Man Buys Damaged Landmark Onion House In Delmont To Save It
DELMONT, S.D. (AP) — A landmark house in the tornado-ravaged town of Delmont is in the hands of a new owner who wants to secure its future.
The Onion House gets its name from a tower with an onion-shaped dome. It was built in 1902 and has served throughout its history as a private home, a hospital, a beauty shop and a clothing store. At one time it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Wagner resident and Delmont city maintenance man Leo Holzbauer has bought the home for an undisclosed price from an Arizona couple who weren’t interesting in repairing damage from the May 10 tornado. That had led to speculation in the community that the home’s future might be in jeopardy, The Daily Press & Dakotan reported ( ).
Damage is mostly to the dome and to windows on the upper story. The windows are boarded up and the dome is tarped. Holzbauer plans to do much of the repair work himself.
Holzbauer said he has fond memories of seeing the Onion House during Sunday drives with his parents when he was a child, and also knows how important the home is to the community. He might pursue putting it back on the National Register if he can obtain grants to help with restoration.
“It is not coming down. It is safe,” he said.
The spring tornado damaged or destroyed 84 structures in and around Delmont and injured nine people. The National Weather Service rated the twister an EF-2, with a peak wind speed of 130 mph.
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Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan,
