An entry hall just inside the front door leads to the large living room with high beamed ceiling and a Spanish style fireplace. Other rooms include a dining area, kitchen, two large bedrooms and bath and another bedroom over the garage. Just off this bedroom is a veranda over a portion of the garage. The backyard has a large screened-in porch and patio.

Trauerman came to Fort Dodge from Sioux Falls, S. D., in 1921, purchased the C. H. Pill Furniture Store and changed the name to the Home Furniture. He remained in active operation of the store until 1940 when he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, but retained an interest in the business. The Trauerman home changed ownership several times after that until purchased by the Lunns in 1970.

Harold W. Burch joined Trauerman as an officer of the Home Furniture in 1933, coming here from Clinton. In 1950 Trauerman sold his remaining interest in the business to Burch and the late Kitty Munn. Earlier (in 1947) the Home purchased the McQuilkin Furniture Store, transferred its operations to the McQuilkin building and remained there until 1960. The store then moved to a new building at 611 Central Ave. In 1972 the business was sold to the Kelly Furniture Company. In 1974 the Elliott Home Furniture took over the 611 Central Avenue location.

Trauerman and his wife. Lucille, were parents of three children—two daughters and a son. They are Betty Frantz, Weslaco, Texas; Marjorie, New York City; and Joe Trauerman Jr., Palatka, Fla. The elder Trauerman resides in San Jose, Costa Rica. Mrs. Trauerman is deceased.

THE W. V. MULRONEY HOME

A Fort Dodge work clothes manufacturer is credited with re-designing and remodeling this Haviland Homestead Addition home at 625 N. 13th St.—a home whose history dates back to 1880.

He was W. V. Mulroney who, with his brother J. R. Mulroney, was associated for many years in the operation of the Mulroney Manufacturing Company. The company was a widely-known maker and distributor of work clothes and gloves under the trade name of “Fort Brand.”

The two-story frame residence is now owned and occupied by Dr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Michelfelder. It is located on two lots at the southeast corner of Seventh Avenue North and Thirteenth Street.

Room arrangement of the house after it was remodeled by Mulroney included living room, hallway and open stairway to the second floor, dining room, kitchen with walk-in pantry, playroom, solarium and enclosed back porch on the first floor; five bedrooms, bathroom and sleeping porch on the second floor. Rooms now include living room, entry hallway, parlor, dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook, bedroom and bath on the first floor; five bedrooms, bath and kitchen on the second floor. An apartment area on the second floor is presently not in use.

Mulroney acquired the property in 1914 and immediately remodeled the existing house. An additional basement area was excavated, the house was moved farther back from the street and turned around so that it fronted to the west on Thirteenth Street. Room arrangements were changed and the house modernized. The house has also been remodeled in recent years by the Michelfelders and other owners. The Mulroney family resided in the home until 1932. Through the years the house changed ownership several times, the Michelfelders acquiring it in 1966.

W. V. Mulroney was the son of pioneer settlers, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Mulroney. Born in 1867 he attended local schools and in 1890 with a brother, J. R. Mulroney, established the Mulroney Brothers General Store, operating it until 1905 when they organized the Mulroney Manufacturing Company which had its first plant at the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Tenth Street. After fire destroyed this building the three-story building at First Avenue North and Seventh Street was constructed and the company operated there for many years. Later it was sold to Marso & Rodenborn.

In 1927 Mulroney entered the insurance business under the name of Mulroney Insurance Agency. The agency is now operated by his sons William V. (Bill) Mulroney and Richard J. (Dick) Mulroney. The elder Mulroney was married in 1896 to Elizabeth Howard and they were parents of six children. They are Mrs. Eleanor McKenzie, Miss Helen Mulroney, Mrs. Gertrude Barnes, Miss Elizabeth Mulroney, William and Richard. Mulroney died in 1950 at age 82; Mrs. Mulroney died in 1952, also at age 82.

THE CHASE HOME

This large English-type residence at 1320 10th Ave. N. was built in 1926 by Dr. Sumner B. Chase, a well-known eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. It is now owned and occupied by Don N. Kersten, Fort Dodge attorney, his wife, Merope, and family. They acquired the home in 1961.

Dr. Chase and his wife, Edith, purchased lots in the newly-platted Crawford-Armstrong Addition in 1922 and four years later built the main section of the beautiful and authentic English style home. In 1933 the Tudor or playroom wing on the east side of the house was added.

The house has main floor, upstairs area and full basement and there are five fireplaces of various sizes. The present first floor arrangement includes living room, dining room, television room, kitchen and breakfast area that originally was a maid’s room and bath. There is also an entrance hallway. A recent addition to the house is a large open deck along the north side overlooking the wooded and ravine area. The upstairs has four bedrooms and two baths.

