Annat House-558 N. Market St., Wooster, Ohio

The house located at 558 N. Market St. was reportedly built in 1860 by property owner George P. Emerich. Photograph by S. Zimmerman

This Civil War era house located at 558 N. Market St. in Wooster, Ohio was built by Captain George P. Emrich. The house features a mansard style roof. The outside walls are 23inch solid masonary of bricks originally made on the Emrich farm near town. The third floor features a ballroom complete with an orchestra alcove. The house remains much as it was when Captain Emrich built it, but the front stairway was reversed and a small brick addition was added when the building was used as funeral home.

Comprehensive History

Considered to be "one of the finest and best constructed private residences in the city," the stately building at 558 North Market Street, Wooster, was built beginning in 1860 by George P. Emrich, a Civil War captain who purchased the property from John and Kate McSweeney. The Emrich family lived here until 1900, when they sold the house to local businessman William Annat, for whom the building is named. After Annat's death in 1941, his children decided to leave the home to their brother Charles, who lived there until 1944, when he sold it to Harvey and Helen Heise. In 1946, the property changed hands again, purchased by Warren L. and Florence Pim, who used the building as a funeral home. After the funeral home was sold in 1979, the building eventually house law firms.

According to a Daily Record article written by Barbara Bright, student in Dr. Arn Lewis's Art History course at the College of Wooster, aside from an addition at the back of the building, the house remains "relatively the same as it was when it was constructed." Major changes included the reversal of the main staircase and the addition of a kitchen and improved bathroom facilities on the second floor; minor changes included the conversion of closets to bookshelves and the elimination of doorways. The beautiful woodwork, a highlight of the house, was maintained throughout the house, and stained glass windows were placed in the music room and the upstairs bathroom. The third level originally featured a ballroom with orchestra alcove.

Timeline

• March 28, 1859: George P. Emrich, Civil War captain, purchases the property from John and Kate McSweeney for $800.
• 1860: Construction begins on house.
• 1880: Emrich moves from farm to this house in town.
• September 25, 1900: Kate and George P. Emrich sell the property to William Annat for $5,000.
• 1941: William Annat dies; ownership of property shared by his children.
• August 1944: Charles (William's son) and Elizabeth Annat sell property to Harvey and Helen Heise for $11,550.
• November 4, 1946: Harvey and Helen Heise sell home to Warren L. and Florence Pim for $24,750. Building becomes Pim Funeral Home.
• 1971: James Endres takes over ownership of funeral home from Warren Pim. Business renamed Pim-Endres Funeral Home.
• 1979: Endres closes business and sells property to Dean Grosjean and partners.
• ???-2015: Location of Kennedy, Cicconetti, Knowlton & Buytendyk Law Firm (Kennedy Cicconetti Knowlton).
• 2015: Broehl Law Office LLC relocates to Annat House.

Owners

• George P. and Kate Emrich, March 28, 1859-September 25, 1900
• William Annat, 1900-1941
• Charles and Elizabeth Annat, 1941-1944
• Harvey and Helen Heise, 1944-1946
• Warren L. and Florence Pim, 1946-1970s?
• James and Patricia Endres, 1970s?-1979

Newspaper Articles

• 

  Wayne County Democrat, Nov. 1883 p.3

• 

  Daily Record, 19 April 1973.

• 

  Daily Record, 19 April 1973.

• 

  Daily Record, 19 April 1973.

• 

  Daily Record, 19 April 1973.

• 

  Daily Record, 1979.

• 

  Dennis Haas sketch of 558 N. Market St., Wooster, Ohio. c.1970s

Wayne County Recorder Property Transfers

• 1857:
  • Mirtilla Bowman To Jacob B. McKennan Trust Deed Vol. 50 p.242
  • J.B. McKennan's Addition to the Town of Wooster: Plat of 30 outlots numbered 149-178 dated November 7, 1857.
• 1858: J. B. McKennan (mis-spelled McKinney) To John McSweeney, Lucas Flattery Vol. 48 p.75 Old Lot No. 149
• 1859: John McSweeney To G. P. Emerich Vol. 54 p.288 Old Lot No. 149, March 28, 1859, $800
• 1884: Wayne County Sheriff, Civil Action G.P. Emrich, etal To Catherine Norton Vol. 110 p.392 part of Old Lot No. 149, $5,100 (Emrich owed his sister, Catherine Norton, $1,690.46)
• 1884: Catherine Norton To Kate Emrich Vol. 111 p.104 $5,100
• 1900: Kate Emerich, G.P. Emerich To William Annat Vol. 141 p.322 part of Old Lot No. 149, now known as Lot 1638, $5,000
• 1944: William Annat To Harvey Heise, Helen Heise, $11,500
• 1946: Harvey Heise, Helen Heise To Warren Pim $24,750

See Also

• To figure out how much people paid for a property read about Revenue Stamps and Property Conveyance Fee History