The Moeller home
1324 3rd Avenue South
Walter J. Moeller retired from the furnace company in 1946 and the business has since been operated by the sons Bud and Willis. The elder Mr. Moeller died in 1966 at age 86. Mrs. Moeller died in 1958. The Third Avenue South home is now owned by the three Moeller sons and currently is rented out.
A Fort Dodge clothier—Charles A. Brown—erected this Snell Place residence in 1923. Located at 1102 Summit Ave., the large two-story brick home was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Brown and family until sold in 1939 to Mr. and Mrs. E. M. (Ed) Klapka. At that time the Browns moved to California.
Present owners and occupants of the house are Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Woodruff who purchased it in 1968 from Klapka’s widow, Pauline. Klapka was executive vice president of the Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Fort Dodge from the time it was organized in 1919. He died in 1967. In 1967 Home Federal merged with First Federal Savings and Loan Association.
Woodruff is a partner in Woodruff-Evans Construction of Fort Dodge. The Woodruffs and their family have occupied the Summit Avenue home since the fall of 1968. Their children include two daughters, Anne and Laura, and four sons, David, Tom and twins Don and Bill.
The home’s room arrangement on the first floor includes entrance hall, living room, dining room, sun porch, kitchen, breakfast room and room for removing soiled clothes, muddy shoes and rubbers with closet and lavatory. The second floor has four bedrooms, sun porch and two baths. Another room with bath for the Woodruff girls is on the third floor. The basement has a children’s recreation room.
Charles A. Brown came to Fort Dodge in the 1890s and began work for L. E. Armstrong at the Plymouth Clothing House. He continued his association with the Plymouth until 1908 when he purchased the store and changed the name to Charles A. Brown, the Plymouth Clothier. In 1903 Harry L. Kurtz began work at the store and after Brown purchased the business Kurtz bought an interest in the store.
The Charles A. Brown home
1102 Summit Avenue
The Plymouth remained at Central Avenue and Sixth Street until 1914 when Brown leased the first floor of the new Snell Building and opened a large store there. The store remained there until 1927 when it moved to its present location at 917 Central Ave.
Brown was active in the store until he sold his Snell Place home in 1939 and moved to California. Kurtz then took over management of the business. Later Brown sold his interest to Robert R. Kurtz and Richard F. Rosien who are now officers of the firm. Harry Kurtz retired in 1964.
Brown and his wife were parents of two children—Walter, now deceased; and Marian, Mrs. Malcom Beck of Montebello, Calif. Brown died in 1965 at age 88. Mrs. Brown is also deceased.
Harry L. Kurtz, a Fort Dodge clothier for more than 60 years who earned the title of “Fort Dodge and Iowa booster extraordinary,” built this home in 1916 directly north across the street from Duncombe Athletic Field.
The two-story house with stucco exterior was his home until his death in 1970 at age 86. It remained the Kurtz family home until Mrs. Kurtz’ death in 1973 after which it was sold to Mrs. Margaret G. Siefert who now resides there.
Duncombe field was the home of Fort Dodge High School athletic teams from 1915 until 1940 when Dodger Stadium was dedicated. During these 25 years football games, track meets and other school events were staged at Duncombe Field, practically in the Kurtz’ front yard.
The Kurtz home at 1636 7th Ave. N. has the following room arrangement—living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and bath, sun parlor and enclosed patio area on the first floor; two bedrooms and large storage space on the second floor.
Kurtz came to Fort Dodge in 1903 from his native Lisbon and went to work for L. E. Armstrong in the Plymouth Clothing House at Central Avenue and Sixth Street. When Charles A. Brown purchased the Plymouth in 1908 and changed the store name to Charles A. Brown, the Plymouth Clothier, Kurtz purchased an interest in the business. The store continued at Central and Sixth until 1914 when it moved to the new Snell Building at Central and Eighth and took over the first floor. In this location the store was considered “the finest men’s store in Iowa.”
The Kurtz home
1636 7th Avenue North
In 1927 the store moved to 917 Central where it has been continuously since then. Brown retired and moved to California and Kurtz then took over active management of the business. He continued as manager and vice president until his retirement in 1964. Kurtz was joined in operation of the store in 1951 by his son Robert R. Kurtz, now president of the firm. Richard R. Rosien became a part owner in 1959 and is secretary-treasurer.
Kurtz was active in civic affairs during his long career as a retail clothier and was a member of the Riverfront Commission which developed Loomis Park. He served on the Chamber of Commerce and Betterment Foundation boards, was chairman of the Associated Retailers, a member of the Rotary Club and the Masonic Orders.
Kurtz and his wife, Lucile, were parents of three children—Robert R., Mrs. Worley (Betty) Brown, and Jane, a twin of Robert, now deceased.
The attractive two-story frame residence at 1721 8th Ave. S. was the home of Daniel Rhodes, well-known Fort Dodge abstractor and insurance man, and his family for nearly 40 years. Rhodes acquired the house in 1909, a short time after it was built. In 1921 he completely remodeled and modernized the exterior and interior of the house.
When the Rhodes family took over the home, the property was extensively landscaped with trees and shrubbery. The planting of trees included Duchess, Wealthy and Whitney apples, plums, cherries, mulberries, butternut, hard and soft maple, oak, elm and fir. All are now gone.
After its remodeling the house had the following arrangement: first floor—hall and music room, living room with fireplace, sun porch, dining room, butler’s pantry, kitchen and breakfast room; second floor—four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath. The dining room has walnut woodwork and a built-in walnut buffet. All other downstairs woodwork is natural finish oak.
The Rhodes home
1721 8th Avenue South
Rhodes died in 1946 at age 76 following a successful business career. Mrs. Rhodes and family continued to reside in the home until 1948 when it was sold to John R. O’Neill and his sister, Ruth O’Neill. Later the property was owned by Miss O’Neill and her sisters Mrs. Maude Kempley and Mrs. Marie Geiger. They sold the home in 1961 to Dr. and Mrs. Charles L. Dagle who presently occupy it with their children. Dr. Dagle is associated with the Kersten Clinic.
Rhodes was born in 1870 on a farm southeast of Fort Dodge, attended local schools and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa). He taught school for a time and then went into partnership with J. B. Butler in the firm of Butler & Rhodes, abstractors, realtors and insurance agents. In later years Rhodes was president of the Home Building & Loan Association and an officer of the Iowa Savings Bank. Following his death, the Butler & Rhodes business was sold in 1947 to James Fitzgerald.
Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes were parents of three children—Miss Rachel Rhodes of Fort Dodge; Thomas J. Rhodes of Fallbrook, Calif.; and Daniel Rhodes, Santa Cruz, Calif. Mrs. Rhodes died in 1973 at age 91.
Henry Trost, who came to Fort Dodge in 1883 from his native Germany, and later became a well-known realtor and insurance representative, erected this large residence at 1231 6th Ave. S. more than 70 years ago. Trost acquired a Sixth Avenue South lot in the spring of 1901 and built the home later that year.
The Trost family resided in the home until 1913 when it was sold. Ownership then changed several times and in 1966 the house was sold by Melvin Mandelko to Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Yetmar who presently reside there with their six children. Yetmar is associated with the Kolacia Construction Company.
The Trost home
1231 6th Avenue South
The original room arrangement of the house included entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and bath on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor. Later upstairs and downstairs sun porches were added on the back portion of the house. The Yetmars have done some remodeling and instead of a first floor bedroom they have a family room and on the second floor five bedrooms, two baths and a children’s room. The front porch was also remodeled and modernized.
Trost worked as a section hand for the M. & St. L. Railroad during his first four years in Fort Dodge and later was employed as a salesman in the Haire Clothing Store. After several years he joined James H. Coughlin in the real estate and insurance firm of Coughlin & Trost. When this firm was dissolved he went into partnership with E. H. Peschau in the real estate and insurance firm of Trost & Peschau. When illness forced him to give up active work the business was purchased in 1937 by Trost’s son Ewald G. Trost and his wife Ermalee. They continued its operation until 1957 when Art F. Moeller and Henry R. (Bud) Trost established Trost-Moeller Insurance Service which they presently operate.
The elder Henry Trost was married here in 1891 to Anna Gunther and they were parents of six children—Frieda Becker, Erna, Ewald, Lorenz, Marie and Esther Trost. All are deceased except Mrs. Becker and Esther Trost. Mr. Trost died in 1937 at age 70. Mrs. Trost died in 1964 at age 92.
The white Colonial-type home with green shutters at 919 Northwood Ave., was built by Dr. A. E. Acher, a Fort Dodge physician and surgeon who practiced here for nearly 60 years. The attractive Snell Place home was erected in 1926.
The Acher home
919 Northwood Avenue
The house was occupied by members of the Acher family until 1968 when it was sold to the present owners—Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. McQueen. The McQueens have two sons, Scott and Todd. McQueen is a vice president, processing, with Land O’Lakes-Felco.
When the house was built it had the following room arrangement—living room with fireplace, dining room, sitting room, kitchen, pantry, family room and half bath on the first floor; four bedrooms, two bathrooms and sewing room on the second floor. The McQueens have done some remodeling, making the pantry into part of an enlarged kitchen and converting the sewing room on the second floor into a combination laundry and sewing room.
Dr. Acher was born in 1878 in Napoleon, Ohio, where he completed his early education and then taught school for three years. Enrolling at the University of Indiana he graduated from medical school in 1905. After interning in Indianapolis for two years he came to Fort Dodge in 1907 and began his medical practice.
For many years Dr. Acher had his office in the former First National Bank Building (now the Beh Building) at Central Avenue and Seventh Street. Later he officed in the Crawford Building at Central and Sixth. He was active in local and state medical societies. His hobby was bowling and he was prominently identified with local leagues. He also planned and built the Acher Apartment building on north Eleventh Street.
Dr. Acher was married to Miss Marcia Pierson of Indianapolis and they were parents of three sons—Chandler, Chester and Carlton. Following his first wife’s death he was married to Clara Collingsworth of Fort Dodge. Dr. Acher died in Fort Dodge in 1964 at age 86.
Otto Wasem, one of the seven brothers who figured prominently in the gypsum industry in Fort Dodge and Webster County through operations of the Wasem Plaster Company, erected this brick residence in 1921. The two-story house with red tile room is located at 827 8th Ave. N.
The home was owned and occupied by the Wasem family until 1955 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Hesley. In 1965 it was acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Fournier who presently reside there with their family. Their children are Debra; Denise (Mrs. Bart Mundie); Doreen, Deanne and Michael. Fournier is a Geo. A. Hormel & Co. plant worker.
The Wasem home
827 8th Avenue North
Interior arrangement of the Fournier home includes living room, dining room, den, kitchen and half bath on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor. There is also a large enclosed front porch.
Otto Wasem purchased the lot at 827 8th Ave. N. in 1921 and that same year built the comfortable and attractive home which the family occupied for 34 years. Wasem and his wife, Hannah, were parents of three daughters—Mrs. Daniel E. (Mary Louise) Noble; Mrs. A. T. (Rachel) La Prade; and Mrs. James B. (Evelyn) Phillips. All reside in Phoenix, Ariz.
Wasem was treasurer and general manager of the Wasem Plaster Company which was organized here in 1909. It was a Wasem family venture—13 brothers and sisters comprising the owners of the company. The Wasem plant was located southeast of the city on a 160-acre tract of land undermined by gypsum rock. Operations began in 1910 and continued in the original mill until it was destroyed by fire in 1918. A new fireproof plant was then built and put into operation in 1920. The company manufactured and sold hollow gypsum tile and marketed gypsum board from other plants under the Wasem brand.
Otto Wasem was the first general manager of the company and continued in that capacity from 1909 until the early 1930s. Henry Wasem, first secretary of the company, was president of the firm in the 1930s. In 1950 the Wasem Plaster Company was sold to the Celotex Corporation which built the large new modern plant along the Coalville blacktop in 1956. The Wasem plant was then closed and dismantled, but the structure still stands.
Mr. and Mrs. Wasem moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where they resided for a number of years. Both are now deceased.
The Kempley home
905 6th Avenue North
City assessor records show that this sturdy brick residence at 905 6th Ave. N. was built in 1914 by James L. Kempley, a well-known real estate dealer here for many years. It is the type of brick homes erected in the city in the 1910-1920 era.
The Kempley family resided in the home until 1918 when it was sold to L. W. Scheideman. The Scheidemans lived in the ten-room house until 1928 when it was sold to William F. Alpers. Edmund G. Engelhardt purchased the house in 1944 and owned it until 1974 when Joseph C. Mosbrucker, Fort Dodge realtor, purchased it.
The house originally had a front vestibule, living room with fireplace, dining room, music room, sewing room, kitchen, laundry and half bath on the first floor. The second floor had four bedrooms and bath and there was a large attic used for recreation purposes. A large porch extended across the front of the house. In past years the house has been remodeled and it now has two apartments.
Kempley was the son of John Kempley, a native of England who came to the United States in 1842 and settled in Racine, Wis. In 1864 the family moved to a farm near Fort Dodge and later they came to Fort Dodge where Kempley was active in the town, erecting buildings on south Sixth Street.
James L. Kempley was one of the family of nine children. After attending local schools he began work here and for many years was employed by the Standard Oil Company as a tank wagon driver. His horse-drawn tank wagon delivered kerosene to farms in the area.
In 1914 Kempley quit his work with the oil company and went into the real estate business. Later he was associated with his son-in-law, Earl C. Codner, in the real estate firm of Kempley & Codner. Kempley built several homes in the city including 903 6th Ave. N., 905 6th Ave. N. and 1116 4th Ave. N.
Kempley and his wife were parents of six children—three boys and three girls: Walter V. James, Thomas, Mrs. Charles (Marie) Klinger; Mrs. Earl C. (Mae) Codner; and Mrs. Jay (Edna) Van Horn. Kempley died in 1942 at age 82.
The Pearsons home
1026 2nd Avenue South
The large two-story frame residence (pictured above) is located at 1026 2nd Ave. S. and dates its history back to 1896 when it was constructed by John H. Pearsons, son of an early-day mayor of Fort Dodge.
The house is now owned by Martin Cacioppo who acquired it in 1944. He retired recently after 55 years as a grocery and meat market operator here.
There are 10 rooms in the house which has been remodeled and modernized in past years. Present room arrangement is as follows: living room, dining room, entrance hall, kitchen, bedroom and half bath on the first floor; two bedrooms and a three-room apartment on the second floor.
Cacioppo, a native of Italy, emigrated to the United States in 1910, and lived in Omaha for six years before coming to Fort Dodge. He is a widower, his wife having died in 1971. Their family includes Tony, Mrs. Ernest (Marguerite) Peterson and James.
The large Second Avenue South home is located in the East Fort Dodge addition to the city and one of the first owners of the property was Thomas Snell. He purchased building lots there in 1856 and in 1871 sold the lot on which the house is located to E. G. Morgan, an early Fort Dodge banker. Morgan, in turn, sold the lot in 1892 to John F. Duncombe. John H. Pearsons purchased the property in 1896 and built the large home that same year.
In later years the home was owned by Margaret Mason Haire and Peter J. Rodenborn. The Rodenborns sold the house in 1944 to Cacioppo.
John Pearsons was the son of George R. Pearsons who served as mayor of Fort Dodge in 1873, 1899 and 1900 and who constructed the Dolliver home, now the Women’s Clubhouse. John was a brother of Louise Pearsons who was married to United States Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver of Fort Dodge. He had farming and other interests in this area. Shortly after the turn of the century he moved to California where he owned farm property.
The Jon-Mar home
1631 No. Twenty-second Street
The John J. Brady Sr. home—known for many years as “Jon-Mar”—was constructed in 1935 at 1631 N. 22nd St. The elegant brick residence of unusual architectural design is located on a two-acre tract of ground.
Brady, a nationally-known trucking magnate who built up a trucking operation from a small Fort Dodge drayline to a $30,000,000 annual business, purchased 40 acres of farm land in 1934 just outside the northeast city limits. When the tract was platted he retained eight acres for the house site, but much later six of these acres were laid out and sold as building lots.
The home is now owned by David A. Opheim, Fort Dodge attorney, and his wife, Mary Ellen, who acquired it in 1969 from Joe Bryant. Earlier it was owned by George Schnurr who purchased it from Brady in 1959. The Opheims reside in the home with their children, Kristen and Matthew.
The present room arrangement of the home includes a large first floor living room with a circular stairway to the second floor that is enclosed in a turret or tower-like portion of the house with a pointed roof. The stairway has wrought iron white spindles and a large curved wood railing painted aqua blue.
Other downstairs rooms are sunporch, dining room, family room, kitchen and half bath. The second floor has five bedrooms and two baths.
Brady was born in 1893 on a farm northwest of Fort Dodge and moved to the city with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Brady, when five years old. The father bought and sold draft horses for eastern markets. When a Fort Dodge man was unable to pay for horses used in a dray line they were repossessed and Brady’s father put the son into the draying business.
When Brady’s father died in 1911 John Brady took over the operations and launched the Brady Moving & Storage Company and later the Brady Motorfrate Company which became one of the major trucking empires in the nation. Brady was chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the companies until 1969 when he became honorary chairman of the board until the huge trucking operations were sold. The Brady Moving & Storage Company was sold in 1968 to John Duvall and John Marrs who now operate the business. The Brady Motorfrate Company was sold in 1973 to the Smith Transfer Company of Staunton, Va. Brady is now president and general manager of the Brady Realty Company which maintains ownership of all its trucking terminals.
Active in trucking operations Brady was a member of state and national organizations and in 1965 was honored by the Iowa Motor Truck Association for 55 years in the transportation industry.
Brady and his first wife, Marguerite Hanrahan of Webster City, were parents of two sons and a daughter—John J. Brady Jr., Robert and Louise. Following the death of his wife, Marguerite, in 1947, Brady married Gertrude Lamneck of New York City in 1956. She died here in 1969. Brady now resides at 1132 Summit Ave., Snell Place.
The Remer home
1404 Park Avenue
One of the early homes on Park Avenue in the Crawford-Armstrong addition to the city was this attractive two-story brick residence built in 1928 by a Fort Dodge dentist, Dr. W. F. Remer.
The home at 1404 Park Avenue is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Schweiger and family. Schweiger is vice president in charge of mortgage loans at The State Bank. Their family includes Mike, Steve, Marggy, Mary Pat and twins Judd and Joe.
Dr. Remer, who began his dental practice in Fort Dodge in 1919, purchased the Park Avenue building lot in 1927. A year later he built the home which was designed by architect Frank W. Griffith.
Original arrangement of the house includes living room with fireplace, dining room, kitchen and half bath on the first floor; three bedrooms and bath on the second floor; full basement and porch on the west side of the house. The porch now has been remodeled into a first floor den. All downstairs windows are plate glass including the living room bay windows overlooking the surrounding Crawford Park area.
Dr. and Mrs. Remer resided in the home until 1941 when it was sold to David L. Rhodes. Later owners included F. J. Deaner and Dr. and Mrs. Marion B. Allen who sold the house to the Schweigers in 1961.
Dr. Remer, a native of LeMars, attended schools there and in 1916 graduated from the University of Iowa Dental College. After practicing in Grand Mound for 2½ years he came to Fort Dodge in 1919 and purchased the dental practice of Dr. Grant Bruner in the former First National Bank Building (now the Beh Building).
When the upper six floors of the Carver Building were completed in 1922 Dr. Remer moved there and was associated for a time with the Fort Dodge Clinic. Later he maintained his own office in the building until his retirement in 1966 and sale of his practice to Dr. Donald Cassady. During the years of practice here Dr. Remer was assisted in the office by his wife, Edna.
In 1968 Dr. Cassady, Dr. P. J. Leehey and Dr. John Duro constructed the Dental Associates building at 1622 1st Ave. N. Also a member of the staff now is Dr. Craig E. Knouf. Dr. Remer is associated with the dentists only in a consulting capacity. He and Mrs. Remer now reside at 1819 9th Ave. N.
The YWCA home
327 No. Ninth Street
The two-story frame house at the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue North and Ninth Street (pictured above) was the first permanent home of the Fort Dodge YWCA.
Organized in 1909, the YWCA had its original quarters in a small building at First Avenue North and Seventh Street where the Flower Mission Club for Girls was located. The club was started in 1908 by Dr. Sara Kime and Mrs. J. J. Ryan to extend a welcome to girls coming to the community. The building was the birthplace of the YWCA as it was organized in the Flower Mission rooms.
The new YWCA grew at a rapid pace and better housing was needed. It was then learned that the large A. S. R. Reynolds house at the northwest corner of First Avenue North and Ninth Street was for sale. The property included the eight-room house and a lot with frontage of 75 feet on First Avenue and 140 feet on Ninth Street.
The house was purchased for $10,000 and the YWCA took possession in October of 1909. Two years later, property just west of the Reynolds house was purchased. The YWCA conducted many activities in the new quarters and opened a cafeteria in 1910—the first in the city.
As activities of the organization increased the house was found inadequate for the YWCA programs so a campaign was launched to raise funds for a new building. It proved successful and the house was sold for $10,000 to E. O. Fitz, manager of the Farmers Lumber Company. It was then moved to its present location at 327 N. 9th St. Fitz resided in the home for a time and it was then sold, changing ownership several times through the years. It is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hubert E. McMahon, 1129 S. 17th St. The house has two apartments which are rented out.
After selling the house the YWCA had temporary quarters in the Tobin College building at First Avenue North and Seventh Street. The present three-story brick YWCA building was then erected at First Avenue North and Ninth Street at a cost of $72,000 for building and furnishings. The building was dedicated in 1914. When completed the building had 36 rooms for permanent and transient guests, clubrooms and a gymnasium. For many years the YWCA also operated a cafeteria in the new building.