The Tudor room has an impressive cathedral-type ceiling and a balcony. All windows have leaded and stained glass imported from England. Furnishings in the room include a massive wood hutch and a large refectory table with heavy carved legs. The hutch is part Jacobean period and has panels reported to be 400 years old. Both the hutch and table were imported from England to give more British authenticity to the Tudor room. The ceiling light fixture in the room was made from a large wooden wheel once on a horse-drawn bus operating here in the early 1900s.

The house is in a beautiful wooded setting and there is a curved driveway leading to the garage under the rear portion of the house. Exterior of the house is of scrolled natural finish cement with blue and olive green wood trim.

Dr. Chase, a native of Waterloo, began practice in Fort Dodge in 1916 a year after receiving his medical degree at the University of Iowa. He spent his entire medical career of 45 years in the city, retiring in 1961 and moving to Mt. Pleasant where he died in 1964 at age 76. His widow now resides in Mt. Pleasant and a daughter, Mrs. George (Rosemary) Haire lives in Fort Dodge.

Dr. Chase was active in county, state and national medical societies and was surgeon for the Chicago Great Western and Illinois Central Railroads. He was a member of the American Association of Railway Surgeons.

THE KENYON HOME

The Kenyon name was associated with this large two-story residence at 1229 2nd Ave. N. from the early 1900s until 1938. Built in 1901, it was acquired in 1902 by Mrs. Harriett A. Kenyon, widow of the Rev. Fergus L. Kenyon, an early-day minister of the First Presbyterian Church here.

Mrs. Kenyon deeded the house in 1909 to her daughter, Miss Charlotte Kenyon, a well-known Fort Dodge music teacher. Following her death the property was transferred in 1937 to her brother, A. M. Kenyon, Fort Dodge Serum Company executive. Elmo Hoffman, local realtor, purchased the home in 1938. Both he and Mrs. Hoffman (Goldie) are deceased and the property is now owned by the Hoffman’s daughter, Miss Vanna Hoffman.

The Hoffmans remodeled the home which now has a large apartment on the first floor which they occupied and two smaller apartments on the second floor.

The Rev. and Mrs. Kenyon were parents of three sons and a daughter. They were William S. Kenyon, for many years a United States Senator from Iowa and later a U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge; A. M. (Dick) Kenyon, associated with the serum company for many years; F. A. Kenyon, a banker at Washta; and Miss Charlotte Kenyon.

The Rev. Mr. Kenyon came to Fort Dodge in 1885 and served the Presbyterian Church here until the following year. He then founded the Fort Dodge Collegiate Institute which later became Buena Vista College. The school was moved from Fort Dodge to Hawarden and then to its present location in Storm Lake where it is now Buena Vista College, operated by the Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Mr. Kenyon died in 1902.

William S. Kenyon was a prominent attorney here for many years, was Webster County attorney and district court judge. In 1911 he was elected U. S. senator from Iowa and served until 1922 when he resigned from the Senate and was named a federal Circuit Court judge. He maintained an office in the federal building here during his years as a judge and when in Fort Dodge lived with his sister in the home at 1229 2nd Ave. N. In 1929 during his judicial career Kenyon was named a member of President Herbert Hoover’s Law Enforcement Commission. Judge Kenyon died in 1933 at age 64.

A. M. Kenyon was secretary of the Fort Dodge Serum Company (now the Fort Dodge Laboratories) for 28 years until his retirement in 1946. Two of his sons reside here now—Robert P. Kenyon and Bruce Kenyon; a third son Fergus Kenyon, lives in Lewiston, Idaho.

THE WOLFE HOME

This sturdy-looking cement block house—known for many years as the ‘stone house’ or the ‘castle’—has occupied the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue North and Sixteenth Street since 1908.

Henry W. Wolfe purchased the corner lot in 1903 that extended along Sixteenth Street from Fifth to Sixth Avenues North and five years later built the big house. In 1910 he erected the cement house just to the north—at the Sixth Avenue corner.

The house with the address of 1530 5th Ave. N. is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bocken, 831 N. 21st St. who purchased it in 1965. Many years ago it was converted into a duplex with two apartments that are rented out. Each apartment has a living room, dining room, kitchen on the first floor and two bedrooms and bath on the second floor.

A unique feature of the house is the corner tower-like area that extends from the ground floor to the attic. At the roof level is a cupola with six windows and a peaked roof. Wolfe, a Spanish-American War veteran brought back many mementoes of the Philippine Islands which he displayed in cases in the cupola area. There was also a landscape mural painting on the six sections of the wall.

Mrs. A. F. Jessen, 2442 10th Ave. N. is a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Wolfe, and relates interesting information about the house where she lived with her parents. Original interior arrangement of the house included a large living room, entry hall, dining room, library with fireplace, kitchen and pantry on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor, the bedroom above the library with a fireplace.

