Caledonia Argus

A new home with a history

Posted: 1/14/03

by Aggie Tippery,
Special Correspondent

The house has a warmth and welcome to it, not often found in a house with the elegance of this one. It must be because of the furnishings. Each antique piece, each dish, each appliance, each collectible has a history or a memory. The home conveys the love that went into it by the builders, Barb and Dave Bissen. The road work in North Hokah forced them to give up their old home to the state.

They designed the house on the computer, then worked together to do much of the building. Dave framing up the house with a hammer and saw. He put down the detailed wood flooring in each room, but used a power hammer and skill saw. ìIf I had known how much of this I was going to do myself, I would have bought better tools,î he commented. I asked if he learned carpentry from his dad, Ray. ìNot really, because when I helped him, we usually didnít see eye to eye, so I went my way into electrician work. I suppose his expertise with wood rubbed off on me, though.î New Years day, Barb and Dave invited friends in for a tour and to celebrate Barbís January 2 birthday.

I entered the large Omni office room, which is the business end of the house. Dave and Barb sell Dish Network satellite systems from this room. An old roll top desk emits an atmosphere of an old-time business office despite the computers and other electronics. Opening the door into the house, I was met by a stairway. Ah, yes, the ìhidden stairwayî Barb told me about. It leads to the attic and when pulled up, it fits into the ceiling. Persons descending the steps remarked about the ample storage space in the attic. In the 1940/50ís kitchen, a huge table was spread with hors de oeuvres and sweets for guests. There was an old time Hokah telephone on the wall that once hung in the Tippery home. Also a kitty cookie jar that Barb gave me and I returned it to her when she acquired the rest of the set from her aunt Ruth. A library table in another room came from Tom Tippery.

Off the kitchen is a bathroom with a claw foot tub from a house in La Crosse. The old-time sink is from former Hokah resident, Jim Feldmeierís barbershop in Black River Falls. The icebox in the kitchen is from Cabbyís farm on Union Ridge. I lived there as a small child and remembered a dry sink similar to the one in Barbís kitchen. The icebox and sink are used to store small kitchen appliances. Dave sat in one of three comfy couches in the living room. I sat on the matching love seat near him. ìWhere is your favorite place to relax?î I asked him. ìRight here,î he replied. ìFrom here, I can watch TV and see the door to the Omni room when a customer comes in. If Barb is in the kitchen or other rooms, I can hear her. This room is centrally located so we can tell from here what is going on in the rest of the house.î Off the living room, there is an alcove or sunroom, with windows facing west. A chaise lounge dominates the small room. A wonderful place to curl up with a good book!

The formal dining room has a view of Mt. Tom. This room is also furnished with antiques and memories. There is an upright piano against one wall. ìIt was pink when I bought it,î Barb said. ìMy mother refinished it after she retired.î Several pieces in the house were built by Daveís dad, Ray Bissen, and by his uncles Bob and Gene.

The Spittler family, Hokah artists, made the stained glass in the pantry and one bathroom.

Christmas trees adorned each room, (seven in the living room). A full collection of Santa Bears dating back to 1985 sat about the living room and sun room. Elegant Santa Clauses were displayed in the kitchen and dining areas.

Antique cabinets held her collections of glass, horses, dish sets and other collectibles. Barb said there are 298 drawers in the house. I asked about ghosts, being there are so many things from other homes. She said the house uptown by the post office may have Felie Enderís ghost but she doesnít think he came along with the lamp and card table from there.

After touring the home, most of the guests gravitated to the kitchen, until it became too crowded, then some sat in the living room. The men felt most comfortable hanging out in the garage with a beer in hand as they talked.

The house is furnished with only two newÇ items, the refrigerator and some end tables. As the saying goes, ìthe rest is historyî, a very homey, loving history.

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