The home has changed ownership only twice since it was built in 1912. In 1942 it was sold to Forrest Hagerman, an official of the Tobin Packing Company. The Hagermans occupied the residence until 1953 when it was sold to D. E. McTigue and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty). Mrs. McTigue continues to reside in the home since the death of her husband in 1965. There are three sons in the family—Michael, Brian and Dennis.

A. W. Hawley was born in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1875 and after a few years in the banking business made a trip to Iowa and settled in the Pioneer area. He brought out a large supply of nursery stock and planted many homesites around Pioneer. In the late 1890s Hawley established his home in Jackson Township of Webster County. He was married in 1902 to Martha Waller.

Hawley made several trips to Belgium to purchase breeding stock for his Belgian draft horse operations. His farm was known as “Whip Tree” because of a cottonwood tree that grew there by chance. Mrs. Harold B. Freeman, the former Susan Hawley Atwell now living in Whittier, Calif., recalls that her father had groves, orchards and various plantings on the farm.

The Hawleys built their home in Fort Dodge and moved here so the children could attend city schools. The house has undergone interior remodeling since it was built. Room arrangements on the first floor now include reception hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, den, powder room and sun porch. The upstairs has four bedrooms, full bath, large walk-in closets and screened-in porch.

Hawley continued active farming for six years after moving to Fort Dodge. Later he managed a number of farms he owned, judged horses at the Iowa State Fair and showed his prize horses at various fairs and shows. For a time he was in partnership in the horse business with Roy Ives who farmed near Duncombe.

The Hawleys were parents of three children—Mrs. Harold B. (Susan) Freeman of Whittier, Calif.; Mrs. Louis (Betty) Kelso of San Mateo, Calif.; and Richard (Dick) Hawley, a retired Pan-American pilot now living in Seattle, Wash. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hawley are now deceased. Mr. Hawley died in 1932 at age 57; Mrs. Hawley died in 1942.

THE HELSELL HOME

F. H. Helsell, prominent Iowa lawyer, jurist and banker occupied this large brick residence at 1003 6th Ave. N. for many years. Judge Helsell and family acquired the house in 1919 and retained possession until 1943.

The house stands at the southeast corner of Sixth Avenue North and Tenth Street. Built in 1906 of brown brick, it has two stories, attic and basement. A large porch extends along the north and west sides.

The home has living room with fireplace, vestibule, dining room and kitchen on the first floor; five bedrooms and bath on the second floor. The attic is completely paneled and carpeted for a recreation room.

Present owners and occupants are Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Pett who acquired the house in 1970 from James and Mildred Kempley. Pett is with the Georgia Pacific Corporation. Other earlier owners were Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hughes and Mr. and Mrs. Fred S. Thornley.

Judge Helsell was born in Ohio in 1857 and came to Iowa with his parents in 1864. After completing his education and legal training he began the practice of law in Sioux Rapids in 1882. In addition to his private practice he was local attorney for five railroads—Chicago and North Western, Rock Island, Milwaukee, Missouri & St. Louis and Illinois Central.

In 1898 Helsell was elected a district court judge. He left the bench after two and a half years and became active in banking, helping to organize a number of northwest Iowa banks. He was an officer and director of these banks.

Helsell was married in 1880 and he and Mrs. Helsell were parents of five children—a son and four daughters. They were Charles A. Helsell, who was his law partner here for many years; Glenora, married to Don G. LaGrange; Corrine, married to John Q. Adams; Laura, married to Roy L. Liddel; and Miss Virginia Helsell.

Judge Helsell and son Charles were in law practice together until the father’s death in 1927. Following his death Charles was named district attorney here for the Illinois Central Railroad and later was promoted to solicitor general of the railroad with offices in Chicago. B. B. Burnquist then succeeded Charles Helsell as district attorney here.

Judge Helsell was active in the Masonic orders, Knights of Pythias and the Elks. A prominent Republican he was a delegate to the national conventions of 1888 and 1896.

THE MUELLER HOME

The “Mueller home” at 615 3rd Ave. S. stands on an historic site that dates back to the early days of Fort Dodge. It was at this location the congregation of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church erected its first house of worship—a small building constructed of gypsum rock and familiarly known for many years as “the old stone church.”

The congregation was organized in 1863 and the following year built the stone church on Third Avenue South property purchased from Fort Dodge’s founder Major William Williams. Although the present St. Paul’s edifice was erected in 1885-1886 the congregation continued ownership of the stone building until 1895 when it was sold to J. M. Mulroney.