The house was occupied by the Wolfes until 1918. In 1923 it was acquired by Dr. E. M. Van Patten, a well-known osteopathic physician here, and the Van Pattens resided there for many years. Since then the house has changed ownership several times.

Wolfe built the home when he was associated with the Iowa Hydraulic Stone Company which had its plant in the area where the Hormel plant is now located. The company manufactured cement blocks, ornamental stone and special forms of cast work. Wolfe was secretary and general manager of the stone company and F. C. Minogue was president. After the company ceased operations Wolfe was employed at the Fort Dodge post office for some years. He died in 1955 at age 83; Mrs. Wolfe died in 1970 at age 92.

THE STEVENS HOME

The two-story brick residence pictured above was built on a site in the northwest part of the city that was deeded by the United States of America to the State of Iowa in 1862. The tract of land was part of the area later transferred by the state in 1874 to the Des Moines Valley Railroad Company and then in 1875 to the Des Moines and Fort Dodge Railroad Company.

Located at 510 3rd Ave. NW, it was known as the Stevens property for many years. Presently it is owned by Sterling Ainsworth, a great grandson of Socrates G. Stevens, an early resident of Douglas Township. Stevens came to Webster County in 1857 and purchased a large farm in Douglas Township. In later years the farm adjoined the northwest Fort Dodge city limits and included the building site where the original Stevens home was erected.

The Stevens’ had a daughter, Mary, who took over operation of the farm following the deaths of her parents. In 1906 she replaced the old farm house with the present attractive house and resided there until her death in 1929. The Stevens also had a daughter Julia who was married to W. C. Ainsworth. They were parents of Harriet Ainsworth and W. L. Ainsworth, a widely-known farmer and the father of Sterling Ainsworth who now resides in the Stevens house.

The house has foundation walls of solid granite blocks two feet thick. Oak woodwork was used throughout the house and floors are solid oak, an inch in thickness. First floor of the house has living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry, large music room and half bath. The upstairs has four bedrooms, sewing room and full bath. A porch extends across the south and east sides of the house.

Socrates G. Stevens, who established the Douglas Township farm, was born in North Carolina in 1811. Married in 1835 he and his wife came to Oskaloosa in 1856 and the following year began their farming career in Webster County. Their daughter, Mary, was 15 years old when she came to Iowa with her parents. She completed schooling in Oskaloosa and after coming to the Fort Dodge area was a school teacher for 22 terms.

Following the death of her mother in 1888 Miss Stevens quit teaching and remained at home and helped to operate the farm. She was reputed to be one of the most efficient business women of Webster County and after the death of her father in 1901 she successfully carried on the farm operations.

Ownership of the house and surrounding farmland was transferred to Harriet Ainsworth after Miss Stevens’ death in 1929. In 1939 the property was bequeathed to Sterling Ainsworth. For a time in the early 1930s the house was leased out and the Red Feather Inn, a popular dining place, operated there.

THE E. F. ARMSTRONG HOME

This large residence at 1302 10th Ave. N., was one of the first constructed in the Crawford-Armstrong Addition to the city after it was platted in 1910. Built in 1911 by E. F. Armstrong, a well-known pharmacist and drug company officer, the house remained in possession of the Armstrong family until 1948.

It was then sold to Dr. J. J. Foley, a Fort Dodge dentist. Following his death the home was acquired by Arthur H. Johnson and his wife, Ann. The Johnsons completely remodeled the house giving it a traditional and attractive English style of architecture.

The first floor has living room, family room, dining room, kitchen and half bath; the second floor three bedrooms and two full baths. The third floor has a large bedroom, walk-in storage closet, two double closets with sliding doors and a built-in chest of drawers. A large recreation room is located in the basement, complete with sauna bathroom, full bath and laundry.

Exterior of the house features gray cement walls with tobacco brown wood trim and roof of heavy split cedar wood shakes. The front porch and patio area has a red brick wall—bricks being from the old Chicago Great Western depot which was razed some years ago. Adjoining the house at the rear is a family room and double garage.

The Johnsons occupied the home until the summer of 1974 when it was sold to Dr. and Mrs. Gary LeValley. The Johnsons then moved into their new home at 1640 N. 22nd St.

Armstrong, who built the house at 1302 10th Ave. N., was married to the former Mary Crawford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Crawford, well-known early Fort Dodge residents. Mrs. Armstrong was prominent in Iowa circles and was a member of the State Conservation Commission when Dolliver State Park was dedicated in 1925. The Armstrongs were parents of a daughter, Elizabeth.

For many years Armstrong was associated with the Oleson Drug Company as a pharmacist and vice president of the firm. Later he was in the Crawford-Armstrong real estate firm and manager of the Fort Dodge Chemical Company.

