Distillers Homestead

Compare this recreation of the Rasche family’s home to the Teubner-Husmann house at the front of Hermann Farm: the log construction and the smaller size are already indicators that the Rasches did not enjoy the same level of wealth as Charles Teubner, George Husmann and, later, Charles Manwaring.

In 1860, the Rasche farm was valued at $2,000 compared to the $10,000 at which the Husmann-Manwaring farm was valued. In this same 1860 agricultural report, though, the Rasches are listed as owning horses, swine and milk cows and other cattle, as well as growing wheat, corn, oats, tobacco, potatoes and barley. On top of that, they possessed 50 pounds of cheese, 156 pounds of butter and 300 gallons of wine (five times as much as Husmann and Manwaring).

The Rasches were a far cry from Hermann’s wealthiest inhabitants, but their farm nevertheless appears to have been productive and diverse in its yield.

When you come for a tour, our docents take you through the entire Rasche home, which has been decorated with period antiques to recreate what life may have been like for the family during the 19th century.