The present house at 615 3rd Ave. S. was built in 1896 on the church site. When the old stone church was torn down some of the gypsum rock was used in the foundation of the house. Records show that J. R. Mulroney acquired the property in 1911 and resided there until 1913 when the house was sold to William F. Mueller, Fort Dodge hardware dealer.

The home has been owned and occupied by members of the Mueller family since 1913 and is presently owned by a daughter, Miss Ruth Mueller. The house has been remodeled in past years and now has four apartments—two on the first floor and two on the second floor. Miss Mueller resides in one of the downstairs apartments.

William F. Mueller was born in Fort Dodge in 1877 and began his hardware career in a store owned by Harry Vincent. Later Vincent formed a partnership in the hardware business with Mueller, Franz and Bruno Thiede and the firm began operations in 1911 as the Thiede-Mueller Hardware Company at 516 Central Avenue. After some years the store moved to the Thiede Building at 815 Central Avenue and later returned to the original site at 516 Central. The Ferguson True Value Hardware store is now located in the building where the Thiede-Mueller firm had its beginning more than 60 years ago.

In 1951 Mueller retired and sold his interest in the firm. He died in 1955 at age 77. He was prominent in hardware circles and served as president of the Iowa Retail Hardware Association and was a director of the Iowa Hardware Mutual Insurance Association for more than 30 years. During his business career Mueller was a member here of the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, the Chamber of Commerce and the United Commercial Travelers.

He and Mrs. Mueller (the former Emma Thiede) were parents of seven children: Ruth, Mrs. Ray (Helen) Adamson, Mrs. Robert (Wilma) Ackerson, William J. Mueller, Mrs. Frank (Dorothy) Barry; and Mrs. Carl (Gertrude) Tunwall and Frank Mueller, both deceased.

THE COLLINS HOME

The residence at 1307 3rd Ave. N. is probably the only one in Fort Dodge with concrete wall construction—somewhat of a novelty when it was built in 1911. The two-story house was constructed by E. W. Collins, a coal dealer here for many years.

Collins came from a Webster County family whose members pioneered in the coal mining and gypsum industry in this area and were of an innovative turn of mind. He had an idea for a house that would be built differently than the usual run of houses and put the idea into practical use in 1910 after buying the Third Avenue North lot in 1909.

The house has double-wall concrete construction, giving it both exceptional structural strength and an insulating air space between the two walls. Wood forms were made for the walls and concrete poured into them. Facing of the exterior concrete walls is unique. Instead of making the walls flat, Collins devised forms so that the poured concrete would simulate wood siding. This gave the house an outward appearance of an ordinary wood siding frame home. The unusual features attracted considerable interest among those associated with home construction.

The Collins family moved into the home after it was completed and lived there until 1917 and then moved to 1245 5th Ave. N. which has since been the Collins home. The concrete home which presently has two apartments is now owned by Hubert McMahon, 1129 S. 17th St.

A brother of E. W. Collins was Tom Collins who engineered and put into successful operation the first underground gypsum mine in the area. This was shortly before the turn of the century when he and others organized the Cardiff Gypsum Plaster Company.

E. W. Collins was married in 1900 to Alice Quealy and about that time started a retail coal business in the city which he operated until his retirement in 1937. He died in 1945 at age 77; Mrs. Collins died in 1961 at age 88.

The Collins were parents of three children—two sons and a daughter. They were Edwin, deceased; Allan of Fort Dodge; and Kathleen of Rochester, Minn. Allan and his wife reside in the family home at 1245 5th Ave. N. They are parents of 11 children. Allan retired from postal service several years ago and is now employed in the office of Iowa Beef Processors here.

THE SMITH HOME

One of Fort Dodge’s first city commissioners under the present form of government owned and resided in this home at 1205 5th Ave. S. for a number of years after acquiring it in 1910.

He was C. H. (Cad) Smith, public safety commissioner from 1911 until his death in 1919. He was elected to the city council when the commission form of government was adopted. Elected at that time with Smith were John F. Ford, mayor; and Frank W. Collins, streets commissioner.

The large frame house was erected in 1891 by Charles B. Hepler, a well-known contractor here for many years. He was also associated with David Brown in the Fort Dodge Planing Mill. The lot at the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue South and Twelfth Street was part of a tract of land purchased in 1861 by John F. Duncombe, pioneer attorney and industrialist.