THE WELCH HOME

A Fort Dodge shoe dealer, E. A. Welch and his wife, Helen, built this attractive English type home nearly 50 years ago at 1105 Crawford Avenue. Designed by Mrs. Welch and architect Frank Griffith, the house is patterned after the Ann Hathaway Cottage at Stratford-on-Avon where author William Shakespeare resided.

The two-story home has gray cedar shingle shake siding with white wood trim and a thatched shingle roof. The first floor includes hallway inside the front entrance, living room with arched entryway, a den converted from a former porch, kitchen with glassed-in dining room, bedroom and bath.

The formal dining room on the first floor has a round walnut table with six leaves—a gift from Miss Maude Lauderdale, first curator of the Webster County Historical Society. There are also 12 walnut chairs, a gift of O. M. Oleson, pioneer Fort Dodge pharmacist and uncle of Mrs. Welch. The upstairs had two bedrooms and full bath and a large attic playroom. The house is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Richard O. Welch and family.

E. A. (Ed) Welch was born in Fort Dodge in 1875 and had two brothers—Sam and W. R. (Dick) Welch. Sam was in the shoe business with Ed; Dick was in the drug business, operating the drug store in the Carver Building (now O’Connell Drugs).

Both Ed and Sam were sales representatives for the Greene-Wheeler Shoe Manufacturing plant here for many years. In 1907 they purchased the Ed Rank Shoe Store at 607 Central Ave. and operated it under the name of Welch Bros. Shoes. After a year in this location the store moved to 818 Central Ave. where it remained until moving in 1963 to its present large and attractive location at 915 Central Ave.

Richard O. Welch, son of E. A. Welch, joined his father in the shoe store in 1930. The elder Mr. Welch retired from the firm in 1947 and died in 1953. Mrs. Welch, now 96, is a resident of Friendship Haven.

Dale Happ joined the firm in 1952 when he and Richard Welch became sole owners of the business. They reorganized the firm as the Welch Shoe Company with Welch as president and Happ as vice president and treasurer. Sale of the store to four employes was announced late in January with Robert L. Thiele one of the purchasers to be president and general manager of the firm. Welch will remain as consultant and assistant for one year. Happ will retain an association with the store but will take an extended leave of absence.

THE HAVILAND HOME

The two-family residence pictured here is believed to be the first of its kind built in the city and dates its history back to 1870, according to city assessor’s records. Located at the northwest corner of Third Avenue North and Tenth Street, the house was the homestead of Andrew J. Haviland, noted horticulturist, who came to Webster County in 1855.

Old-time photos of the house show that it has not changed much since it was erected 105 years ago. Of two-story frame construction, the house has two identical apartments with addresses of 926 and 928 3rd Ave. N. Each apartment has a living room, dining room, kitchen and utility room on the first floor; two bedrooms and bath on the second floor.

There is a basement area where old hand-hewn beams can be observed and there is a tunnel leading from the furnace room to the outdoors so as to make removal of ashes easier.

The residence is presently owned by Mrs. John K. Jensen of Palatine, Ill., and her son John K. Jensen Jr. of Green Bay, Wis. Mrs. Jensen is the daughter of K. D. Miller, one-time superintendent of schools in Fort Dodge, who purchased the property in 1939 from the estate of Rowena H. Haviland.

A. J. Haviland was born in Pawlings, N. Y., in 1820 and did some carriage making and contracting in the east before coming to Webster County in 1855. He located in Cooper Township north of the city where he farmed for six years and then moved into Fort Dodge and in 1870 built the Third Avenue North residence. He resided there with his wife, the former Mary Colby, and their four children.

Two years after his arrival in the county he established the Fort Dodge Nursery at the north edge of the city and operated it along with his farm. He was a noted horticulturist and was well-known throughout the northwest part of the state as an authority in this line of work. Following his death in 1888, Mrs. Haviland and children continued to make their home in the old homestead until her death in 1901.

Historians report that “The Evergreens” at the north edge of the city, formerly used as a nursery by A. J. Haviland, was “one of the most beautiful places to be found in or around Fort Dodge.” W. C. Haviland, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Haviland, was credited with planting the first apple trees in Cooper Township. Later he had the large apple orchard at the north edge of the city.

THE JOSELYN HOME

A graduate pharmacist, who later manufactured mineral feeds for livestock, built this impressive Snell Place residence at 810 Northwood Avenue in 1922. He was Ed S. Joselyn who moved his manufacturing operations from Rockwell City to Fort Dodge in 1921 and continued in business here until 1930.

Mr. and Mrs. Joselyn and family resided in this large home until 1932 when it was sold to Charles A. Helsell, Fort Dodge attorney. Helsell was transferred to Chicago in 1938 as solicitor general for the Illinois Central Railroad and the house was then sold to Dr. and Mrs. E. F. Beeh.

