The Hauck Mansion has lived many different lives since its construction in 1904. At first it was used as a residence and farm for Louis Hauck of the John Hauck Brewing Co. There, draft horses could catch some rest and recover before being sent back downtown to pull wagons for the Dayton Street Brewery. Most recently it was used as a music school. But more than one hundred years later, it has fallen into disrepair and found itself up for sale in a Sheriff’s auction last summer. That’s when Andy Thul stepped in.Mr. Thul, who spent the majority of his career in residential building, purchased the house at last summer’s auction and is restoring it back to its former beauty. "I couldn’t stand the thought of tearing it down," he said. "You just can’t rebuild that kind of craftsmanship."
And so the work begins. Mr. Thul started with the most important element of any house, the roof. After the chimney repairs were completed, he called The Durable Slate Company to repair the red flat slab shingle tile. The Durable Slate Company was recommended to Mr. Thul by a consultant from his local preservation society because of its commitment to historic preservation and reputation of excellent craftsmanship.
While the roofers from The Durable Slate Company are busy making their meticulous repairs on the red flat slab shingle roof, Mr. Thul is already thinking about the next thing on the repair list. Masonry and other external elements of the structure will be tackled before anything else.
Once the mansion is returned to its former state of beauty and usefulness, Mr. Thul envisions it being used for commercial purposes. Possibilities include another music hall, banquet facility or offices among others. Mr. Thul is even considering putting an addition on the back of the house if necessary. Paperwork is also underway to designate the property on the National Register of Historic Places.
Updated pictures of the house will follow as work progresses. What do you hope to see it used for?
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