Smith purchased the house in 1910 from E. J. Breen and it remained in possession of the Smith family until 1948 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Cooper. At that time Cooper, a plumber, converted the house into a duplex dwelling and the apartments have since been rented out.

The house originally had five rooms on the first floor—living room, library, dining room, solarium, kitchen and pantry; the second floor had four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath. The third floor attic area also had two finished rooms. The house had large front and back porches.

Smith was born in Pennsylvania in 1867 and came west as a young man to Grinnell where he attended and graduated from Grinnell College. Moving to Fort Dodge he then was employed by The Messenger until entering public service.

Smith was married in Fort Dodge to Grace Hepler, daughter of Charles B. Hepler, the contractor. They were parents of three daughters—Mrs. Margaret Lowrey of Seattle, Wash.; Elizabeth, deceased; and Mrs. Thomas (Gretchen) Porter of Fort Dodge.

Mr. Smith died in 1919 at the age of 52 years; Mrs. Smith died here in 1948.

THE HORN HOME

For many years this residence at 1201 6th Ave. S. was the home of Paul Horn, widely-known cabinetmaker, inventor and industrialist. Built in 1908 it stands on a lot generally known at that time as the highest point in the city.

Mr. and Mrs. Horn and family resided in the house as it was originally built until 1924 when it was completely remodeled. After remodeling the house included a large kitchen with breakfast nook, dining room large enough to seat 18 persons and with a built-in buffet expertly crafted by Horn which covered the entire south wall of the room. Also on the first floor were large living room with solarium, family room and powder room.

The upstairs of the house is reached by a stairway that divides at a landing. One section of the stairway leads to the area with two bedrooms and bath; the other to three bedrooms and bath. The third floor has two rooms. The Horns retained possession of the home until 1964 when Mrs. Horn moved to Friendship Haven.

Horn had many hobbies in addition to his unique skill at woodworking. These included stonework and growing of special flowers. The basement of the house was completely finished and included his hobby shop with both wood and metal working equipment. Attached to the house on the south side is a small greenhouse where Horn raised many flowers.

A native of Germany, Horn learned cabinetmaking there and came to Fort Dodge in 1902 and worked for a time at the Fort Dodge Planing Mill. In 1909 he established his own business here known as the Paul Horn Cabinet Works where he manufactured store fixtures and repaired fine furniture. It later became the Horn Manufacturing Company.

In 1922 he invented Horn Folding Partitions for use in schools and public buildings throughout the United States. Some years later—in 1938—Horn invented the Horn Folding Bleachers that were made here and installed in school gymnasiums in all parts of the country. During World War II the Horn company made and installed large airplane hangar doors for military installations throughout the US.

In 1943 Horn retired from the company and his four sons took over active management. They expanded operations and added farm equipment to their line of products. The company erected the large manufacturing facility at the southwest edge of the city which was later sold to the Brunswick Corporation and then to Avco-New Idea. It is now owned by the Kraus Manufacturing Company, a farm machinery company.

Mr. and Mrs. Horn were parents of six children: Frederic G., Herbert, Robert, Walter, now deceased; Mrs. Herbert Blaess and Mrs. John Barnes. In addition to his manufacturing activities, Horn was active in civic and church affairs here and a member of the board of Lutheran Hospital (now Trinity Regional West) for 26 years. He died in 1963 at age 86; Mrs. Horn died in 1973 at age 96.

THE LARSEN HOME

A Norwegian youth, who came to the United States in 1889 and later became manager and partner in the Oleson Drug Company here, built this house and resided there until his sudden death in 1941. He was Thorvald S. Larsen, who was 18 when he arrived in this country.

After a short stay in Minneapolis he accepted a job as a pharmacy apprentice with O. M. Oleson at his store here. That was the start of Larsen’s long and successful association with Oleson, a pioneer Fort Dodge pharmacist and noted philanthropist.

The Larsen home, a large white frame structure at 1302 4th Ave. N., was built in 1903. It is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Leo Kelleher and family who purchased it in 1953 from C. M. Bodensteiner. The Bodensteiners acquired the residence in 1944.

Interior of the home is substantially the same as it was when built. The downstairs has a large living room, library, dining room, kitchen and pantry, half bath and hall leading to the open stairway to the second floor. On the second floor are five bedrooms and bath. A large open porch extends along the south and west sides of the house.