Present owners of the home are Herbert Bennett, Fort Dodge attorney, and his wife, Geraldine, who acquired the property in 1964 from the estate of Dr. Beeh. They reside in the attractive residence with their daughters, Karen, and twins Kathy and Kris.

The house has huge white columns that extend upward to the roof and outline the front entryway—typical of its Colonial style of architecture. An arched front doorway opens into a large hallway with a stairway leading to the second floor. The first floor includes living room with large fireplace of red brick and white colored woodwork, dining room, kitchen and butler’s pantry, breakfast room, library and sunroom. The second floor has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, sewing room and large cedar closet. On the third floor is a large party room, two bedrooms and bath.

At the rear of the house is a large garden area with terraced slope, a small “teahouse”, a bridge over the ravine, flower beds and garage.

Joselyn was a native of New York state and after completing pharmacy studies he came to Stratford where he was in the pharmacy business. Later he moved to Rockwell City and established the Joselyn Stock Food Company and began manufacturing feeds for livestock. He moved operations to the Brady building here in 1921. Joselyn discontinued the business in 1930 and in 1934 moved to Webster City where he operated a drug store. He died in 1941 at age 73.

Mr. and Mrs. Joselyn were parents of three children—Robert of Chicago; Marion of the Joselyn Press Printing & Stationery firm of Fort Dodge; and a daughter, Catherine of Palmerton, Pa.

THE KIME HOME

Dr. J. W. Kime, a Fort Dodge physician and surgeon who was credited with getting the city to change its water source from the Des Moines River to deep artesian wells, erected this large residence in 1918.

Dr. Kime came here in 1884 and began the general practice of medicine and later specialized in the treatment of tuberculosis at his sanitorium just north of the city. He built his attractive home at 728 Crest Ave. after Snell Place was platted in 1915. It combines an exterior of red brick and natural stone from the area.

The home is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fletcher who purchased the property in 1971. The Fletchers reside there with their two daughters and a son—Kathy, Jody and David. Another daughter Mrs. Bobby Clark resides in Omaha, Neb. Previous owners include Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Stowe, Dr. and Mrs. Arthur P. Echternacht and Dr. John D. Rasmussen.

The house has three floors and a basement. On the first floor are large living room, sunporch, dining room, kitchen, half bath and front entryway. The second floor has four bedrooms and full bath; the third floor has two rooms. The basement has a large family room.

Dr. Kime was born in Shelby County in 1855 and entered the University of Iowa for a general course at age 18. Later he studied medicine and received his medical degree in 1883. After a year in Angus he came to Fort Dodge in 1884.

In connection with his treatment of tuberculosis, Dr. Kime constructed a large sanitorium one-fourth mile north of the city limits. Built of brick and stone it was widely-known for years as Kime’s Sanitorium Boulder Lodge.

After the sanitorium was discontinued the building was converted into living quarters and for many years was occupied by Mrs. Jett Wray who also remodeled it into an elaborate place for parties and dinners. She changed the name to Wraywood and the present Wraywood Manor apartments are built around the original structure. At one time the building was also a popular night club.

Dr. Kime was a state lecturer on tuberculosis and active in medical groups. His wife, Sara, was also a graduate physician and assisted her husband in his work. They were parents of two daughters—Marian and Isabelle.

Interested in things pertaining to the city Dr. Kime was elected to the city council for one term under the ward system of government. He was an advocate of pure drinking water and campaigned for many years for water from deep wells. It was largely through his efforts that the city began sinking deep artesian wells and drawing water from them for city uses. The first well was completed in 1907 and there are now seven such wells in use.

THE DAMON HOME

A Fort Dodge architect—E. O. Damon Jr.—who began his career as a naval architect—designed and built this Colonial-type Snell Place home in 1916. He and his family resided in the home for many years while he was busy designing many houses and buildings.

Damon died in 1948 at age 72 and in 1949 the home was sold to Paul E. McCarville, Fort Dodge attorney, and his wife, Helen, who have since resided there.

Located at 710 Northwood Ave., the three-story brick residence faces the east. At the rear of the house and attached to the garage is a large screened-in summer porch the McCarvilles built some years ago. It has been a popular place for the McCarvilles and their family that included two daughters—Mrs. Mary Alice Coleman, Fort Dodge; and Mrs. Carl A. Nelson, Wayzata, Minn.

The house has traditional colonial styling with white shutters on the first floor windows and green shutters on the second floor windows. Third floor windows are set into dormers. A large hall extends east to west through the house from the front door entrance and there is a staircase with mahogany railing and white spindles from the first to the third floor.

The first floor has large living room with fireplace, dining room, sunroom, butler’s pantry, second pantry and half bath. The second floor includes a master bedroom, two other large bedrooms, sunporch, study, children’s room and two full baths. A sitting room, bedroom, bath and attic storage space are on the third floor. All woodwork in the house is white but doors are dark mahogany.

