The James Sheeley House has been a part of the Chippewa Valley since 1884
It's a part of History!
The Sheeley House has been serving customers in the Chippewa Valley in one capacity or another for over a century. At the height of the logging era, it was one of thirty boarding houses that furnished a home to loggers, railroaders, drifters and adventurers. The history of the site began before the Civil War when the first buildings were erected. In 1868 Carl Hering purchased the property and moved his family into the small house on River Street. Hering's carriage and blacksmith shop was located behind the house, facing Pine Street. John B. Paul, who operated a boarding house one block west of the Sheeley House, purchased the Hering property in 1884. He removed the small carriage shop and surfaced the entire building with local red brick. The Paul House had a ground floor saloon, first floor living quarters, a large kitchen, the boarders' dining room and second floor sleeping rooms. James Sheeley, an Irish immigrant, stayed at the Paul House while working on the railroad from Wabasha, Minnesota to Chippewa Falls. In 1905 he and his wife, Kate, bought the property. James tended the bar, Kate and their children, Anna, William, and Howard, prepared meals and maintained the rooms. When James died in 1913, Kate continued to serve meals and rent rooms, but leased the saloon operation. Before the saloon closed in 1967, Frank "Frenchy" LaCour had tapped the "coldest beer in town" for 28 years. After Kate's death in 1934, Anna Sheeley no longer served food, but continued to rent rooms to boarders. By 1981 it was necessary for Anna Sheeley to leave her home of 76 years.
In 1981, although this once handsome building was greatly in need of repair and its purpose was obsolete, the Sheeley House was structurally sound. David and Sharon Raihle were able to visualize the restoration and save one of the last boarding houses in the Chippewa Valley.
The restoration project required extensive research. Using information and pictures from the Sheeley family, it was possible to determine the appearance of the original interior and exterior of the building. Bits and pieces of remaining exterior trim served as samples for duplicating new trim. The brick and masonry foundation was carefully repaired with material from the original construction. Sandstone blocks from a 100-year-old barn were used to reconstruct the east yard wall.
The interior of the building suffered extensive damage from a leaking roof and exposure to weather. A cedar shingle roof now protects the Sheeley House. All interior trim was removed, stripped and refinished in wood grain. Double pane glass was installed in the old windows. After the walls were stripped to the studs, the building was updated with modern wiring, plumbing, heating and insulation. Only minor changes were made in the floor plan.
The interior decorating recreates the simplicity of a modest Victorian boarding house. Some of the furniture was purchased at the Sheeley auction and other furniture was found in antique shops. The metal ceiling and French tile floor in the bar are original. A new bar was built duplicating the bar in the Paul House Saloon picture.
Only the dedication and skill of craftsmen made the restoration possible. With old photographs serving as the only blueprints, meticulous care was taken to not only preserve the old, but to retain the function of the Sheeley House Restaurant and Saloon.
Jim Bloms first became aware of the Sheeley House during the period of time it was not operating. Having worked in the hospitality and tourism industry for over 25 years and possessing an appreciation for this area as well as older buildings and architecture in general, Jim purchased the Sheeley House on August 23, 2001. It has become a mission and labor of love to restore the Sheeley House to its former glory; not only for Jim, but also for the many he owes a debt of gratitude for contributing to the dream.
The Sheeley House has been serving customers in the Chippewa Valley in one capacity or another for over a century. At the height of the logging era, it was one of thirty boarding houses that furnished a home to loggers, railroaders, drifters and adventurers. The history of the site began before the Civil War when the first buildings were erected. In 1868 Carl Hering purchased the property and moved his family into the small house on River Street. Hering's carriage and blacksmith shop was located behind the house, facing Pine Street. John B. Paul, who operated a boarding house one block west of the Sheeley House, purchased the Hering property in 1884. He removed the small carriage shop and surfaced the entire building with local red brick. The Paul House had a ground floor saloon, first floor living quarters, a large kitchen, the boarders' dining room and second floor sleeping rooms. James Sheeley, an Irish immigrant, stayed at the Paul House while working on the railroad from Wabasha, Minnesota to Chippewa Falls. In 1905 he and his wife, Kate, bought the property. James tended the bar, Kate and their children, Anna, William, and Howard, prepared meals and maintained the rooms. When James died in 1913, Kate continued to serve meals and rent rooms, but leased the saloon operation. Before the saloon closed in 1967, Frank "Frenchy" LaCour had tapped the "coldest beer in town" for 28 years. After Kate's death in 1934, Anna Sheeley no longer served food, but continued to rent rooms to boarders. By 1981 it was necessary for Anna Sheeley to leave her home of 76 years.
In 1981, although this once handsome building was greatly in need of repair and its purpose was obsolete, the Sheeley House was structurally sound. David and Sharon Raihle were able to visualize the restoration and save one of the last boarding houses in the Chippewa Valley.
The restoration project required extensive research. Using information and pictures from the Sheeley family, it was possible to determine the appearance of the original interior and exterior of the building. Bits and pieces of remaining exterior trim served as samples for duplicating new trim. The brick and masonry foundation was carefully repaired with material from the original construction. Sandstone blocks from a 100-year-old barn were used to reconstruct the east yard wall.
The interior of the building suffered extensive damage from a leaking roof and exposure to weather. A cedar shingle roof now protects the Sheeley House. All interior trim was removed, stripped and refinished in wood grain. Double pane glass was installed in the old windows. After the walls were stripped to the studs, the building was updated with modern wiring, plumbing, heating and insulation. Only minor changes were made in the floor plan.
The interior decorating recreates the simplicity of a modest Victorian boarding house. Some of the furniture was purchased at the Sheeley auction and other furniture was found in antique shops. The metal ceiling and French tile floor in the bar are original. A new bar was built duplicating the bar in the Paul House Saloon picture.
Only the dedication and skill of craftsmen made the restoration possible. With old photographs serving as the only blueprints, meticulous care was taken to not only preserve the old, but to retain the function of the Sheeley House Restaurant and Saloon.
Jim Bloms first became aware of the Sheeley House during the period of time it was not operating. Having worked in the hospitality and tourism industry for over 25 years and possessing an appreciation for this area as well as older buildings and architecture in general, Jim purchased the Sheeley House on August 23, 2001. It has become a mission and labor of love to restore the Sheeley House to its former glory; not only for Jim, but also for the many he owes a debt of gratitude for contributing to the dream.
236 West River St. • Chippewa Falls, WI •(715) 726 0561 • blomsj2@msn.com