Larsen studied pharmacy while working as an apprentice and became a registered pharmacist. In 1900 he took over management of the Oleson Drug Company store at Central Avenue and Eighth Street. The store occupied the first floor and basement of the three-story Oleson Building erected in 1894 and a downtown landmark until razed in 1971 to make way for the City Green parking lot.

Larsen was married to May Larson of Fort Dodge, daughter of Olaf Larson an early-day contractor and bridge builder. They were parents of six children—Helen, deceased; Rolf, Dr. Harold Larsen, deceased; Dr. Frank S. Larsen, Robert and Carl Larsen.

Larsen was a widely-known businessman of Fort Dodge. He was 70 years of age when killed in an auto accident at Second Avenue North and Thirty-second Street in 1941. Mrs. Larsen died in 1968 at age 89 at Friendship Haven where she resided for a number of years.

THE CARVER HOME

A well-known eye, ear, nose and throat doctor in Fort Dodge—Dr. W. F. Carver—erected this attractive home at 905 Northwood Ave., in 1920. Earlier he had maintained his office and residence in a large house at the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Tenth Street built in the early 1890s by Col. Leander Blanden. This historic structure was razed in 1915 to make way for the present Carver Building.

The two-story Snell Place house was built of buff colored brick but in later years the exterior was painted white. The first floor includes a hall, large living room with marble fireplace, sunparlor also with fireplace, dining room with built-in china closet, large kitchen and breakfast room modernized in recent years and a half bath. The second floor has four bedrooms and bath.

The large plastered attic room has been painted and made more livable. The attic has 12 large drawers for storage; these measure 36 inches wide, 12 inches deep and pull out 50 inches.

Dr. Carver purchased the Snell Place lot in late 1919 after his discharge from overseas duty during World War I and built the home in 1920. In 1938 it was sold to L. G. Shannon. Following Mr. Shannon’s death the house was sold in 1957 to Gene Gutknecht. He and his wife and family presently occupy the home. The house now has all natural birch woodwork following an extensive refinishing project by Gutknecht.

Dr. Carver was born in Madison County in 1869 and graduated in 1894 from the Louisville Medical College, a division of the University of Kentucky. He started his general practice of medicine in Murray, Iowa. Following his marriage, the couple moved to Fort Dodge in 1900. They built a home at 1420 4th Ave. N. in 1904 and lived there for a few years and then purchased the Blanden House at the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Tenth Street.

The family resided in the historic house until it was decided to raze it and erect a downtown business and office building. The first two floors of the Carver Building were built in 1915 and later six more floors were added. The Blanden house had a conservatory in the south portion where plants and flowers flourished beautifully the year around. Ceilings in the house were 13 feet in height and all wood work was solid walnut. Doors were heavy—from two to three inches thick.

Dr. and Mrs. Carver had three children—two sons who carried on the medical profession and a daughter. They were Dr. W. F. Carver Jr., now retired and living in Arizona; Dr. James Carver, now deceased; and Mrs. Susan Carver Anderson of Seattle, Wash.

THE REYNOLDS HOME

A. S. R. Reynolds, an early-day Fort Dodge merchant who constructed the three-story Reynolds Block Building at Central Avenue and Seventh Street, also erected this home at 1202 4th Ave. N. Reynolds and his wife resided in the home for many years after it was completed in 1910.

The house, now a two-family duplex, is presently owned by Rillmon E. Hoskin, 1037 N. 24th Place, and apartments are rented out. Both are substantially the same—living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and bath. Earlier owners of the house were Allen R. Loomis, who acquired it in 1937, and Mrs. Matina Constantine who purchased it in 1952.

Reynolds built another house here in the 1890s at the northwest corner of First Avenue North and Ninth Street. The Reynolds family occupied this home until 1910 when it was sold to the YWCA which continued to use it until 1913 when it was sold and moved to Fourth Avenue North and Ninth Street. The YWCA then built its present building at the site. (See story elsewhere in this book on the YWCA house).

Known as “one of the state’s capitalists,” Reynolds was born in Missouri in 1844 and came with his parents to Iowa in 1846. He was reared and educated in Delaware County and at age 18 enlisted in Company G of the 6th Iowa Cavalry in 1862 and served until 1865.