A large pastel landscape hangs over the fireplace in the living room. The original painting depicts an attractive country scene and was the work of Robert Reaser, a widely-known artist who resided in Fort Dodge for a time.

Damon, a native of Northhampton, Mass., took his naval architectural training in Scotland, returned to the U. S. and practiced for a time in the south before coming to Fort Dodge in 1912. He was married to Georgia Mason and after Snell Place was platted they built their Northwood Ave. home. Damon was well known for his architectural work that included the addition to Mercy Hospital (now Trinity East), the City Hall and Wahkonsa School.

The Damons were parents of two sons, Mason Damon, Buffalo, N. Y.; and Kent Damon, Rochester, N. Y. Following the death of his first wife, Damon was married to Edna Wheeler Dougherty.

THE JACK HAIRE HOME

A native Fort Dodger—Jack Haire—who was in the lumber business here for 45 years, erected this Snell Place home in 1922. It is located at 815 Northwood Ave.

The house is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Glenn R. Schnurr who purchased it in 1960. Schnurr is vice president of the Federal Mortgage and Investment Company of Fort Dodge. The Schnurrs have five children—Matt, Sally, Donald, Pat and Tom.

The home has spacious rooms including living room, dining room, library, kitchen, butler’s pantry, breakfast room and bath on the first floor. The second floor has five bedrooms, sleeping porch and three baths. A recreation room is located in the basement. At one time there was a tennis court in the area just south of the house.

Jack Haire was the son of John Haire, pioneer Fort Dodge businessman. Born in 1877, he attended local schools and later graduated from the Des Moines College of Pharmacy. He was a partner with his brother, Will W. Haire, in the Sackett & Haire Drug Store for 10 years before going into the lumber business.

In 1909 Jack Haire and George W. Mason, who was a partner in the Mason & O’Connell Lumber Company, purchased the Chapin Lumber Yard located at First Avenue North and Sixth Street. The name was changed to the Fort Dodge Lumber Company and the business operated until 1954 when it was sold to the Joyce Lumber Company. The Joyce firm continued at the First Avenue North location for the next five years.

Haire’s two sons joined their father in the lumber business—George in 1931 and John in 1935—and they continued in its active management until the firm was sold to the Joyce Company. Jack Haire retired from the lumber business in 1954. In 1962 he died at age 85.

Haire was prominent in state lumber circles and active in Fort Dodge affairs. He served as a director of the Fort Dodge Serum Company, the State Bank and the Fort Dodge Telephone Company.

Married in 1907 to Margaret Mason, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Mason, they were parents of three sons—George and John, both of Fort Dodge; and Dr. Mason Haire, Boston, Mass.

THE KERSTEN HOME

Dr. E. M. Kersten, founder of the Kersten Clinic in Fort Dodge, erected this large Snell Place residence at 712 Crest Ave. in 1924 and it was occupied by members of the Kersten family until 1959.

Dr. Kersten, a widely-known surgeon, came to Fort Dodge in 1916 and practiced here until 1957 with the exception of two years he was in service during World War I with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. He was a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps in charge of Field Hospital No. 34 overseas.

The two-story brick home has an interior arrangement that includes entry hall, living room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor. There is also a family room on the landing halfway up the stairway to the second floor. The third floor attic has two large rooms used for recreation by the family. Years ago an amateur (ham) radio unit was installed there and operated extensively.

The home is now owned and occupied by Fred Breen, Fort Dodge attorney, and his wife. They acquired it in 1972.

Dr. Kersten was born in 1892 in De Pere, Wis., a suburb of Green Bay. After attending schools there he enrolled in Marquette University’s Medical School and graduated in 1913. He began practice in Two Rivers, Wis., and remained there until 1916 when he came to Fort Dodge.

He was married in 1917 and he and Mrs. Kersten were parents of five children—all of whom were reared in the Crest Avenue home. They are Drs. Herbert, Paul and John Kersten of Fort Dodge; Don Kersten, Fort Dodge attorney; and Mrs. William (Frances Anne) Wolfe of Chicago.

Following World War I service, Dr. Kersten returned to Fort Dodge and entered into medical practice with Dr. F. E. Seymour with offices in the Snell Building. Later he officed in the Carver Building until founding the Kersten Clinic in 1952. His three doctor sons joined him in the clinic’s medical staff after it was founded.

Dr. Kersten was one of the state’s prominent surgeons during the more than 40 years he practiced here and was a member of professional groups during this time. He was associated with the clinic until his death in 1957 at age 65.

THE WILLIS RICH HOME

A Fort Dodge couple—Mr. and Mrs. Willis F. Rich—built this large brick residence at 701 Northwood Ave. in 1924 and have lived there continuously since then. The Riches planned and constructed the home more than 50 years ago, have lived there all of this time and also reared a family of three children there.

