One House’s Story: Gustavus A. and Elizabeth Senhauser

Swiss immigrant Gustavus Senhauser began his American journey as a lighthouse tender in New Jersey, but would build a thriving family business in Ohio, that left a lasting architectural legacy in New Philadelphia.

There is a house that sits prominently on North Broadway in New Philadelphia, Ohio that would, at first glance, give one the assumption that a large and successful family once lived there. That observation is half right, as it was once the home of the childless son of one of New Philadelphia’s most prominent mercantile families and his wife. At the time of this writing, the house is now for sale and will likely meet its modern owners soon.

The first and last name of both the elder and younger Gustavus Senhauser appear in a variety of incarnations in the historical record. I have chosen to use that found on their headstones.

Gustavus Senhauser (1825-1904) arrived in the United States in 1846 from Switzerland and, shortly after arriving, worked as a lighthouse tender in Cape Henlopen, New Jersey. Less than two years later he moved to Thompsonville, Connecticut, worked as a loom repairman and met fellow Swiss immigrant Margaret Willey (1829-1917). The couple married in 1848 in Connecticut and determined to strike out west for a new life in Ohio. They arrived in New Philadelphia, Ohio in the fall of 1854, establishing their household on West High Street.

Initially Gustavus clerked in a local dry goods store but, taking advantage of his eastern connections with clothing merchants, partnered with other local merchants and then later opened his own clothing store under the family name. Gustavus and Margaret’s family included three sons and two daughters, and all three sons worked with, and for, their father’s clothing business. One of those sons, born in 1862 carried the name of his father, Gustavus A. Senhauser (1862-1911). The younger Gustavus worked in his father’s stores and, in November 1886, married Elizabeth Eckert (1865-1951).

The elder Gustavus retired from the business in 1895, leaving it to his sons to continue to manage the Senhauser stores located in New Philadelphia and elsewhere. That same year Gustavus and Elizabeth’s daughter, and only child, died at the age of two and the couple had no more children after her death. Gustavus, Sr. died in August 1904, leaving the majority of his estate to his wife Margaret. Three years later, in 1907, Gustavus A. and Elizabeth purchased a large, stately, and newly built home on the prominent southeast corner of North Broadway and North Avenue in New Philadelphia.

The home was constructed in the very popular Queen Anne style and was built with the many decorative elements typical of that style of architecture. These included the robust cross-gabled roof, large and deep front and side porch with grouped columns, wide bay windows, and a Palladian style feature on a second floor door. The house today retains much of its exterior and interior details, though with Queen Anne style homes, it is always possible that there may have been more exterior design elements that have not survived. You can view interior images of the home by clicking here (as of 10/29/2024).

Gustavus did not have the opportunity to enjoy his new home for very long. During a trip to Cleveland in the fall of 1911 to visit family and friends, Gustavus became ill and after five days of suffering, died at the age of 49 from kidney failure. Elizabeth Senhasuer continued to live in the home for many years before moving into the house just east of it and selling the larger home in 1937 to a local industrialist. Elizabeth Senhauser died in June 1951 and she and Gustavus are buried in East Avenue Cemetery. Today the house stands as a monument to one of New Philadelphia, Ohio’s most successful 19th and early 20th century merchant families.

© Noel B. Poirier, 2024.