In 1872 Reynolds came to Fort Dodge and purchased a grocery store at 523 Central Avenue which he operated for a year. He then erected a building at 521 Central Avenue, moved the grocery there and continued business at that place until 1882. Reynolds next built the three-story building at the northeast corner of Central and Seventh. He used the west half of the ground floor for his grocery store—where the Commercial National Bank later was located. He operated this store until 1894 when he disposed of the business in order to devote his attention to management of property interests.

Space on the east side of the first floor of the building was rented out and offices occupied the second floor. The third floor was rented to the Masonic Orders and later to the labor unions. In later years the third floor was removed. The building now has apartments on the second floor and the Wicker Jewelry and Friesth Appliance Center on the first floor. Jerry Neeson now owns the building.

Reynolds was active in many affairs here, was a member of the Masonic Orders and served 14 years on the Fort Dodge school board. He was an uncle of Charles H. Reynolds, Webster County surveyor and later city engineer of Fort Dodge for 31 years.

THE GOLDSWORTHY HOME

This large brick residence has occupied the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue South and Thirteenth Street since 1891 and for many years was known as the Goldsworthy home because of an early owner and builder.

In later years it was owned by a noted artist, china painter and art instructor—Miss Edna Richardson—who taught painting to many Fort Dodge and area women. The house, located at 1302 5th Ave. S., is now owned by Mrs. Katherine Gilligan.

A large hall inside the front entrance leads to the oak staircase going to the upstairs. The first floor includes large living rooms, dining room, den, kitchen and half bath. There is a fireplace in one of the living rooms and another fireplace in an upstairs bedroom. There are three bedrooms and bath on the second floor. Upstairs ceilings are 9 feet high, those downstairs are 10 feet high.

Oak was used throughout the house in the floors and woodwork that shine elegantly despite their age. Old-fashioned inside window shutters are found in the two living rooms and dining room.

John Goldsworthy, a carpenter and cabinetmaker, purchased the corner lot and built the house in 1891. He also built a small shop at the rear of the lot where he continued his work for many years. In 1919 Goldsworthy sold the property to Clarence and Allie Hoyt Wakeman who, in turn, sold the brick residence to Miss Edna Richardson in 1920.

Miss Richardson was born in 1874 at Bath, N. Y., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Richardson. She came to Fort Dodge with her parents at an early age and after completing her schooling began art work, doing oil painting and china painting.

Her artistic ability became widely-known and she started art classes at her home and also taught art in other towns. She was especially known for her beautiful china painting and many persons in Fort Dodge and the area now have dishes painted by her or by some of her students. The room in the house now used as a den was the classroom where students did their china painting.

Miss Richardson resided in the large brick house until her death in 1945. The property then was bequeathed by Miss Richardson to Mrs. Gilligan (Katherine) who was her nurse prior to her death. Mrs. Gilligan and her husband, Thomas, have occupied the home since 1947.

THE LEARY HOME

A large house with huge columns reminiscent of elegant southern plantation homes has dominated the northeast corner of Third Avenue South and Seventh Street since shortly after the turn of the century.

It is the house at 225 S. 7th St., built in 1901 by Dennis E. Leary, a prominent Fort Dodge grocer for many years. Ownership of the property has changed several times and the house is now owned by Robert Walters who acquired it in 1956.

The house has now been converted into five apartments—two on the first floor, two on the second floor and one in the attic area. Walters resides in one of the downstairs apartments—others are rented out.

Originally house had a large hall, living room, parlor, dining room, kitchen and pantry on the first floor. The second floor had four bedrooms, bath, den and large hall. All floors were of hard wood and walls had much beautiful fresco work. Leary purchased property in 1893 at Third Avenue South and Seventh Street which had a small house on the lot. This remained until 1901 when it was moved to Second Avenue South and Third Street to make way for the large Leary home.

Leary, a native of Boston, Mass., came to Waverly, Iowa, with his parents and remained there until 1893 when he moved to Fort Dodge. On arrival here he purchased property at the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Seventh Street and established a grocery store there. He operated this store until 1903 when fire destroyed the building.

Leary then purchased a building across the street on the north side of Central Avenue and opened another grocery store which he continued to operate until 1910 when he sold the business to Tom Welch. Ownership of the building continued in Leary’s name.

Leary was married in 1892 to Ellen Foley and they were parents of two sons—John A. Leary and Dennis E. Leary, both of whom reside in Fort Dodge. The elder Leary died in 1910 at age 48. Mrs. Leary died in 1950 at age 91.

