While no building permit could be located for 848 Emerson Street, it was likely constructed around 1905. George (also spelled Georg) Plehn and his family are shown at 848 Emerson in 1906. Plehn was German, and worked as the Imperial German Consul, Counselor of Legation. He, his wife Lulu, and son Hans, came to the United States in 1905, where they also had a daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1909. Since the home’s early history is of owner-occupants, it is likely that the Plehns were the first owners.
The Plehn family lived in the house until at least 1912. As early as 1910, Dennis W Mullen and his family lived at 860 Emerson, a large house next door to 848 Emerson. It is likely that he purchased this property from the Plehns when they left. In 1913, city directories show that Walter A. Dixon, a vice-president at Great Western Sugar, was renting the house with his wife, Etta, so it is likely that they were renting from Dennis Mullen or his family members, which they continued to do until 1920.
