501 LaSalle Street Wausau, WI 54403

Features

• Price/sqft: $74
• Lot Size: 5 acres

Facts

• Property ID: 653171413
• Property Type: Multi-family (2-4 units)
• County: MARATHON

Description

This property is offered for sale directly by the owner. For Sale By Owner homes, also known as FSBOs, can be a good buying opportunity, because the owner will save up to 6% when there are no brokers involved in the transaction. This leaves more room for price negotiation and potential buyer savings.

This listing is NOT a foreclosure. The Burger Estate$449,900501 LaSalle StreetWausau, WI 54403c. 1894 Three Story Queen Anne Victorian HomeApproximately 6000 square feet total; 1200 square feet on third floor partially finished (not permitted)Property includes 5 lots, each 126 x 60; total size of 126 x 300 half a city block!4-5 bedrooms4 bathrooms 2 full; 2 halfNew roof and exterior paint in 2015 - https://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/local/2015/06/03/historic-home-gets-new-roof/28430833/New concrete driveway and east entry sidewalk in summer of 2017New dishwasher, washer and dryer in 2018Property has rental potential and has been used as a duplex; utilities are metered separately for duplex useYard has sprinkler system with stand-alone water meter, patio of interlocking pavers, and garden fountain with sculptureEstate exterior and drone photos - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmKR3xdN Estate Interior photos - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmKQNe8L This exquisite, well-built and maintained Queen Anne style Victorian home built in 1894 in the East Hill Residential Historic District of Wausau is unique in many ways. Its signature round turret with custom curved glass double hung windows on two stories is just the first thing that sets it apart. The home is listed as a contributing asset of the East Hill Residential Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places - https://catalog.archives.gov/id/106781501. The Burger estate is a 6000+ square foot, three-storied Victorian home and detached three-car garage, on five city lots. The grounds abound with beautiful flower gardens and mature shrubs, including flowering magnolias, azaleas, lilacs and rhododendrons. In addition, 15 majestic and mature white pines, over 100 years old, seen as young trees in early photos of the home; as well as maple, birch, spruce and oak trees, contribute to the splendor of the property. Increasing this oasis of beauty, space and privacy is the historic City of Wausaus Stewart Park, with a outdoor stone amphitheater stage occasionally used for ballet, music or wedding events, located on the next block immediately east of the property. Set on a hill, the stately home overlooks the cityscape and has lovely views of Rib Mountain, particularly from the tower and master bedroom windows.Quality craftsmanship and the magnificence of the original woodwork is showcased in the interior of the home. The original maple hardwood floors are beautifully refinished; the woodwork, trim, built in hutch, fireplace mantelpiece, pocket doors and ornate bannister are all preserved in the home, as they existed in 1894. Interior and exterior doors are original, in impeccable condition, and made of quarter-sawn oak. Four stained glass windows and two stunning stained glass transoms set into picture windows are original to the home. Touring the Home First FloorEntering the home from the east side which has the driveway, three-car detached garage, and paver patio surrounded by raised perennial flower gardens, the main floor entryway contains a pantry. Doors in the entry lead to the basement, second floor, or to the large first floor kitchen, which was expanded from the original home when indoor plumbing was added. The kitchen contains extensive cabinets and all appliances including a dishwasher (new in 2018). The wood flooring in the kitchen was refinished in 2019 to match the rest of the first story. The first floor ceilings are ten feet high.Moving through the kitchen, the next room encountered is the large dining room, made impressive by maple hardwood flooring in a unique pattern (including the original buzzer for the servants, still present in the floor); built in china hutch, brick fireplace, and original solid oak wall paneling. There is also a deep closet in the dining room. This area of the house boasts a stunning open concept, with an archway delineating the living room. The combined dining room/living room areas traverse the home from north to south and create a dramatic space, reminiscent of a ballroom, flanked by the huge window wall in the dining room, facing north into the grove of mature white pine trees; and the even more striking bay window in the living room looking south to the trees and gardens in the yard. Due to the spaciousness, bright natural light and superb views, this space is wonderful both to live and entertain in. The exquisite original stained glass transom window crowns the living room view, the first of six original stained glass windows you will find in the home.The living room contains one side of the original three-sided fireplace, with the mantelpiece and tile from the original construction. A double-wide doorway, which can be closed off by pocket doors, leads to another dramatic vista a magnificent spacious room with a large picture window overlooking Wausau, completed by another stained glass transom window. In one corner of this room is the tower and three double hung curved glass windows including all original wood trim, and the custom curved radiator. In the other corner is the formal entrance to the home, and the ornate oak bannister framing the grand staircase to the second floor. The original Aladdins oil lamp fixture in the formal entry was modified to accommodate electricity and is still in use. This room contains a closet, and has been used in the past as either an office or as a master bedroom.Back in the living room, there is a standard sized door, which also can be closed by a pocket door, leading to a room with large south facing double hung windows. This room contains a closet and has been used as a playroom, TV room, music room, or bedroom. At the end of this room is a wide door with a full-length mirror, leading to the full bathroom on the first floor. This bathroom contains a pedestal sink, six-foot tub, arched and tiled shower, deep closet and built in medicine and linen cabinets and drawers. The living room has one more door with a transom window above it, leading to the entryway for the south side entrance to the home; this room has been used as a large walk-in closet. Touring the Home Second FloorHeading up the grand staircase to the second floor, the beauty of the