Augusta in St. Charles County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
August Sehrt House
placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.
Location. 38° 34.27′ N, 90° 53.126′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Missouri, in St. Charles County. Marker is on Webster Street just north of High Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 275 Webster Street, Augusta MO 63332, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Augusta (approx. 0.2 miles away); Augusta to Dutzow (approx. ¼ mile away); Augusta to Matson (approx. ¼ mile away); Missouri Wine (approx. ¼ mile away); H. S. Clay House Bed & Breakfast and Guest Cottage (approx. ¼ mile away); 5505 Locust Street (approx. 0.4 miles away); Staudinger-Grumke House-Store (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dortmund (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.
Also see . . . National Register of Historic Places Nomination form for the House.
Excerpt from the form (page 7):
The August Sehrt House is significant under Criteria A and C in the following areas: ETHNIC HERITAGE: EUROPEAN: The August Sehrt House(Submitted on August 3, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)is a good, representative example of the houses constructed by Augusta's German settlers and the cultural traditions and processes which they brought with them to Missouri and, particularly, St. Charles County and Augusta. Sehrt was one of a number of emigrants from northwest Germany, the Old World cultural hearth of the traditions which, when transplanted to Augusta, influenced development of the town's German character and cultural cohesiveness. In addition, Sehrt was engaged as a carpenter/cabinetmaker and as a winegrower, occupations closely associated with Missouri German cultural traditions and which are associated with the nominated property. See Historic Context "German American Culture in Augusta, 1833-1944," and subthemes, "Immigration and Settlement, Ca. 1830-1860," and "Wine Industry, ca. 1850-1917." ARCHITECTURE: The circa 1860 brick house is a well-preserved example of Property Type: Vernacular Residence, as it exhibits Missouri German vernacular traditions in its central passage plan and unembellished, sparsely detailed design. See Historic Context subtheme, "Architecture, ca. 1836-1943."
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Born in Hannover, Germany, circa 1823, Frederich August Sehrt was living in St. Charles County by 1856 when he and Catharina Niederjohann were joined in marriage by George Muench, "a Preacher of a German congregation" (Muench later founded Mt. Pleasant Winery in Augusta).Between 1857 and 1860, Sehrt acquired the 8.74 acre tract on which the house stands. The 1860 census listed Sehrt as a master carpenter living with his wife Catharina, 26, born in Hannover, and Missouri-born son, Heinrich, age 3. The 1860 Missouri Gazetteer & Business Directory listed his occupation as a cabinetmaker. According to the 1860 Agricultural Census, Sehrt owned a farm of 4 acres of improved land with a cash value of $1400; his modest livestock and produce consisted of 2 cows, 10 swine, 10 bushels of Irish potatos, 75 pounds of butter, and 3 tons of hay. In 1880, the Agricultural Census reported Sehrt had sold 2000 gallons of wine in 1879 produced on 3 acres of vineyards. When Sehrt's estate was probated in 1884, his personal property included items associated with his occupations: wine casks, barrels, vats and kegs along with carpenter tools and a workbench. His widow was still living on the farm in 1900 with 3 adult children and a Hungarian family of renters; the census indicated that she was born in 1830, and emigrated in 1847.
The property was held by Sehrt family heirs until 1975 when it was purchased by the Town of Augusta. The house is currently being rehabilitated for use as a local history museum
Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