The Learys had a large barn at the rear of their home where they kept horses, a surrey with fringe on the top and the wagon used for delivering groceries to customers in the city. One of the owners of the Leary home after it was sold was Dr. W. E. Alton who had a private hospital and office there. His hobby was boat building and he built a number of boats.

THE MERRITT HOME

The large two-story brick home at 1119 6th Ave. N.—with huge columns supporting a canopy extending across the front of the house—was built in 1914 by a Fort Dodge real estate dealer and insurance representative.

Known for several years as the Merritt home because it was owned by W. N. Merritt, it later was known as the Faville home, the Thompson home and the Barrett home. Since 1961 it has been owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Anver Habhab and family.

The house has four rooms on the first floor—living room, den, dining room and kitchen; the second floor has four bedrooms and bath and the attic also has one bedroom. The Merritt family resided in the home from the time it was built in 1914 until early in 1918 when it was sold to Fredrick F. Faville, a Fort Dodge attorney who came to the city from Storm Lake.

Mr. and Mrs. Faville, son Stanton, and daughter, Marion, lived in the home until 1921 when it was sold to Mrs. Martha Thompson, widow of S. H. Thompson who owned and operated the Fort Dodge Cooperage Works here. Faville, a law partner of Robert Healy, was prominent in legal circles and in 1920 was elected to the Iowa Supreme Court. The Favilles then moved to Des Moines where their son Stanton, was a well-known attorney in later years.

The cooperage firm operated by Thompson was located in the vicinity of Fifth Avenue North and Fifth Street and manufactured wooden buttertubs, tanks, cisterns and casks as well as barrels for stucco, apples and oatmeal. Following Thompson’s death the company was operated by members of his family including the late M. T. Thompson.

The Thompson family retained ownership of the house at 1119 6th Ave. N. for some time after Mrs. Thompson’s death. In 1940 it was sold to S. L. Barrett, who for many years was sales manager and later president of the Fort Dodge Laboratories. The Barretts owned the property until it was purchased in 1961 by Anver and Betty Habhab.

The exterior front of the home was remodeled by the Habhabs in 1968 and the large canopy with four columns extending from ground level to the roof line was added. It covers an open patio area. Habhab operates Anver’s Lounge in downtown Fort Dodge and the Rose-A-Rio Restaurant and Lounge in the Crossroads.

THE CARTER HOME

A Fort Dodge industrialist who operated a culvert manufacturing company and an iron and steel mill here more than a half century ago, built this large home at 510 S. 12th St. in 1915.

He was Charles L. Carter, who with a number of other Fort Dodgers organized and operated the Fort Dodge Culvert Company in the vicinity of Sixth Avenue North and Seventh Street. In addition to the south Twelfth Street home he also erected the three-story building at 1018-1020 Central Avenue known in recent years as the Dunsmoor or Dee Building. This building is now owned by Dodger Homes, a partnership of Fort Dodge men including Leo Bevien, William Gibb, Gene Marchi and Richard Koberg.

Carter purchased the building lot for his home in 1914 and the following year erected the home which has a stucco exterior. Originally the house had a large living room that extended across the front interior, a sun room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor. On the second floor were three bedrooms, two sleeping porches, sewing room and bath.

Carter’s Central Avenue building had living quarters on the second and third floors known as the Carter Apartments. The first floor had a large room occupied by various business firms through the years and another room leased out to a motion picture theater. The theater operated under the name of the Majestic, Pokadot and finally the Dodge. The building apartments are now known as the Dee Apartments.

The Fort Dodge Culvert Company had its original plant at 529 N. 7th St., only a short distance from the Fort Dodge Baseball Park where the city’s Central Association League teams played their games. Carter was secretary-treasurer of the culvert firm.

From culvert manufacturing the company expanded into the steel and iron business and operated under the name of Fort Dodge Culvert and Iron Mills Company. The office was at 14 S. 6th St., plant and steel mill at 624 N. 7th St. Carter was president of the firm; C. E. Kitchen, vice president; and R. M. Stevens, secretary-treasurer. In 1923 the company again changed its name to Fort Dodge Culvert and Steel Company with Carter as president; J. W. Amond, vice president; W. L. Tang, secretary-treasurer; and W. G. Warner, sales manager. The business continued in operation until about 1927.

A. R. Williams, Fort Dodge realtor, purchased the Carter residence in 1938 and the Williams family resided there for many years. The house is now owned by Williams’ widow, Irene M. Williams and apartments are rented out.

