Part 9

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.

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.

THE CHARLES A. BROWN HOME

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 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.

THE KURTZ HOME

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.”