Henry Weis House (Wellington Bed & Breakfast)

Local factory owner Henry Weis built this elegant home in 1902. Over a century later, this house is a Waterloo landmark for its architecture, age, and connection to Weiss, whose factory manufactured egg paper fillers that protected eggs during shipment. Designed by local firm Murphy & Ralston, the house reflects the transition from the Queen Anne style to the Colonial Revival style at the turn-of-the century. Queen Anne elements include the wraparound porch, a small second-story porch, and full height bays. Colonial Revival features include the fluted Ionic columns, the dentils running along the cornice, and decorative foliated designs. The house now operates as the Wellington Bed & Breakfast.

Henry Weis established his business, called the North Star Company, in 1875 in the town of Burlington. In 1891, he relocated to Waterloo, which had convinced several factories to move to the city during this period. As alluded to above, Weis made a significant contribution to the egg production industry by designing the machinery that made the egg paper fillers. Although his business was relatively small and the egg industry was not a significant part of Iowa's economy, his paper fillers—along with the introduction of ice-cooled storage facilities in the 1890s—did help grow the industry. These innovations were particularly important for small farms that produced eggs. The success of his business gave Weiss the financial means to build the house. He retired in 1921 and the business continued to operate, it appears, into the 1930s. By then, the technology to freeze eggs had been perfected and paper fillers were no longer needed.

Weis, his wife, and their daughter Laura lived in the house, which she acquired after Weis died in 1927. She sold it in 1934 and the new owners converted it into apartments. It appears the house became a single-family residence again in the 1970s. When it became a bed and breakfast is unclear. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Long, Barbara Beving. "Henry Weis House." https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/89001779_text.