THE GADD HOME

One of the early residences constructed in Snell Place after it was platted was this large and comfortable home. Located at 710 Elizabeth Ave., it was built in 1920 by C. W. Gadd, a well-known Fort Dodge banker.

The two-story red brick house with red tile roof and white wood trim faces the northeast in an attractive setting surrounded by an expanse of green lawn, shrubbery and flower beds. At the rear of the house is a screened-in patio.

Gadd purchased the building lot in 1919 and the following year erected the residence which was occupied by his family until 1928. The home was then sold to J. B. Butler and the Gadds moved into an apartment. A short time later the house was purchased by Charles F. Isaacson, Fort Dodge merchant—one of the organizers of the Gates Store here. The Isaacson family owned the property until 1970 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Dale C. DeFoe who presently reside there with their family. DeFoe is owner of DeFoe Motors.

The home has spacious rooms including a living room that extends across the front of the house, solarium, dining room, kitchen and half bath on the first floor; four bedrooms, two full baths, playroom and den on the second floor.

Gadd was a native of Rolfe and lived there until 21 years of age. He then moved to Buffalo Center where he began his banking career with the First National Bank of that community. He resided there for 30 years before coming to Fort Dodge in 1920 and operating a real estate business dealing principally in farm land.

In 1929 Gadd became associated with the bank now known as The State Bank and was active in its management until his death in 1949 at age 78. He was executive vice president of the bank until 1944 when he was elected chairman of the board.

Gadd was active in civic affairs, including the Fort Dodge Betterment Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. Married in 1900 he and Mrs. Gadd were parents of five children—Robert Gadd and Mrs. Lyle (Louise) Sells, both of Fort Dodge; Clem Gadd, now deceased; Mrs. Kenneth (Eunice) Edwards of Silver Springs, Fla., and Richard Gadd of Atlanta, Ga. Mrs. Gadd died here in 1936.

In addition to his banking interests, Gadd was also identified with the gypsum industry and served for a time as treasurer of the Cardiff Gypsum Company.

THE MONK-ANDERSON HOME

This house at 910 5th Ave. N. dates back to 1884 when it was built by Dr. Casper D. Koch, an early-day musician in Fort Dodge. Later it was the home for many years of a prominent educator—Prof. John F. Monk—and a widely-known social worker and YWCA executive—Miss Lynn S. Anderson.

The two-story frame house is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Gurnett who acquired it in 1959. There presently are four apartments in the house—two on each floor. One of the downstairs apartments is occupied by the Gurnetts.

Windows in the house are typical of the era when the house was built and are long and narrow. Three windows in the front living room extend from the floor to the ceiling.

Dr. Koch acquired the building lot and erected the home in 1884. Evidence of the years he spent in the house came to light some years ago when sheet music with Dr. Koch’s name was found in the attic of the home.

The house was purchased in 1901 by S. J. Robertson, a Fort Dodge businessman, who resided there until 1910 when he sold the property to Mrs. J. F. (Helen) Monk and her sisters, Lynn S. Anderson and Florence A. Anderson. Prof. and Mrs. Monk and the Anderson sisters occupied the home at various times during later years. Monk was a professor at Tobin College here and owned the college in partnership with C. V. Findlay. The college was located at the northwest corner of First Avenue North and Seventh Street and at one time had between 400 and 500 students in its various departments.

Monk was married in 1892 to Helen M. Anderson and they were parents of four children—Florence, Melville, Dorothy and John. The father was prominent in Fort Dodge affairs—was president of the Chautauqua Assembly, director of the Commercial Club and president of the official board of the First Methodist Church.

Miss Lynn Anderson became sole owner of the 910 5th Ave. N. house in 1936 and retained possession until 1951. A native of Clarence, Iowa, she came to Fort Dodge in 1904 after completing her education and teaching for a time. She helped organize the YWCA here and was its first physical director and secretary. Leaving the YWCA she worked for the Webster County Welfare Department and then was probation officer here for many years. She taught a Sunday School class at the First Presbyterian Church for 20 years, was a member of the Fort Dodge Business & Professional Women’s Club and the Story Tellers Club. She received the Kiwanis Club’s “Golden Ruler” award some years prior to her death in 1972 at age of 100 years.

THE FINDLAY HOME

A Fort Dodge mayor—C. V. Findlay—who served as the city’s chief executive for 10 years, owned and occupied this house for many years. The two-story frame house at 1707 8th Ave. S., was built in 1895 by Charles Hayler and sold in 1901 to James Findlay.

