William Dielschneider House

610 NE Cowls Street  |  Built 1900

William Dielschneider built this attractive American Foursquare residence in 1900 on the northeast
corner of Buckeye and C streets (now 6th and Cowls). The house features a simple yet attractive design
with a hipped roof, dormers, and substantial massing that makes it a visual landmark in the
neighborhood just north of downtown. Its clean lines and generous proportions reflect the practical
elegance favored by successful early 20th-century business families.

Prominent local merchant Arnold Dielschneider arrived in McMinnville with his wife Elizabeth during
the 1870s. Arnold established Dielschneider’s Boots and Shoes in 1876, which became a well-known and
respected enterprise. Arnold and Elizabeth’s sons Franz and William were born in McMinnville.
Eventually, Franz would operate the shoe store, offering new footwear and expert repairs. After his
apprenticeship with William Holl, young William Dielschneider purchased the existing Holl Jewelers
in 1892, and renamed it Dielschneider Brothers Jewelry. Both businesses operated out of McMinnville’s
Campbell Building, on the north side of Third Street between Cowls and Davis.

William married Winnifred Lenoir Norwood in 1897 and they raised three daughters in their home on
Cowls Street: Audrey, Frances and Aileen. All three girls received their education locally, and attended
McMinnville College (today’s Linfield University).

In 1983 the house appeared as the Maida family home in the TV movie Quarterback Princess. In recent
decades, the home belonged to Scott and Mary Sue Macy, of the well-known Macy & Son Funeral
Directors family (established in 1903). After a fire in 2015, they carefully restored the structure,
preserving its historic character and use as a residence.

Like the Rogers-Mead House, the William Dielschneider House illustrates McMinnville’s growth and
related family-run businesses. Built by a merchant family that helped shape the city’s commercial life, it
links McMinnville’s downtown commercial district to the residential neighborhoods beyond.

For images of the the property, and further details, check out the link below:

Historic Resources Inventory Documentation