The stately English style home was constructed of red brick with a red tile roof. The house is surrounded by trees and green ivy vines cover the north and west sides.

The home has large and comfortable rooms on the first floor—living room with fireplace, sunroom, entry hall, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room and half bath. All floors are of hardwood. The second floor includes master bedroom, sleeping porch and three other bedrooms, bath and sunporch.

Insulation materials were not in use in the 1924 era but architect E. O. Damon’s plans specified four dead-air spaces to serve as insulation in the house between the exterior brick wall and the interior plastered wall. The method worked successfully.

Rich is from a family of bankers, his father E. H. Rich being one of the early prominent bankers here. He followed in his father’s footsteps and in 1932 was cashier of the First Trust & Savings Bank and assistant cashier of the early-day First National Bank. At that time he quit the bank and went into the property supervision, real estate, insurance and loan business. Mrs. Rich was his partner in the business.

At one time the Riches were supervising 100 city properties and 45 farms. Later he was president of the Union State Bank of Rockwell City and director of the Pocahontas State Bank and the Renwick Savings Bank.

Rich has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church here since 1899 and now has the distinction of being a member of the congregation longer than any other living person. He is a veteran of World War I.

Mr. and Mrs. Rich are the parents of three children. They are Willis F. Rich Jr. of Minneapolis; Mrs. J. C. (Eunice) Norby of Pasadena, Calif.; and Robert E. Rich, Centerville. Mr. and Mrs. Rich are trailer enthusiasts and have visited all the states by trailer except Alaska and Hawaii. In 1972 Rich sold his business because of impairment in his hearing and he says they are now enjoying retirement in the “old homestead” more than ever.

THE L. E. ARMSTRONG HOME

This buff brick home at 775 Crest Avenue was built in 1919 by the late L. E. Armstrong, business and industrial leader of Fort Dodge. It was purchased in 1941 by K. S. Fantle and in 1954 by its present occupant, C. M. Bodensteiner, president of Fort Dodge By-Products.

The house is 100 feet long, with a red tile roof. There is an old-fashioned “tea house” on the property and a two-story garage with living quarters on the second floor.

The home’s first floor has living room, dining room, kitchen, butler’s pantry, den, four bedrooms and two full and two half baths.

The second floor living quarters have living room, dining room, two bedrooms, two baths, kitchen and den.

The third floor has two bedrooms and bath and a children’s ballroom.

The house has oak ceiling beams in downstairs rooms and the living room has oak paneled walls. At the top of the living room walls is a decorative border of cut velvet originally put in when the house was built. An oak stairway leads to the second floor and the staircase and upper floor areas have imported tooled leather wallpaper that was hung by workmen from Italy. The original grand stairway had a lounge area halfway between the first and second floors. Furnishings included a grand piano.

Armstrong began business in Fort Dodge in 1886, establishing the Plymouth Clothing Store at Central Avenue and Sixth Street. He promoted the store in a unique way, purchasing what was reported to be the first auto delivered in Iowa in 1899, a Winton costing $1,000. Hitching a pony cart to the auto he gave customers and friends a ride from his store around the City Square and back again.

After purchasing clay and gypsum land in the area, Armstrong established the Plymouth Gypsum Company in 1903 and the Plymouth Clay Products Company in 1910. Ten years later he established the Iowana Gypsum Company. Both were sold in 1922 to the Universal Gypsum Company, predecessor of the National Gypsum Company now operating here. Armstrong also organized the Plymouth Processing Mill for soybeans.

Armstrong was president of the Fort Dodge National Bank (now the First National) from 1924 to 1936. He was interested in promoting Fort Dodge and the area and organized the Hawkeye Fair & Exposition in 1919 and was its president. He served as president of the Fort Dodge Chamber of Commerce from 1916-1919.

THE CHARLES LAUFERSWEILER HOME

The residence at 911 Northwood Ave., was for many years the home of Charles C. Laufersweiler, well-known funeral home operator and son of a pioneer Fort Dodge businessman. Laufersweiler acquired the home in 1918 and resided there until his death in 1941 at age 72. His wife continued to make her home there until her death in 1943.

Mr. and Mrs. Welch Laufersweiler purchased the home in 1945 and have since lived there with their family. The house has a red brick and stucco exterior.

The present room arrangement on the first floor includes an entry hall, sun parlor, living room with fireplace, dining room, kitchen, half bath and family room with fireplace and full bath. The second floor has a hall, five bedrooms and bath; the third floor has a large bedroom and walk-in cedar closet.

Mr. and Mrs. Welch Laufersweiler were parents of three daughters and four sons—Mrs. James (Ann) Tornabane, Mrs. Edward (Jean) Micus, Susan, Thomas, John, and Joseph. A son Mark died in 1971.

