jefferson City tornado, knocking off chimneys, breaking windows, destroying outbuildings and uprooting trees. But the neighborhood survived, repaired and rebuilt. As it passes its century mark, it remains stately and beautiful.
Jenny Smith and Deborah Goldammer are retired board members of the Historic City of Jefferson Inc.