HORSEHEADS, NY (WENY) -- This week in wine country, sponsored by Finger Lakes Wine Country, we're visiting the Zim House in Horseheads.

The Zim House is the home of Swiss-American cartoonist, Eugene Zimmerman, and his daughter Laura. The Queen Anne style home, built in 1888 and finished in 1890, the home is now owned by the Horseheads Historical Society, following Laura's death in 1980.

Zimmerman, who signed his illustrations as 'Zim', traveled back and forth from New York City, where he worked for Puck, and later Judge magazines. Horseheads is where he would reside on the weekends, when he returned to his family. He became an active member of the Horseheads community, and later designed the bandstand that still stands in nearby Teal Park. 

After Eugene passed away in 1935, Laura kept the home on its original state, where it remains to this day. On the National Register of Historic Places, the Historical Society now maintains the property, opening it for school tours and visits. Decorated as it was when Zimmerman and his daughter resided there, the home is full of Zim's illustrations and and works of art, as well as items he collected from around the world. 

To learn more about Zim, check out this blog post by the Chemung County Historical Society.

To arrange a visit to the Zim House, contact the Horseheads Historical Society at 607-739-3938, or email [email protected].