ornately carved oak bannister is accented by natural light shining through four decorative stained glass windows, facing north. At the top of the stairs is a landing with a large west-facing window, perfect for a reading nook.The second floor contains three large bedrooms and a hallway, all with original maple floors. The south bedroom is the largest, and has been used as a master bedroom. The bay window in this room affords views of nature and of the city and the Rib Mountain downhill ski slopes. There is a triangular cupboard and shelves built into the wall of the south bedroom. The southwest bedroom has the turret and windows in the corner, and contains two closets, one large with built in drawers, and one small. The north bedroom has two large windows looking to the white pine trees, and a cedar-lined walk-in closet with built in drawers.Moving down the hallway to the east side of the home, a door in the hallway divides the former servants quarters on the second floor from the family bedrooms. The hallway after passing through this doorway is carpeted. There are two rooms in this part of the second floor. First is a kitchen, updated with new vinyl flooring and paint in 2019, which contains a working antique electric range and oven. An exterior door leads from the kitchen to the secluded covered balcony on the northeast corner of the home. This room has been used as a kitchen when the house has been set up as a duplex; it has also been used for hobbies, or as a bedroom.The other room on the second floor is a very large full bathroom, tiled in stunning black and white. This bathroom was modified from the original home, and formerly was the servants bedroom. This bathroom contains two sinks, a toilet, a bidet, and tub/shower, as well as two large windows with privacy glass. Storage cabinets are built in over the sinks as well as at the head of the tub. Outside of the bathroom is a large walk in closet with original built in drawers. A water heater for the upstairs bathroom is located in this closet above the drawers.From the carpeted area of the second floor hallway, one can proceed down a curving staircase (formerly the servants staircase) and arrive back in the entryway outside of the main floor kitchen. The door heading up these stairs can be locked. The two staircases from the first to second floor have allowed the home to be easily modified to use as a duplex in the past. The heating and cooling of the home are zoned by floor, and the first and second floor utilities are separately metered.Touring the Home Third FloorFrom the second floor hallway, there is one more door, which leads to the attic of the home. This spectacular space has amazing potential. The large single room boasts a vaulted ceiling that follows the roofline and soars to 15 feet at the high point. Six large windows and a skylight provide natural light and stunning views. The original unfinished hardwood flooring is in place and level. A small doorway allows access to a round room, the top of the turret. The brick chimney is lined by shelves and runs through the space. The attic is insulated and has a stand-alone high efficiency boiler with discrete baseboard heat around the entire perimeter, and central air conditioning. A half bath has been added to the southeast corner. This room has potential for use as a master suite, a playroom, or any number of uses. Former owner Dr Josef Burger used this space for his extensive model train collection, and had four separate train tables set up with multi-level tracks and trains operating on each table. He spent many enjoyable hours in this space, and added the insulation, heat, air conditioning and half bath to the attic to accommodate pursuing his hobby in comfort and style.Touring the Home BasementFrom the east entryway, stairs lead to the finished basement. The first room encountered is a large laundry room and half bath, with tiled floor and walls tiled half way up. The washer and dryer are included and were replaced in 2018. A chest freezer also comes with the home. A closet in this room encloses the main water heater and water softener.The main room in the basement is an open concept room spanning the width of the home from north to south, with a double window in the south wall. This area has been used as a TV room and playroom, for family gathering and for hobbies. The north wall has a wide door leading to the old storm cellar staircase to the outside, and provides useful access to move furniture in and out of the basement. In the center of this room is the natural gas boiler that heats the home, surrounded by screens.Two doors lead off the main room; the door to the east leads to a small room with built in bookshelves and cabinets. This room has a south facing window and has served as an office or sewing/hobby room. The door on the west wall of the main room leads to a larger room, which also has built in bookshelves and a north-facing window. This room has been a playroom, housed the initial model train setup of Dr Josef Burger (before he moved it to the attic to expand the size of it), and for the past decade was used by Dr Angela Burger for her quilting projects.Home Heating and CoolingAll four floors of the house are heated and central air-conditioned. The basement and first and second floors have radiator heat, powered by a natural gas boiler; many of the radiators are ornate and the radiators in the turret are curved to match the space.The attic has a stand-alone high efficiency boiler with discrete baseboard heat around the entire perimeter. There are two air conditioning units outside the home providing ample cooling capacity for the central air system. The heating and cooling of the home are zoned by floor, and the first and second floor utilities are separately metered.Grounds MaintenanceThe Burger Estate yard, garden, tree maintenance and snow removal services are provided by Luckys Lawn and Snow LLC of Schofield, WI.Home HistoryDespite the age of this home, it has only had three owners, which has contributed to so many of the original components being preserved as they are today. Noted Wausau pharmacist and State Senator William W. Albers built the home in 1894, and his family owned it until 1950. At that time the home was sold to the family of Fred W Genrich. By 1964, the son of Fred Genrich, Fred W Genrich III, was living in the upstairs of the home and renting out the first floor to Drs Josef and Angela Burger, who then purchased the home in 1967. The Burger family has lived in the home for 56 years, the last 53 years as owners, and feel that living in this home is an incredible experience. The beauty of the home nourishes the heart, mind and soul, and is why owners stay here as long as they possibly can.