The Hearthstone Historic House Museum in Appleton, Wisconsin, known for being "the only building still standing from the dawn of electricity," has recently faced a serious breach of trust. The museum's former treasurer, Steven Jahnke, has confessed to embezzling a substantial sum of $70,000 from the institution.
A criminal complaint filed on Wednesday reveals that Jahnke admitted to the theft and is now charged with one count of theft in a business context. Local radio station WTAQ reported that board members grew concerned over transactions that appeared unrelated to museum activities, such as cruises, vacations, and vehicle repairs. Alarmingly, some accounts linked to the community foundation were drained despite their restricted status.
Additional questionable expenses included property taxes for Jahnke's home and Amazon purchases delivered to his address. In his defense, Jahnke claimed he occasionally mixed up his personal credit cards with the museum's, stating, "I did embezzle funds to pay for my own expenses."
The Hearthstone Historic House Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, claiming to be "the first house anywhere in the world to be incandescently illuminated" by a water-powered dynamo from the Western Edison Electric Light Company. The museum showcases original Edison electroliers, light switches, and some of the rarest examples of Edison wiring.
This Queen Anne-style residence was constructed by Henry J. Rogers, a pivotal figure in the development of Appleton through his paper mills and contributions to water and gas services. Exhibits at the Hearthstone include "Victorian Christmas: Naturally Yours," which explores the history of holiday decorations, and "Lewis Latimer: Self-Made Renaissance Man," highlighting the achievements of a notable Black inventor who collaborated with Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.