Cord Asendorf Sr.

Cord Asendorf Sr. (January 27, 1858 – January 6, 1944) was a prominent German–American businessman based in Savannah, Georgia. He designed Savannah's "Gingerbread House", at today's 1921 Bull Street, in 1899.

Life and career Asendorf built this property, at 556 East Liberty Street in Savannah, in 1883. He ran a grocery store and saloon here, and initially lived with his growing family above the businesses

Asendorf was born in Osterholz, Kingdom of Hanover, in 1858. He was living at 49 Jones Street. in 1881. He sold the business to his brother, Fred, The property was built in 1883. One of his relatives, Peter August Asendorf (1855–1930), owned a store at the corner of East Broad and Charlton streets around the same time. who arrived in Savannah six years earlier. (Her brother, an engineer, was killed in an accident on the voyage from Europe.) They married, in an evening service at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension, on Bernhardine's 21st birthday, on February 19. Between the births of their second and third children, the Asendorfs took their only trip back to Germany.

In 1899, the "Gingerbread House" at 1921 Bull Street in Savannah was completed, the work of Hawley Construction Company. Also known as the Asendorf House, Asendorf had designed it in the Carpenter Gothic style, and he retired shortly after his family moved in. They had lost another child in infancy in 1898, an event which almost led to Asendorf permanently halting construction on their home. As it transpired, five more children were born at their new home. His family lived there until the 1970s. In 1933, president Theodore Roosevelt stopped his motorcade so his mother could look at the house. It has also been featured in several films.

In his business and social circles he became a close acquaintance of compatriot and prominent Savannah baker John Derst (1838–1928). They were both members of the German Volunteers, with Asendorf being a corporal and Derst captain. The Volunteers were established 1846. Asendorf owned one of the first cars in Savannah, a Cole 30–40.

Death Asendorf died in 1944, aged 85. He was interred beside his wife, who preceded him in death by 14 years, at Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery.