HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa PUBLISHED BY THE BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FORT DODGE, IOWA APRIL, 1975 PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. LOOMIS • TEXT BY KARL F. HAUGEN INDEX TO HOMES ON PAGE 119-120 MAP ON PAGE 117 PRINTED BY MESSENGER PRINTING COMPANY, FORT DODGE, IOWA INTRODUCTION This book is a picture-story history of 101 Fort Dodge homes. Those who brought the homes into being are chronicled here, as are those who succeeded those first tenants. The homes as well as their occupants are representative of the Fort Dodge community over a time span of more than 100 years. All of the homes are extant; the publishers regret the absence in the history of many grand old homes no longer in existence. The homes first appeared in a weekly series in the Fort Dodge Messenger. The photographer’s skill reflects the hobby of Allen R. Loomis, Fort Dodge industrialist, whose grandparents—the A. R. Loomises and the Leon Vincents—were prominent business and cultural leaders in the earlier-day Fort Dodge. The histories were written by Karl F. Haugen, retired City Editor of the Messenger. Mr. Haugen devoted many hours studying state, county and city records, and interviewed scores of persons. To Mr. Haugen and Mr. Loomis, as well as to all who so graciously and cheerfully cooperated with them, the publishers extend a grateful thank-you. BLANDEN FEDERATION OF ARTS FEBRUARY 6, 1975 HISTORIC HOMES of Fort Dodge, Iowa THE O. M. OLESON HOME [Illustration: The O. M. Oleson home 1020 3rd Avenue South] O. M. Oleson, pioneer pharmacist and philanthropist, erected this large three-story brick residence with green tile roof in 1906. Located at 1020 3rd Ave. S. it probably is the only home in the city to have had a pipe organ for many years. The home was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Oleson until 1938 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Whittemore. Mrs. Whittemore continues to reside in the house following the death of her husband who was prominently identified with the Vincent Clay Products Company here. The home has a full basement, first floor with living room, dining room, and kitchen; second floor with five bedrooms and two baths; and third floor with recreation room and attic storage space. The pipe organ which Oleson enjoyed playing was removed from the home prior to its sale to the Whittemores and given to Lutheran Hospital’s nurses’ home. The nurses’ home was torn down some years ago during rebuilding work at the hospital (now Trinity Regional West).