The home remained in possession of members of the Findlay family until sold to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Pieper in 1953. In 1973 it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Gary D. Reel who presently reside there with their two children. Reel is a sheet metal worker with Northwest Furnace Company.

The house has undergone some remodeling but has substantially the same room arrangement now as in past years. The first floor has living room, dining room, family room, kitchen and bath. The second floor has four bedrooms, (one used as a children’s playroom) and bath.

C. V. Findlay acquired the home in 1910 and lived there with his wife and family for many years. Born in Illinois in 1866, he came to Iowa and Clay County with his parents in 1871. Six years later the Findlays moved to Webster County and settled in Otho Township. He attended schools in the area and then graduated from Highland Park College in Des Moines. Returning to Fort Dodge Findlay was elected Webster County superintendent of schools and served in that capacity for a number of years.

Findlay then purchased Tobin College in partnership with J. F. Monk and the two operated this widely-known educational institution for many years. The three-story frame college building was located at the northwest corner of First Avenue North and Seventh Street. It burned down in 1929.

In 1899 Findlay was married and the couple were parents of two sons—James Franklin Findlay and Maurice Findlay. Mrs. Findlay was an early secretary of the YWCA.

Findlay was elected to the city council while the city was operating under the ward system of government and served during 1910 and 1911. Still interested in civic affairs Findlay later was elected mayor of Fort Dodge in 1923 under the commission form of government established in 1911. He was reelected to four additional terms, serving a total of 10 years in the mayor’s office. His tenure of office was the longest of any of the city’s mayors until Albert Habhab was elected mayor in 1959 and served continuously through 1973—a total of 14 years.

THE STUDEBAKER HOME

Dr. John F. Studebaker, who established his medical practice here in 1908, built this large two-story house at 2018 8th Ave. N. in 1914. Dr. Studebaker and family occupied the home until he retired in 1942 and moved to California.

The house was then sold to Richard Hess, U. S. Gypsum plant manager here; then to Mr. and Mrs. Roy V. Murray in 1947. In 1948 the property was sold to Robert M. Kelley, Fort Dodge insurance man, and Mrs. Kelley who occupied it with their family until 1974 when it was purchased by R. Thomas Price, Fort Dodge attorney and Mrs. Price. The Prices now reside there.

Originally the house included living room, parlor or music room, dining room, library used by Dr. Studebaker for his medical books, large kitchen and bath on the first floor; four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath on the second floor. The house has been remodeled and modernized at various times, the Kelleys adding a family room on the north side 15 years ago and a bedroom and bath on the second floor.

Grounds around the house were extensively landscaped with trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetable garden, small fruit orchard, grape arbor and raspberry bushes. An octagonal summer house and a tennis court were also on the grounds.

Dr. Studebaker was born in Pearl City, Ill., in 1874 and later moved to Summerfield, Kan. He graduated from MacPherson College and then attended the University of Illinois School of Medicine and took postgraduate work at Harvard School of Medicine. He had his first office in the newly completed First National Bank building here and engaged in general medical practice until 1916 when he began specializing in surgery.

He was a World War I veteran serving in the Army Medical Corps. After his discharge from service Dr. Studebaker returned to Fort Dodge and in 1922 joined with Dr. E. F. Beeh and Dr. A. A. Schultz in building the Physicians Clinic, a two-story structure at First Avenue North and Tenth Street, where they had offices for many years. Four additional floors—devoted to apartments—were added in 1928 and given the name Biltwell Apartments.

Dr. and Mrs. Studebaker had two children. Their son Dr. Leland F. Studebaker practiced medicine in California. He died in 1971 at age 63. The daughter, Miss Rowena Studebaker resides in Fort Dodge.

THE TRAUERMAN HOME

One of Fort Dodge’s most unique residences is this Spanish-type home at 725 N. 21st St.—built in 1925 by furniture store owner Joe K. Trauerman. The attractive home is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lunn and family. Lunn is a Fort Dodge attorney.

The house is similar to those seen in the southwestern United States where Spanish architecture is much in vogue. Exterior of the house is of stucco, painted a pleasing yellow with black trim. Front of the house is distinguished by three arches supported by two black columns. Behind and set back of a small patio area are large French-type doors opening out from the west side of the living room.

A traditional Spanish-type wall extends from the southwest corner of the house to the south lot line, providing privacy for the back yard.