Lancaster County, Nebraska

Historic and Architectural Sites Survey

NEHSB # :	LC00: E-144
Identification:
Address:
Historic Name:	Hulda Otto House
Common Name:	Hulda Otto House
Legal :	NW ¼  SE ¼  SW ¼   Section 4, T9N R8E (Stockton Twp)
Public Access :	No
Current Owner/Contact
Name :	Marvin Mueller / P.E.
Address:	1207 N 162nd St, Lincoln, NE	phone (402) 488-2554
Type / Condition
Condition:	Poor
Altered since original condition	No
major changes?	None
Moved?	No
Biographical
Orig. owner	Mary E. Lemke ( 1st owner of property)
Country of Birth	Germany	Date :
Place of Death		Date :
Occupation & Place of employ
Subsequent owners and dates
1.	John Lemke Jr.	Date	1877- ?
2.	Minnie (Lemke) Guthmann	Date	? - 1907
3.	George Retzlaff	Date	1907
4.	Hulda Retzlaff Otto	Date	1940 (died 1995)
Architectural / Landscape Data
Bldg  Name :	Hulda Otto House	Construction Date	Ca. 1890-1910
Architect or Firm :
Builder		Engineer
Landscape architect
Do plans exist	No	Describe
Where
Original use of property	Private residence
Subsequent use(s)	Private residence
Current use(s)	Vacant
Descriptive Data
Architectural Style
No. of Stories	1 ½
Plan	Front facing L-plan
Roof Type	Cross-gabled
Roof Materials	Asphalt shingle
Structural System	Balloon frame
Foundation	Limestone
Facade	Lap siding
Trim	Wood
Outbuildings	2 - Wood frame; 1 - corrugated steel silo
Describe other distinguishing exterior and interior features
	Wainscot on interior kitchen walls;
	Coursed, limestone rubble walls in cellar
	Rain-fed cistern on side porch
Surrounding Land Uses	Agricultural
Integrity of Property's Historic Setting	Excellent
Importance of Property to Historic Setting	Integral
History and Significance
	The property that this house is located on was originally held by Mary E. Lemke and was granted to her by Patent from the United States Government in 1869. This property passed through several Lemkes before acquisition by the Retzlaff family. It is unclear who built the current house, a sketch map contained within a Lemke family history indicates that John Lemke II resided at or near this same location prior to Hulda Otto.  Architectural details support a construction date ca. 1890 - 1910. Information from county registrar of deeds office indicates that George Retzlaff acquired the property from Minnie E. (Guthmann) Booth (granddaughter of Mary E. Lemke) by warrant deed in 1907. George Retzlaff was the son of Charles Retzlaff, a German immigrant who settled in Lancaster County in 1859. Hulda Retzlaff Otto was George Retzlaff's daughter.  Hulda Retzlaff Otto married Oscar W. Otto in 1917.  The Otto's lived in this house, and the property passed to Hulda Otto in 1940. The property is currently held by Hulda's daughter Lucille Otto. This small gabled house has an asphalt roof and is clad in clapboards.  Fenestration is irregular, but large windows were four over four double hung windows. No additions or major alterations are apparent.  A side porch (south facing) is collapse. A chicken coop located northeast of the house is also clad in clapboards, but has wooden shingles.   A stable located on site is collapsing, and has wooden shingles. A corrugated metal silo is situated immediately west of the stable.
Evaluation
	While this property meets the minimal age requirement for consideration of eligibility to the NRHP, it does not retain a significant amount of integrity. The association of Charles Retzlaff is locally interesting, but does not itself contribute to the potential eligiblity of this property.  The life and contributions of Charles Retzlaff are better represented by the inclusion of the Stevens Creek Stock Farm-Mardale Farm (LC00:E-88) which is located approximately 0.5 miles north of this property and is currently listed on the NRHP. Hulda Otto appears to have led a full and productive life, similar to other farm wives throughout Lancaster County.  However, no specific event or outstanding contribution to the history of Lancaster County  could be documented.  In addition, no information was gleaned through historical research or through conversations with family members which could contribute to our increased understanding of the role of women in the establishment and development of a permanent agricultural community in Lancaster County beyond what is already available through archival research. This site lacks integrity and is not the best representative of a small farm in the study area.  Therefore, this site is recommended not eligible to the NRHP.
Bibliography
	Discussions with Marvin Mueller, Marlene Retzlaff, Merle Retzlaff & Bob Lemke.
	Register of Deeds Numerical Index and Instrument Recordations
	Family-held newspaper clippings
	Who's Who in Lancaster County
	Lemke Family History compiled by Helen Smith and Faye Krone - 1972