Charles C. Laufersweiler was born in Fort Dodge in 1868, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad C. Laufersweiler who established a furniture and undertaking business here in 1856. He was one of ten children in the family that included Mary, who was married to Gus Hilton, their son is Conrad G. Hilton, the hotel magnate; Bertha, Kitty, twins Edith and Elsie; William J., John, Albert and Frank.

Charles followed his father in the undertaking business in 1893 and William J. operated the furniture business. In 1914 the undertaking business was moved from its Central Avenue location to a new three-story building at the corner of First Avenue South and Eleventh Street. First floor and basement were devoted to the mortuary and apartments were on the second and third floors. The furniture store continued in business until 1929.

In 1952 the Laufersweiler Funeral home erected its present large building at Third Avenue South and Twelfth Street. Welch Laufersweiler joined his father, Charles, in the funeral home in 1930. Since 1941 he has been owner and operator of the business.

THE BURNQUIST HOME

This is another of the attractive Snell Place homes erected in the 1920s. Located at 704 Crest Avenue, it was owned and occupied by the B. B. Burnquist family for many years.

Built in 1924 by Emmett Mulholland, a Fort Dodge attorney, the house has successively been occupied by attorneys, doctors and a packing plant executive. Mulholland sold the house to the Burnquists in 1927 when he and Mrs. Mulholland moved to Long Beach, Calif. Presently it is owned by John J. Murray, Fort Dodge attorney, and his wife, Joan. The Murrays acquired the house in 1961 and now reside there with their three sons and daughter—John, Mike, Steve and Sheila.

The first floor of the house has an entrance hall, living room with fireplace, dining room, kitchen, den with half bath and sunporch. The second floor has four bedrooms, two baths and sunporch. The basement was remodeled into a recreation room by the Murrays. They also remodeled the kitchen, installing a Franklin stove and making it into a “country kitchen.”

Mr. and Mrs. Murray added a double garage and a large cement patio with historic wrought iron railing. The railing came from balconies of the Oleson Building at Central Avenue and Eighth Street when it was razed to make way for the City Green parking lot.

B. B. Burnquist, who practiced law in Fort Dodge for 60 years, was a native of Dayton. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Burnquist, he was born in 1884, attended schools in Dayton and graduated from Fort Dodge High School. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1907 with a law degree and began practice in Fort Dodge. Burnquist was associated with various law firms here starting with the Healy brothers. Later he was in the firms of Healy, Burnquist & Thomas, Price & Burnquist, Helsell, Burnquist, Bradshaw & Dolliver and Helsell & Burnquist.

Burnquist was prominent in Republican politics and was Webster County Republican chairman, state Republican chairman and served as Webster County attorney. He died in 1967 at age 83; Mrs. Burnquist preceded him in death in 1964. They were parents of two sons and two daughters—William S. Burnquist; Boyd Burnquist; Mrs. N. H. (Betty) Batchelder and Mrs. Howard (Caroline) Borgerding.

THE MOELLER HOME

Walter J. Moeller, Fort Dodge furnace company owner, acquired this residence at 1324 3rd Ave. S. shortly after it was constructed in 1906. His father, Ferdinand, an early-day carpenter and brick manufacturer here, built the two-story house on a lot he purchased in 1889.

Late in 1906 the residence was sold to Walter J. Moeller and he and his wife, the former Elizabeth Zuerrer, moved into the home. The two-story house has eight rooms—living room, parlor, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and bath on the first floor; three bedrooms on the second floor.

Walter J. Moeller was born in the Vincent area of Webster County, one of a family of five children. His brothers and sisters were Frank C. Moeller, a prominent banker for many years; William H. Moeller, dry goods store owner; Mrs. Elizabeth Zuerrer and Mrs. Clara Zuerrer. He attended schools at Vincent and in Fort Dodge when his parents moved here. He began his business career at the Furlong & Brennan grocery and general merchandise store on the city square.

In 1912 Moeller and Oscar Dahlien formed a partnership and established the Dahlien & Moeller Furnace Company at 115 S. 12th St. The two continued in business together until 1915 when the partnership was dissolved. Moeller then began business as the Moeller Furnace Company in a new three-story brick building at 114 S. 12th St.—the present location of the firm. The first floor and basement of the building are devoted to the firm’s furnace, air conditioning and sheet metal operations. The upper floors of the building have apartments.

Moeller was joined in the operation of the business by two of his sons—Walter E. (Bud) Moeller in 1927 and Willis H. Moeller in 1945. A third son Art F. Moeller was with the firm for a brief time but then began a business career. In 1957 Art and Henry R. (Bud) Trost established the Trost-Moeller Insurance Service, Inc. which they now operate.