A Fort Dodge attorney, who practiced law here for a number of years and later was named a federal judge in Minnesota, erected this home on north Seventeenth Street in 1915. He was Matthew M. Joyce, who lived here from 1910 until 1918. He then moved to Minneapolis where he was attorney for the M. & St. L. Railroad for 14 years before being appointed to a judgeship.
The two-story house with stained brown siding and white trim is located at 417 N. 17th St. It has changed ownership a number of times and is presently owned by Edwin K. Bradley, who acquired it in 1968. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley and their sons, Mike, Mark, and Matthew, now reside in the house which has the following room arrangement: first floor—entryway, living room, dining room, kitchen, half bath, solarium and screened-in brick porch; second floor—four bedrooms, sun porch and two baths. There is also an attic study room. Bradley is laboratory supervisor at Trinity East Hospital and assistant laboratory supervisor at Trinity West.
Joyce was born in Emmetsburg in 1877. After completing elementary and high school education he enrolled at the University of Michigan and graduated from law school in 1899. He began the practice of law in Missoula, Mont., with Edward C. Mulroney, a native of Fort Dodge. In 1910 he came to Fort Dodge and lived at various places before building the North Seventeenth Street home.
During his years in Fort Dodge Joyce practiced law with B. J. Price and B. B. Burnquist for eight years and then moved to Minneapolis to accept the M. & St. L. legal post. In 1932 Joyce was appointed by President Herbert Hoover as a judge of the Circuit Court of Appeals. After 17 years as a jurist he retired in 1949. He died in Minneapolis in 1956 at age 79. Mrs. Joyce died in 1962. Joyce was a nephew of M. F. Healy, T. D. Healy and Robert Healy, widely-known Fort Dodge attorneys.
The Joyce home
417 No. Seventeenth Street
On moving to Minneapolis Joyce sold the north Seventeenth Street home to W. C. Woodward of the Fort Dodge Grocery Company. Later it was owned by Dr. and Mrs. E. F. Beeh, Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Price, Chris Kulild, Eugene Leachman, Robert L. Mitchell and Ralph Humphreys.
This Fifth Avenue North home dates back to 1893 when it was built by Carl C. Haugen, a Fort Dodge businessman for many years. Located at 1249 5th Ave. N., the house has been remodeled in recent years and now has first and second floor apartments. Present owners are Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Richardson, 309 N. 18th St., who rent out the apartments.
The house has white asphalt shingle siding and a brown roof. Entrance to the upstairs apartment is by way of an enclosed private stairway.
Originally the house had a living room, parlor, dining room, kitchen and pantry on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor. When the house was remodeled the first floor was made into a one bedroom apartment with bath, living room, dining room and kitchen. The upstairs has a two-bedroom apartment with living room, kitchen and bath.
Carl C. Haugen came to Iowa from his native Norway in 1884, settled in Bode and then moved to Fort Dodge in 1886 where he began work as a barber. After several years he went into partnership with D. A. Noah in a large six-chair barber shop in the basement of the original First National Bank at Central Avenue and Sixth Street.
When the First National Bank Building was erected at Central Avenue and Seventh Street in 1908 Haugen opened a new six-chair shop in the building basement. He continued in the barbering business until 1945 when he retired and sold the shop. A brother, Martin C. Haugen, was with him in the barber shop until 1939.
The Haugen home
1249 5th Avenue North
Following his marriage in 1893, to Hanna Fredrickson, Mr. and Mrs. Haugen built the home at 1249 5th Ave. N.—one of the few homes then in that part of the city. Streets were not paved and walks were of wood. Haugen made two trips back to Norway—in 1891 and in 1900. He was one of the organizers of St. Olaf Lutheran Church here and served as secretary of the congregation for 50 years. The house was sold in 1965 when Mrs. Haugen moved to Friendship Haven.
Mr. and Mrs. Haugen were parents of four children—a daughter, Magna, who died in infancy; and three sons, Helge H. Haugen, Einar F. Haugen and Karl F. Haugen, author of this series of Fort Dodge homes. Mr. Haugen died in 1947 at age 80. Mrs. Haugen died Dec. 23, 1974. Had she lived until Feb. 3, 1975, she would have been 103 years old.
CITY OF FORT DODGE, IOWA
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